Blogs from Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe - page 153

next stop, Berlin, where the people are not quite as nice or as helpful as they were in Vienna. but first it was a matter of getting to the airport. it had been cheaper to book a flight for 6:45 in the morning, but we had not realized that the Tube does not run from about 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (at least in San Diego the trolly runs every half-hour), so we had to leave the night before and sleep in the airport. it was SO COLD!!!! we camped out outside of the check-in desk, under this HUGE window, and Courtney was so cold that she didn't sleep at all. i had been smart and brought my down sleeping bag, wrapped myself up in it, and had at least 4 hours sleep. she was miserable ... read more

　　從Dresden回到柏林，特意走到Alexanderplatz拍「交貨相」後，立刻回到Friedrichstraße，印象中這裡有很多食肆，但現實與記憶有一點距離。終於入到一間叫Leon的，坐在落地窗口旁邊。餐廳以電影為主題，牆壁掛滿了不知名的明星照、劇照之類，又放了兩盞拍攝用的大射燈。水吧的掌櫃（應該是老闆吧）有點像瘦了點的Magic Johnson，又有點像古華特，侍應很漂亮。 　　理論上我是不太明白菜單的，為保險計，點了一個burger，加一杯Berliner Kindl啤酒，盛惠€9.75。Leon外面是一條與Friedrichstraße成對角的行人通道，從對面街酒店的玻璃窗可看見在我上面駛過的火車的倒影。包很大，最初用手拿來吃，後來發覺操控不了，改用刀叉。我想在我對面檯的老婦會對我這副麥記／Burger King食相感到不以為然。把碟裡的椰菜、味道適中的沙律也吃了（我在香港絕不會吃沙律），便腆著肚子，喝著啤酒四處張望。每喝一口，口腔至喉嚨立刻熱烘了一陣，更帶了一陣麻醉。「Magic-古華特」為我收拾碟子，問我"...so spät?"（so late?）我只是笑，想不起要回答。 　　吃完已是2230，沒有時間／精神再四處逛了，便步回火車站。只見火車橋下的Friedrichstraße停泊了一輛消防車與救護車，附近有地方用膠布條圍著，但不見有甚麼動靜；入了大堂，一名拖著兩隻狗的男人，正不斷拍打坐在地上不醒的女人。或者這才是每個城市入夜後的景觀。 　　破例乘巴士回旅舍，到站內已是2325，跌跌撞撞地上床便睡（一來不便開燈，二來我想我是飲醉了），很睏，登時熟睡。 ... read more

昨晚天寒地凍+看漏了眼+遇上全程中態度最惡劣的鐵路職員，結果首次訂票，便錯買了一張繞大彎兒的路線 1235　ICE 690 Wagen 2 #67 　　我又回到了Frankfurt……這次真的是遊車河了，但我承認我已經認不出Hbf外的建築物。閉目養神之中，火車駛到Hanau（奇怪，與Frankfurt一樣沒有廣播），隔鄰座位留了座的人終於要上車了，是一個分明在上車前「充電」的男子，綠色的褸與放在我桌上的《檔案羅密歐》相映成趣。 　　已經是第三位稽查員，幹嗎次次不同？已查了票三次了。 1928　S25 　　一到柏林又是另一種天氣。因為在火車上找到了旅舍附近有S-Bahn，所以雖然是遠了一點，也很容易找到（不過Zoologischer Garten也夠大的，不知走了多少層樓梯才由DB轉至S-Bahn）。一打開102室，竟然有兩個人在下午五時半睡覺，加上一股濃烈的汗味，我不得不盡快再次出動。 　　外出時不乘S1，而到另外一邊的Tegel乘S25，但路較難行（多泥路），唯一好處是在車站附近找到Burger King。原來套餐的沙律是我最喜歡的生菜、蕃茄和粟米！看來Burger King才是我真正的老朋友。（這裡S-Bahn的關門提示聲音很古怪，像救護車） 2127　S1　車程長得可用來寫東西 　　想起那沒有洗手盤的RM102，我便想快些回去，我怕今晚又要縮小一半。但夜遊柏林的進度比想像中慢，一到達Potsdamer Platz不太認得路，四處遊蕩，沿著Tiergarten那不知是不是行人路的泥路到達「六月十七大街」，卻比想像中的窄；到了Reichstag，遠看規模好像不外如是，但走近點看，卻是越見宏偉；但到達Brandenburger Tor，又比想像中少了一點氣魄，真詭異。Brandenburger Tor裝修得太多，太新，除了門上的女神馬車像外，就沒有太強的歷史感；同樣，Reichstag亦應該大變身，想找過彈孔也沒有。 　　在Unter den Linden走，紀念品倒買了不少。不過原定要到的Alexanderplatz則去不成。 ... read more

I’m backlogging some of my previous travels in Europe from when I was in high school and college. They won’t contain much information as it was a while ago, but I would be more than happy to share my experiences with anyone who has a question. Berlin is an enormous and efficient city. Absolutely beautiful old architecture, great museums, and an amazing 20th century history. While it is a long walk, walking from the east side and ending in the west side really draws out the contrast between the two parts of the city. The night life is amazing as is the food to be found with street vendors (sausages galore!). I also had the chance to visit Munich while in Germany. It is a much smaller city, easier to walk around in, has a fantastic ... read more

In the summer of 2003 I spent 2 weeks doing voluntary work at Sachsenhausen concentration camp. I had been struggling to decide what to do that summer, but I knew I wanted to do something different, and something positive. When I saw this chance to volunteer at a former concentration camp, it felt like the best idea so far. And so at the end of July I got a cheap Ryanair flight over to Berlin and spent the night there in the excellent Circus hostel. I went out for some cheap food and got an early night ready for my big adventure starting the next day. The following morning I got up early, found an S-Bahn station and headed northwards, for Oranienburg. This is a small town just above Berlin. It is nice enough, with some ... read more