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Published: September 2nd 2006
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G'Day G´Day.
Gee you can´t half tell I´ve been hanging around with a whole lot of Aussies for the past 6 days!!!
BERLIN-GERMANY 27/8/06-29/8/06
Well my grand adventures in Europe have begun. I managed to survive the gauntlet run, that is Healthrow airport, unscathed and with time to spare (a minor miracle), and landed in Berlin safe and sound.
I actually found another couple in the airport who are on my trip as well which was great. It wasn´t hard to miss us looking like giant wonky turtles with multicoloured shells, doing the every so elegant back-packer waddle.
So after a few false starts on the trains, first the wrong line, then the wrong direction, we managed to find the hostel in Berlin and meet up with some of the other people.
Berlin was more moving than I was expecting. I didn't really appreciate Germany all that much last time but this time its definitely hit me. So much history packed into such a short space of time with ramifications that ran so deep. The Berlin wall was definitely amazing especially the shear physicality of it when you stand there. I felt to
a certain degree has left a more permanent scar than the Nazi part, but that may be because the Nazi history I already knew in quite a bit of detail where the post war world I wasn´t as familiar with so it make more of an impact. I think also there is more physical reminders of the communist era still present in what was East Berlin , whereas the majority of the buildings and areas associated with the Nazi s were destroyed and then demolished after WWII.
The History though, blows you away .(In case you can't tell im a bit of a History nerd ) I saw the Reichstag which was the setting for Hitlers initial step towards a dictatorship. It was gutted in a fire and Hitler, who was chancellor at the time, enacted emergeny powers which were never realy again, stepped down, giving him and the Nazi party total power.
We went on a tour of the major political places, stood where Hitlers bunker was and his parliament building which was leveled during the war and torn down afterwards. The head quarters of the SS (again just a rubble field) and also the memorials to
Brandenburg Gate
Berlin-Germany 28/8/06 the dead. Its a strange mix of these places with such significance but at the same time it has been, not down played, but dealt with and the healling is continuing. I thought the people and the city have handled their history, the good and the bad with courage sensitivity and respect. Sorry I haven´t explained it very well.
I also strolled up to the Brandenburg gate which is that huge arch with the four horses and chariotteer on the top. It is so much bigger in real life!!
And of course Check Point Charle, there is none of the original place left, except the line in the road where the wall use to be. The museum at the site is dedicated to the Photographic history of the areas and is eyeopening in the way that people tried , some succeeding and some failling, to get across the wall into West Berlin and what they felt was freedom. Seeing more history about the wall than I have in the past it makes you appreciate just how desperate these people were to escape, to go to such lengths to get to the other side and out of East Berlin.
The Reichstag
Berlin-Germany 28/8/06 I also hadden't really understood exactly just how fast the wall went up . Literally overnight. You could have been out at a pub on the east side of Berlin , only to find when you head home to the west side that you can't and there was nothing you could do about it. I know I say it alot but the more I travel the more I love home.
COPENHAGEN-DENMARK 30/8/06
Our next major stop has been Copenhagen and in total contrast to Berlin it is a small organised clean peaceful and settled city. Beautiful and orderly (some might say uptight) but its a nice feeling to fit in with the "Scandinavian " colouring so that I don´t scream " TOURIST" as much walking around those areas, as somewhere like Istanbul for example.
Copenhagen is quaint, little alleys, that colourful street that's on all the postcards and of course our surrogate Royalty Fred and Mary. I think there still is a feeling of kinship with the Aussies that the locals feel, except mayby one local who gave the bus the finger for blocking the cycle path or something. Charming, some people are all class.
STOCKHOLM-SWEDEN
Copenhagen
Copenhagen-Denmark 30/8/06 31/8/06-2/9/06
And Now onto Sweden and Stockholm, are you tired of reading yet?
Stockholm is somewhere in the middle of Berlin and Copenhagen and maybe just that little more scandinavian rather than european. So not as uptight as Copenhagen and not a troubled as Berlin.
First stop today was the town hall, which has the claim to fame of being the place that the Nobel Peace Prize dinner is held. The staircase you'll all be happy to know was specially designed to be appropriate for women in long gowns and heals. Knowing this we put it to the test and Im happy to confirm that walking regally down, doing my royal wave, i did not have to look at my feet and being on the clumsy side of the co-ordination scale... I didn't fall. So your minds now at rest the staircase works.
We had a great day yesterday especially since it was sunny and warm! The most amazing trip to the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is a 16th Century Royal Galleon (Ship) that capsized and sank in the harbour outside the city and stayed there untill 1950s where is was dredged and brought to the
Lake by our Stockholm Campsite
Stockholm-Sweden 31/8/06 (Nene.Barb.Emma.Me.) surface amazingly preserved. So its basically this realy life sailing ship massive, in an even more massive auditorium surrounded by the artefacts and more than a few skeletons that came up with it. Because of the wood etc the place is kept very dim and very cool with just a touch of humidity which just adds to the whole experience as the whole place is also infused with the smell of this really really really old boat
Also went to the Skansen museum which is like an open air history park with recomstuctions of homes and buildings are a great collection of the wildlife. The bears were great, being a relatively hot day they were out for a swim!
AND so now the juicy bit -THE PUNCH PARTY.
Having not attended a punch party since my good old uni days , you'll be all happy to know I think I aquitted myself well. Setting the scene. The challenge set down early by the crew, that they had yet to have a group that managed to reach the bottom of the punch bowl (in this case a plastic tub of considerable depth). So with the stakes down we
Vasa Galleon
Vasa Museum Stockholm Sweden 1/9/06 all donned our best Swedish gear some with more spectacular results, included Miss and Miss Sweden beauty pagent contestants, a fair few vikings, the obligatory Sweden Tourist Shirts, and some liberal face paint. There were some going for the more sedate options of just the blue and yellow and were payed out accordinly.
I myself donned my Pink (of course) Viking Horns and my Vikingised David Hassellhoff T-Shirt our official mascot for the Berlin Pub Crawl.
All in all there are some great photos and lots of singing ... and its now that I must introduce the star of the night without a doubt... I won't use names ... lets just call her Heidi
Heidi made her specatcular appearance having accounted for what would seen more than her fair share of the punch (and yes for those wondering we did make it to the bottom of the bowl with quite a few hours to spare!). So back to Heidi, lovely girl very friendly, made close friends with the showers and more particularly the tiles on the bathroom floor.. being quite determinded to maintain her friendship , the first quotable quote results. Heidi in all her wisdom decided
The Old Town Stockholm
Stockholm Sweden 1/9/06 she was happy on the floor and out popped quite a few times "Heres a thought" as she directed the concerned onlookers that she was perfectly comfortable.
I must add here that the girls of the crew did particularly well , using their honned skills of negotiation to get Heidi off the floor! They've got the best job in the world.
So having kicked off our tour well ... onwards and upwards
Next Norway and up to the Arctic!!
Love to Everyone
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