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Published: August 28th 2006
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German efficiency. BMWs every third car. The once dominant military commanded by Hitler. We learned about the war, the Nazis, and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. But I can´t believe we made it all the way to Germany without a sighting of the Hoff. David Hasselhoff that is. At least we got to see Hotel Adlon where The King of Pop himself dangled his baby over the balcony. I can´t believe that wasn´t in our guidebook.
We arrived to Berlin from Paris via Belgium on a cramped night train. Our six-person couchette was the size of a closet and we were packed like sardines one on top of the other. Luckily, a young German guy spoke English and he helped us reach our final destination.
We decided to take a break from self-touring and showed up for a Free Walking Tour (only tips are accepted). Our New Zealander tour guide was awesome-energetic, passionate, and comical. He was studying for his masters and knew just about everything of German history. We started out at the Brandenberg Gate, the symbol of Germany´s unification. The route followed bricks in the ground that symbolized where the Berlin Wall used to
be. On the side walks, in the middle of the road, and even inside buildings where it is represented by a different color carpet.
We visited the Memorial of the Dead Jews of Europe where over 2,000 gray stone slabs of anti-graffiti concrete undulated to show the rise and fall of Hitler and the Third Reich, the millions of Jews persecuted from beginning to end, and leaves you with many questions to ponder why concrete slabs are supposed to memorialize the murdered Jews. The musuem underground provided a chilling timeline of events of WWII and included excerpts from murdered Jew´s diaries found post-war. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
We also went to visit the rebuilt Reichstag (now called Bundestag). This center of government proclaims a glass dome, walls and doors to represent the transparency of their democracy. We walked up to the dome where one could see down into the Parliament through the glass where the government officials work.
We walked over what was left of Hitler´s bunker (the one where he committed suicide)--a parking lot next to the typical communist apartment buildings of the Regime´s high officials and Olympic gold
Berlin Wall
Standing in East AND West Berlin medalist Katarina Witt. Ironically, it was sealed airtight because he was afraid of being gassed.
Checkpoint Charlie (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) is also somewhat intact with a guard´s booth and sandbags in the middle of the road next to the famous Adler Cafe where CIA agents spied on whomever was coming and going to/from East Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie was also the site where WWIII almost began. The infamous Russian-American tank standoff took place here.
Closeby is the Book Burning Square where thousands of books perceived to be a threat to the Nazi Party were burned. Libraries from many of Germany´s universities were emptied out and burned in piles inlcuding the one across the street where Einstein was head of the Physics Dept. at Humboldt Univ. Ironically, in this same square, there is a stack of books commemorating Guttenberg´s invention of the printing press.
There are not many sections of the Wall that still exist today in Berlin. Obviously, the Berliners do not want to be constantly reminded of what went on here. However, there still remains an intact 200m section.
Berlin is also world-reknowned for its nightlife (and day/morning drinking). Our night out consisted of a Pub
Lost in Concrete
Memorial of the Dead Jews of Europe Crawl that included special drink prices and free shots all night long as we trekked across the city sampling some of Berlin´s finest bars and clubs. It concluded at an Absynthe bar. Well, as we were sitting at the meeting point talking to some Scottish guys in kilts--who we could only understand every other word coming from their mouths--I saw someone who looked familiar walk down into the bar. I thought to myself that there was no way it could be the person I was thinking of but decided to follow suit anyway. Sure enough it was who I thought it was. I randomly bumped in to a good friend from college that was traveling around Europe for 3 weeks. Same city. Same Pub Crawl. Same night.
Tonight we are off on yet another 12-hour night train to Poland to explore Krakow and the infamous Auschwitz.
Next up: Krakow, Poland; August 29, 2006
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Danielle
non-member comment
Hey guys!
Hey there! Just got the email with the link to your blog. Just laughed after reading the account of randomly finding me at the same pub crawl in Berlin. Still can't believe that happened!! You forgot the part where Tenille had pointed me out saying I looked like one of her friends earlier and you agreed when you obviously hadn't really looked.. :) Hope you guys are still having a blast!! Let me know when you get back to the states. Then it will be time to drink it up in NYC!!