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Berlin- Aug 5,6,7
Absolutely loved Berlin and didn't want to leave!! Such rich history and because it is so recent I found it a lot more interesting than any other city. I went into the town having very little knowledge (should have taken high school history!) of what happened here and the whole Hitler thing but now I have a good understanding. Aside from the history, the town had a really good atmosphere, was just fun to be there and the night life was great. Definately going back one day!
Fly into Berlin on the 5th, First intro to backpacker hostels was a pretty sweet one. Recommend CityStay to anyone.On the 6th started with a walking tour cos I really didnt know where to start with all its history and the sites. Walkng tour was awsome, really good guide and now I have a really good understanding of what actually went down in Berlin and surrounding areas.
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Grid pattern consiting of 2711 concrete stelae which can be walked through from all sides. Quite a controversial memorial - why was it only for the Jews? The council says that all other minorities will also get a memorial in time. Also, it is sprayed with a special coat so that graffiti can easy be washed off but this special coat was manufactured by the same company that used to produce the gas in the chambers. Underground the memorial is an info centre that walks through the time line of events , info on victims, places of extermination and gives a really good understanding of what happened. Its quite disturbing and emotional reading some of the letters people had written to one another expecting to be killed or unsure of where they were going.
-Brandenburg Gate
- Site of Hitlers bunker
this is now surrounded by residential apartments and the bunker and where their bodies were burned is a dirt carpark. The bunker has been buried and destroyed.
- Reichstag Parliment Building
meant to be able to get the best view of the city from the dome roof but I wasnt waiting 3 hours in line!
- Berlin Wall
Saw a section of the outside wall that now has a fence around it to stop people taking pieces of the wall home. Visted the info centre below it the next day
- Bebelplatz
Site where the Nazi book burning occured where there is now a memorial which is a glass section of ground in the middle of the square that you look through and all you see is empty bookshelves. Uni where Einstein taught is also here
- Checkpoint Charlie
Everything here is fake cos a lot of it was previously blown up and they have done a shocking job at making it 'real' again. There are guys posing in the US uniform which you could pay to get a pic with and get a fake stamp in your passport
- Berliner Dom
Cathedral on Museum Island. Was blown up in 1944 and rebuilt in faux Renaissance style. Did a really good job cos it looks really old.
- East Side Gallery
Longest remaining portion of the Berlin wall (1.3kms). Murals by international artists cover one side and the other side is white so that peoples shadows could be seen and they shot. West side white and East side murals. I Learnt The Berlin Wall wasnt just one wall, it was actually 2 walls with no mans land in between and obstacles like sand pits and nails so people usually never reached the outta wall without being killed.
- A square that at oposite sides of the square there are 2 churches, One is Luteran built by protestants (?) and the other is Protestant (?) built by Luterans. Very strange.
- Hackersher Market
Very close to the hostel, full of bars and cafes. Comes alive Thur and Sat with fresh food markets and they also have a 24hr bar!
2nd Night - PUB CRAWL!
It was a group of busabout people that they met up with a group of Topdeck and a group of Gecko and a very randoms so it was pretty much all Aussies! 4 Bars and 1 club. Free Shots, 1.5E shots and cheap vodka! Awsome nite!! Lots of prostitutes hanging out on the streets with Spice Girl Boots, stockings and hot pants. Bars and Clubs not that different to Aus, just heaps cheaper!!!
3rd Night - LOCAL CRUSINE
Went to a local traditional German food Resturant with Helen, Hayley, Pam and Michelle.Was absolutely delicious!! Had Gourmet Bratwurst which was sausage filled with Cheese, side of cabbage and potato and Apple strudle for dessert and it was cheap as!!
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