TravelingGirl2005

September 12 - Berlin

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel (breakfast on the tour was always included as well as some of the dinners and lunches). We then met our local guide Sarah, who took us on a walking tour. (http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004455/in/set-1024707/). Our walking tour led us past/around/through the former site of the wall (and past memorials to people who died trying to escape East Germany), past the Reichstag, to the new Holocaust memorial, past the new train station, to the Brandenburg Gate and to Checkpoint Charlie. (That was a lot of walking, my feet were KILLING me.)

Near the Brandenburg Gate was a Frank O. Gehry building (the DZ Bank building). The outside of the building had to conform to specific standards, so it doesn't look like a more typical Gehry building. But wander into the lobby/entry, and an entirely different view greets you. http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004700/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004725/in/set-1024707/

http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004559/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004578/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004672/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004796/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004804/in/set-1024707/
http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004909/in/set-1024707/

We had lunch at an Italian restaurant (doh!!). We had really nice antipasto (meats and roasted veggies) and then I had the lasagna (I think there were other choices too - but I always went to for meat version). It was really good - much lighter than traditional ones made at home (not much cheese). We then went across the street to the chocolate store. MMMMMM... chocolate... (http://flickr.com/photos/cshell/47004957/in/set-1024707/).

Christoph and I met up on some random street and decided to hang out together for the rest of the afternoon. We went to the Jewish History museum. The museum was interesting - the shape was weird, the feeling of the rooms and windows and floors a bit unsettling (it was as if there were no 90 degree angles in the place). The actual exhibits were cool too, giving you insights into what Jewish life is/was like, etc.

We then went to the Berlinische Galierie (a modern art gallery). Christoph had wanted to see this, but then ran out of time as he had to take care of some tour business before the end of the business day. We did the ultra high speed tour (ok, saw it, saw it, saw it, done). We tried then to get back to the hotel, but had a little trouble on the S-bahn (or was it the U-bahn? whatever...) After more walking (enough that I thought my feet might fall off), we made it back to the hotel. He did his thing for a while, and then we met for dinner in the neighborhood. Maria and Lanny (other tour members) joined us for pizza and beer just down the street from our hotel. That was fun - great conversations.

posted by Unknown @ 7:37 PM