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Day 16: Prague to Berlin
Another travel day. I didn’t fully appreciate the distances between countries in Europe until this tour. The travel days are getting tougher and tougher. Initially we were full of cheer, but as the bus gets sicker and the hangovers build up, the long drives are becoming quite difficult. Most mornings are very quiet as the vast majority of the bus is asleep. This morning was no different.
Thankfully we did have an interesting stop at Dresden, a German city. Dresden was once regarded as one of the richest and most beautiful cities in Europe before it became infamous by being bombed into submission by the allies at the end of WWII. This was at utterly pointless act as Dresden was of no military importance. Its aim was to ‘break the spirit of the people’. And what better way of doing that than killing them all.
Luckily for us, although too late for those bombed to death in 1945 (not that it matters because most of them would be dead now anyway), Dresden was restored to its original condition of architectural beauty. My opinion was definitely enhanced by the beautiful weather that is following us
Berlin Wall
It held back the capitalists while the socialists were 'constructing a new people' around Europe. As you will see in Victoria’s photos, Dresden is a stunning city.
On arrival into Berlin we took in a brief driving tour of the main sights, the highlight of which was a walk along what remains of the Berlin wall. The wall itself was fairly insignificant, more like a construction site that the notorious symbol of the Iron Curtain. Like most historical sites, it is difficult to really appreciate the true significance of the area once it has been removed from its context. Perhaps it is just that these objects take on an aura in your mind that is impossible to replicate when you encounter them. That was certainly the case with the Berlin wall.
Day 17: Berlin
Our day started (far too early again; I am looking forward to being unaware of the existence of 7am) with a walking tour of Berlin, specifically relating to WWII. Many of the key sites of the 3rd Reich are still standing as there was little German resistance by the time the Russians entered Berlin. The notable exception was Hitler’s bunker, which is now a parking lot.
With this exception, which, like all exceptions was interesting in
German monument to the 'murder of Jews in WWII'
The stones are all undistinctive but subtley different sizes itself, Nazi architecture was quite interesting. One of the things that I have most enjoyed about touring Europe is the understanding of culture one can achieve through physical elements of culture, such as art and architecture. This was certainly the case with the buildings of the 3rd Reich. Our guide was very good at pointing out the manner in which the Nazi’s had constructed their buildings to appear more solid and secure than they actually were, hence giving the appearance of strength and power. As an example, windows were often left off the last office on the side of a building, leaving a large gap between the final window and the edge of the building, producing the illusion of a very thick and secure outer wall.
Perhaps what interested me most about the tour was the relationship the German people have with their history. Our guide told us that it is considered very bad manners to attempt to cover up any element of history. Additionally it is considered rude to overtly celebrate German nationalism in any form. The people appear to be completely scarred by their past, but equally determined to hang onto that scar. It seemed to be
Our tour guide at Hitler's bunker
It was unclear whether Hitler's car was still parked here a perverse centre of enjoyment for them, perhaps a continued excuse for their historically relative passivity on the world stage.
After a further wander around Berlin, which proved to be a nice, if subdued city, we finished the night with a pub crawl. All things considered this should have been a huge night, but with most of the bus still sick, the night was a bit more low-key. Good fun though.
Day 18: Berlin to Amsterdam
As a consequence of last night, today was another very quiet travel day. It was actually the longest travel day so far; we rose at 6.30am to arrive in Amsterdam around 6pm. Little to report from the travel as I spent most of the day trying to sleep, aided somewhat by the departure of three of our group at Berlin (we are down to 31 now). It is really starting to feel like the end of the trip and a strange sense of predictive melancholy is setting in.
Our main stop for the day was at a Cheese-and-clog factory (a natural combination) in Amsterdam. The subject matter was boring, but the tour was lively because of the Dutch guides, who
Nazi air minstery
Note the missing final window on the near side were nuts. More nuts than the Swedes, which is saying something. I think there may have been some ‘herbal’ remedies in action here. The clog-maker in particular must have been quite a fan; his 30-minute ‘performance’ was somewhere between a porn-star and a children’s presenter, with all the associated connotations.
Our arrival into the Amsterdam accommodation was not quite as funny. Frankly, the place was a shit-hole, and I am fairly confident it is the worst place I will ever stay in. Unless I achieve my dream of not working at all, or my fork-lift license expires and I am forced to live on my wits.
Six of us are sharing a room smaller than Victoria’s bedroom (admittedly, in some countries Victoria’s bedroom would count as a small village), in bunk-beds without either ladders or rails. The bathroom is minscule, with a shower that is more like a watering can. The walls are completely covered with graffiti, as is much of the ‘hotel’. One section of graffiti in our room confidently asserts that the author had pissed in every bed. And this is the censored version. At least the place had a sense of humour about itself, claiming
Checkpoint Charlie
This was not Charlie that it was ‘accidently eco-friendly’ (no lifts, heating, toasters etc). On this point I could sympathise. At 1 in the morning however, in a hot and stinky room with mossie’s everywhere I was ready to burn the place down and join the bourgeois in a hotel. For shame!
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