Blogs from Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe - page 18

Since high school I have paid dues to three different gyms. All the gyms had clean, tiled showers and shiny fresh smelling locker rooms. They had rows of gleaming equipment and multiple floors, and offered free mediocre group classes that promised perfect fitness. I got so used to these competitive gym styles that I didn’t realize gyms could be any other way. When I first walk into a gym, they immediately offer me a free three day trial. I am handed a business card and a flimsy cardboard pass, and the man in the black shirt (always a man) who gave it to you scribbles his name on it. You walk onto the exercise floor, run on the elliptical, lift some weights, do some stretches, gather your things and begin to head out. The man who ... read more

Berlin is a place I have always wanted to go because of its fascinating history...so this February I decided that I would drag my boyfriend to the heart of Germany to see it for myself! Luckily, I found a deal on a hotel that looked right up my street called Eurostar's. I went on Last-minute.com two weeks before we were jet setting off (Yes....I am a very last minute person) and found a deal for £301 for four nights. I know that this may seem quite expensive to some people, but you could not have wanted more out of this hotel, so in my opinion it was well worth the money! I wanted a hotel that was slap bang in the middle of Berlin so that we weren't too far from any of the sights, but ... read more

I’m not going to write about our 4th day in Berlin as much, because I think our last day merits more reflection and effort. We did actually end up doing a lot on the 27th, such as going on a tour, seeing the Berlin Wall and the Berlin Tower (one of the tallest buildings in Europe, Adam and I ate lunch at the restaurant on the top floor, which rotated!) and the Topography of Terrors (which was the old SS and Gestapo headquarters), but I think that our trip to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was more important and thought-provoking. We were told by our tour guide the other day that if we have the time, a trip to a concentration camp is worthwhile and one of the most important things you could immerse yourself in during ... read more

We woke up today just in time to make the breakfast buffet that our hotel had for all of its guests. It’s about 14 euros, but I guess it was worth it because it did have some excellent food for everyone to enjoy. There were a variety of breads, cheeses, and hams, followed by creams, nutella, and peanut butter in the slot next to the sandwich area. 3 types of cereal were laid out right next to the hot food platters, which had pancakes, eggs, and sausages all hot and ready for consumption. Finally they had a yogurt station, with 5 different kinds off flavored yogurt and an assortment of toppings. Needless to say, I got my money’s worth…. Adam was struggling to get in more food because he told me that he hasn’t been eating ... read more

I woke up around 11 am, and Adam was still asleep. I had no idea that check out was at noon that day, and we got a call at 12:04 pm from the reception desk, kindly asking us to hurry up because they were expecting other guests later that day. We frantically packed everything we had and hurried down to the desk, because we weren't about to get fined for something like a late check out that's for sure. On the way to the central station, Adam realized that his backpack was missing, which contained his passport, computer, and all of his euros.... It's been awhile since I've seen him panic like this, but it was completely understandable because he had so many important things in that backpack. We hurried back to the hotel, praying that ... read more