Berlin

I was going to stop at another place before I came to Berlin, but I´ve heard nothing, but great things about this city, so better check it out.

Walking around the city of Berlin it doesn´t really seem real to think that at one time this was split into two different sections. The only time it seems real is when you´re actually standing where they have remains of the wall, or looking at the outline where there used to be the wall. The enormous wall sure puts things into perspective when you stand directly at its base.


My first day in Berlin I was going to take it slow, therefore I thought I´d start with the Creepy Cabinets and Nazi bunkers (for my Auntie Lynne: most of these places are out of the crazy europe book) I end up getting a little lost, but take a cool picture of this cool looking white place...couldn´t find out what the place was.


Eventually I find the bunkers(by following some signs...geez you think that would work right) and it looks pretty cool. I could tell right away this place was older then all the rest. Anyway, entering the building I´m greeted by a headless guy saying welcome to Berlin´s creepy show. The main floor is the creepy toture area and the bottom floor is the bunkers and history. So I choose the bunkers first.



Standing in these bunkers that were actually used by the Nazis is very fascinating. They still have actual intact items used within the bunkers. From newspapers, to escape plans its awesome to think they´ve been able to perserve this stuff. During my visit I wished I could´ve read German, because seeing the stuff is one thing, reading it now thats another. After visiting all the bunkers I head up to the creepy show. At first pretty funny as the robot things are really weak looking, but then the top floor...holy cyclone swirls from Tokyo. I open the door and imediately it slams...ok no biggie. Then I hear all these girls screaming, get me outta here and running to the door. Hmmmm must be good. Out of the corner of my eye I see a figure moving about, so I know he´s coming to scare me. When he does I start to laugh at him...ya probably not the best idea, because I think this made him want to get me real bad. Next I go through some pitched black sections with a little fog...here I get the living soul scared out of me. There´s a sign to distract you as a different guy grabs you, scares you in one direction and the other guy is there with a different mask to scare you more. Well this continues on the entire time...they even start to chase me at the end...whew...boy was my heart beating, buuuut it was sooooo much fun.


Next stop was the Topography of Terrors. When I first read about this place it described it as a chronological ordering of all the things that were planned at the site (the grounds are all old SS headquarters) These giant placards did more then just explain what happened at that very site...they delved into other areas as well. Great little history lesson on some of the goings on in the SS and SA buildings. (I also read and heard a really chilling quote by Himmler on the topic of mass extermination)

The rest of the day was spent wondering big traffic areas with numerous things to see...as it started getting later and I headed back to the hostel I noticed this cute girl walking towards me...she kept her gaze at me so of course I smiled at her...she then started blowing me kisses...now I was shocked a little and thought to myself...geez these German girls are really up front with stuff (also I felt a little good too, it was my first day) soon enough I realized this was where numerous "ladies of the night" were stationed...ohhhh ego deflated.

Next day was time to meet my friend Ben from back home...I wake up extremely early as his flight lands at 8:15. Looking at the Metro map I decide the easiest way and head off...unfortunately for me, the map I had was very old and the lines I had chosen to take...ya they didn´t run anymore. Soooo it takes almost an hour and a half to arrive at the airport (9:30) and I´m thinking to myself...great were going to have missed eachother and it´s going to go all to shambles...well guess who´s at the platform right across the way from where I get in...yes it was Ben...and looks like he´s had a few crazy experiences himself (ended up falling asleep on a bus in Paris and missing his connection)


We arrive at the hostel and go to check in, but ooops they´ve made a mistake on the room...turns out they gave us the biggest room and not the one we asked for. Oh well they knock down the price a little and arrange everything else...then we get up to the room and are blown away. The room is enormous...the view outstanding...and were just loving the mix up.


That night we decide to go on a famous Berlin pub crawl. I've heard that this is one of the best pub crawls in all of Europe...so of course I was going to check it out. You get free beer from 8 until 9 and then entry to four different bars and clubs...I thought the Calgary Stampede pub crawl was crazy...ya this one blew it away. Met sooo many different people, got the group to sing O'Canada with me...great times.



Next day we decide to go on Berlin's free walking tour...and so did around forty other people...also turns out Mother Nature decided it would be a good day to rain. The tour and info was on its own level, but the rain and the wind...brrrrrr. During the tour we visited the Brandanburg Gate.

The Holocaust Memorial.

and much much more. I also learned about the speech that started the fall of the Berlin wall. I had no idea that Gunter Schabowski had the mouth that basically started the fall of the Berlin wall. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere.



Our next days journey includes the Stasi museum, which turned out to be a tougher find then I orriginally thought. However, once inside this place blew my mind...hidden cameras in tree trunks, microphones in ties, guns in briefcases...sheesh something out of a bonde film. You name the gizmo and it was there. Oh also learning about the history of the Stasi, and their constant tabs on west Berliners was interesting as well...but a button camera...cummon now.



This was also the same day my friend Ben gets a ticket on the train. Normally we don't purchase tickets for the subway or metro, just hop on and off. Unfortunately for my buddy he doesn't have a fall back plan like myself if for some reason we get caught. Well turns out we get asked for our tickets...I whip out the trusted Eurail...no problems (this is actually how I can cut costs...if they charge me for reservations...ha I'm not paying for local transportation...ya sticking it to the system) They go over to Ben...and he's looking at me for help...pfff I don't know what I can do...so he takes him off the train and demands payment...Ben tries to coerce the guy to let him off, but the guys english isn't too good when we near these points. So to keep it short, he ends up paying a 40 euro fine...YIPES...not a very happy camper after this.


It seems after the ticket that nothing was going to work out for Ben. We go looking for the Ramones musuem, but that turned out to not open until the day we left...then we head over to Lego-Land and it costs 20 euros to get in...again not going to happen. Oh well, we decide to check out the longest stretch of the Berlin wall...now this my friends...turns out to be open, and free. The spray paint art on the side of the wall is eye popping and just walking along this huge stretch of the wall is something else.



Soon after walking the wall we head to a recommended area by our tour guide, the Russian war memorial. This place is much different then the war memorials around Vimy ridge. It has enormous statues, placards and different shrines all over. My favorite part was the huge statue at the end of the grounds, which had a Russian type hero stepping on the swatstika, holding an enormous sword, a kids and has a flowing cape.



Other places we saw on our trip in Berlin included the Richstag, the Olympic grounds, checkpoint charlie, the parking area of Hitlers final resting area and the last remaining building of world war two. The Luftwaffen headquarters. Pictures and explanations of the building during that time don't lie. This thing was dark and grey looking, with doors the size of giants and a handle the size of a small child...also the door handles come up to atleast my neck and I'm pretty close to six foot so just picture that...pretty intimidating. Wish I took a picture of it, but ahhh it was too cold...guess an actual brain freeze happened.


All in all it was awesome that I was able to meet up with my friend from back home, and holy smokes does Berlin hold sooo much history. I see now why so many people come here, and end up staying weeks even months on end. After spending 5 days in Berlin,I wanted to stay longer... there's still more stuff that I didn't get a chance to see...boy is this city vast.