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Berlin
1 Euro = 1.25 USD

Berlin was a little more of a challenge and filled with many ironies. When we got off the bus and asked for help at the info desk the guy gave us a handwritten map and rattled something off in German and that was that. When we found the main train station (where Rick Steves tells us to start) the EurAide office that was supposed to be open on Saturdays is now closed on weekends. It was also the only place that guaranteed English speaking employees. So that was a let down. We took the first hostel we found, about 10 Euro a night and no breakfast, dropped off our gear and set out to see some sights. We were told to take bus #100 and it would go around the city (to orient ourselves) and take us back to where we started. Unfortunately it didn't work like that. It took us to another side of the city and everyone was told to get off. So we ended up walking back to our starting point. So we got more orientation than we expected.

But we did get to see a lot of sights like a former Nazi party rally point which is now the Altes Museum. Next we found Brandenburg Gate which both Bonnie and I wanted to have our picture taken in front of. The irony is that the statue at the top is the Goddess of Peace. Here is a picture of Brandenburg Gate when the Nazis controlled Germany in 1938.

From there we found the old and new Humboldt University. The irony is that on the site where students used to burn books there was now a book sale (you can see it at the bottom of the picture of the new building). In front of the old building there was construction but they've preserved an empty library in honor of all the burned books. Before the construction you could stand above the library and look through a glass floor/ceiling into the empty room. It's too bad we were there when there was construction but it was good to know they were going to keep that memorial in place and build around it.

We stumbled upon an anti-NATO demonstration being put on by some angry Iranians who were handing out fliers. We watched it for a second but felt a little uncomfortable so we ducked down an alley. We came out next to a Volkswagen dealership where I got to sit in the new VW California camper. On a side note, Europe is filled with fuel efficient cars that you'd never see in the States like the Smart car. There's also a sports model. I like to joke that the car is the lock for the bike.

After we left the dealership we found Checkpoint Charlie, which used to be the only way into allied controlled Berlin. Nearby was the planned museum for the Berlin Wall which was falling apart and covered with graffiti. All over the city were silent reminders of where the wall ran or the tower guards.

At this point we were feeling a little tired and down from all the somber things we'd seen so we began to follow the sounds of blasting music. We thought maybe there was a place with a live band where we could get something to drink and take a break. But what we found was altogether different! It was Berlin's gay parade and the parade was like three miles long! And the surrounding crowd was filled with families (both straight and gay), men in drag, and some things that we never did figure out. It was quite a sight!

Once we got back to the hostel we were whipped from all the walking and the crowds. So we hit the local market below the hostel which was super cheap! We got a loaf o' bread, two meats, some cheese, four half liter biers, and a pack of cigs for only 11 Euro!! We decided to leave Berlin earlier than planned because it was so crowded and we were looking forward to the peace and quiet of Wolfsburg.


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