Berlin

4th May

Melanie dropped us to the bus station in the morning on her way to work.

When we arrived in Berlin we caught the metro and then walked to our accommodation.

After meeting our hosts mother and having lunch with another guest we caught the metro to the Berlin Wall. It consisted of four sections:

Area A : The Berlin Wall and the death strip
Area B : The Destruction of the city
Area C : The Building of the wall
Area D : Everyday life at the wall

First we watched the introductory video which gave us an overview of why the wall was built in the first place and why it was taken away.

Then we walked through Section A. It had a lot of information and stories about what had happened there.

Next we went to the Document Museum. It had more information and stories about things that had happened. We learned about people climbing over the wall and tunneling under.

After that we saw the rest of the outdoor sections.

It was really interesting albeit slightly depressing.

5th May

Today we embarked on what turned out to be a very long walk.

On our way to Potsdamer Platz we accidentally found Spittel Kolonnaden.

We also popped into the Museum of Communication to admire the architecture.

Next we found a huge queue all waiting to enter Bundesrat (German Government Building) because it was their special open day for the general public. We didn't go in due to the long queue and our lack of German.

Then we walked around the
Mall of Berlin before finding a celebration at a minting place near Potsdamer Platz. They had the biggest silver coin in the world on display! It was newly minted (2018).

At Potsdamer Platz we were surprised to see a Chinese building. It turned out to be The Pavilion of Reunification. It was symbolising the hope that Korea will become one. It was near a part of the Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall) because Berlin was also once split in two.

Next we found ourselves at the Field of Stelae (Jewish Holocaust Memorial). An enormous monument to remember all the Jewish people who died in the Holocaust.

 Underneath there was a museum. It was so sad. There were so many stories about those who died and those who survived but lost all their family. There was also information about the concentration camps, gassing (mobile and chambers), hard labour and forced poverty.

Next we went to Pariser Platz where there were a lot of tourists. Some people were busking and their was a huge crowd watching them.

In the park (Großer Tiergarten) nearby there was a cool building - we wanted to go in but it was booked out for the day and we couldn't book for the next day because it required ID. Jay had his but I didn't have mine.

Soviet War Memorial 

Then we headed to see the Siegessäule monument (Berlin Victory Colomn) in the middle of the roundabout.

At the monument we stopped for a break before walking through the park towards a metro station. We found a crazy busy place by a lake where everyone was eating. Then we tried to cross a bridge only to find it was blocked off. Puzzled we walked around to find another way. Eventually we gave up and walked right around. We think that the zoo was  in there which is why it was blocked from one side.

The lake (diners behind us so not in photo) 

We went to Bikini Berlin which was a mall. The only redeeming feature was a window that looked into the monkey part of the zoo. I. I'm not sure who was watching whom! The rest of the mall was boring so we crossed the road. At that square there was a gathering of disabled people. The fountain there was quite nice.

Zoo entrance 

Before heading into the metro we gazed at the bombed church building (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church) and I bought a much needed ice cream!

We took the underground to Alexander Platz. It was busy there. Firemen were raising money. We saw yet another lovely fountain. Jay bought a curry wurst. Apparently not that good but he'd been wanting to try it.

After that we went to the supermarket in the way home to buy dinner. We found out that it'd be closed on Sunday so we purchased breakfast and lunch too!

6th May

Today we decided to have a lazy day. We'd left all the close attractions for the last day of Berlin.

First we went to St Michael's Church (right next to our accommodation) and then to St Thomas's Church (where some Berlin Wall photos were on display). We walked through the nearby park and Kunst Quarter Bethanien. Then we went back home.

A bit later Melissa's mother took us to the East Side Gallery. She pointed out places along the way.

We walked along looking at the paintings on the old Berlin Wall. 

At the end of the gallery was the Oberbaum Burke (Bridge).

After a lunch at home we walked to Alexanderplatz for a second visit. This time a clock caught my interest. It showed the time in places all over the world. Very cool.

We also found another square where we took a quick look at St Marienkirche Church. There was an even better fountain here!

After that we walked back home stopping to buy Thai curry for our dinner.