Report from the free tour...it was great! Few things that we saw:
Berlin Wall-interesting story of how it was raised and how it fell. Never knew it was due to a mistake more than anything. Part of it is still up, but it is guarded by a fence so they never forget it. Weird to think that a fence is guarding a fence.
Holocaust Memorial- Different slabs of concrete at different heights, but the artist never gave an interpretation on the work, so you have to decide for yourself.
Brandenburg Gate- found out the history around the gate and how it changed from the actual work to its meaning over the centuries.
Check point Charlie- where you move from east to west and you could get your passport stamped there. There is also I large picture of a US solider staring at the East and on the other side there is a Russian solider staring into the West. It was supposed to represent communism/socialism watching over Democracy and vice versa.
Many Nazi things- Hitler's Bunker, Book Burning site/memorial, SS headquarters, Luftwaffe HQ etc. Interesting construction...everything is larger than life and is supposed to make you feel small and weak. In order to get the feeling of obedience.
There were a few other places like museums, churches and the east Germany TV tower.
After all that, chris and I cleaned up and took a little nap. Neither of us really slept on the train.
Went out to dinner at this Italian restaurant which was really good. And by really good I mean amazing. Can I also mention that Germany has really good meat! haha.
That is all.
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Looking forward to the pictures of Berlin and the Berlin wall. How about trying some German food as well like sausages, brats etc. Also di you try fresh brewed German beer. MOM
ReplyDeleteBerlin was by far the most depressing place I had been but at the same time...the most interesting. It pulled on my heart strings. Theres so much to take in. It seems as though you got everything I did(plus more!) from the experience.
ReplyDeleteYou said you could get your passport stamped on the other side of checkpoint charlie...but did you?
Are you going to a concentration camp tomorrow or are you done with Berlin now? I went to Sachsenhausen while I was there. If you get a chance I would recommend it. But if you go, go with an empty stomach...otherwise you may feel sick. If you decide to go let me know via text message. Theres one building you have to go into and that you cant miss there....it was the first one I went into with my friends...without knowing what it was before entering...totally mind blowing.
Have fun. Hope Chris is having as much fun as you are. Is he keeping a journal? Have you been keeping up with your journal as well as this blog? looking forward to your next blog. til then...
Guten Abend!