Berlin

The train ride from Prague to Berlin was quite long, but we got a whole 6 person cabin to ourselves, so that was nice.

Once in Berlin, we got off at our stop, went the wrong direction, had to ask for directions and then turn around (this never gets old). We didn't do much that first day because we didn't get in until around 9ish, so we just relaxed at our hostel and planned our day. But this was the day we found out about Michael Jackson dying - I was shocked!

We decided to take a bike tour on our full day there - Fat Tire Bike Tours - originated in Austin! Our tour guide was named Enda - he was really funny and cool, so we had a really good time. I enjoy riding the bikes more than walking. It's funny because Fat Tire sells a shirt that says "Our Motto: Walking is stupid." I laughed.

We biked all around Berlin and it barely rained at all - yay! We saw the Neptune fountain, the difference between East and West Berlin's crosswalk lights (the East's were fancier), the TV tower, Checkpoint Charlie, where the wall used to be, fragments of the old wall, the area where Hitler's Bunker was, a big garden we rode our bikes through, and another beer garden. There, I had German sausage and the best beer I've tried yet - Edinger Hefewiesen. After the beer garden we hopped back on our bikes and visited a few more sights including, Siegessäule which is a famous victory statue, the hotel Michael Jackson dangled his baby outside of the window (ironic that we saw that the day after he died), Pariser Platz, Brandenburg Gate, Marx and Engels Platz, Museum Island, Bebelplatz (where Nazis had a big book burning event), Reichstag building and a lot more along the way. I really enjoyed it!! I think Germany has a fascinating history (although sad) and it makes it even more interesting that it happened relatively recently.

Afterwards, Steph and I headed back to the Checkpoint Charlie area where we read A LOT of free information about the wall and that time period. That took us about 2 hours, but we really enjoyed it. We then headed over to the Topography of Terror Museum where we read more about the holocaust and Hitler. It was creepy to see his picture. The (outdoor) museum was like in the same spot where Nazis would torture people and was home to many Nazi government buildings - creepy. We headed back to our hostel after that and just took it easy because if you can imagine, we were quite tired from a day like that!

I LOVED Berlin and really want to spend more time there some day! Germany as a whole was so cool and I definitely want to return. I would really recommend it to people - it's a really cool place!

Marx and Engels Platz (founders of communism)
TV Tower
Bebelplatz Memorial - Nazi book burning sight (It's a whole in the ground with a bunch of empty bookcases)
East side Berlin's crosswalk man
Note the one glove - Michael Jackson remembrance
Longest part of the Berlin Wall that's still standing
Brandenburg Gate
The hotel Michael Jackson held his baby from
Riding through the garden
Siegessäule
Reichstag building
That sign says I'm going into the American sector - West Berlin. The other side said I was entering the Soviet sector, a.k.a. East Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie
At Checkpoint Charlie, they put a picture of an American soldier on one side of the sign and a Soviet solider on the other to let you know that you are now entering what used to be Soviet run territory or American run territory
Me standing on either side of what used to be the Berlin Wall (they have those double lines of cobblestone all throughout the city to show where the wall used to be)