Europe Trip Day 2

On the second day, 20.09.08 (Saturday) we immediately set up for a trip to Berlin. Weekend train tickets bought in groups are much cheaper. Lucky me that all my colleagues are outgoing and sporting peeps who like traveling. We only forked out EURO7.40 (RM37) per person for a ticket to Berlin! Boarded the train at Hauptbanhoff around 6.58am, ok.. one note here: German trains/buses leave exactly at the scheduled time. Not earlier nor later few minutes, I salute their punctuality.

- To Berlin!! On Train!! -

The journey to Berlin took around 2hours. We napped and chat in the train so the time past really fast. Upon arrival to Berlin, we got help from a local to advice on route to tourist attractions. The Berlin Hauptbanhoff is very much bigger and modern than Leipzig's. I personally love their glasses structure, very good natural lighting.

- Me @ Berlin Hauptbanhoff -

- The Berlin Hauptbanhoff -

Our first destination is the Berliner Dome, the biggest and most impressive church in Berlin, built at the turn of the century (19th/20th) as an expression of imperial power. Entrance is 5 Euros, and you can climb on top of the dome for a beautiful view over the Berlin center. But of cause we didnt go in, we're on budgeted and time constraint trip!

- Me @ Berliner Dome (awesome!) -

- The group photo -

Then, we moved along the route according to the map we got from Tourist Info Center and come to Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, it's a nice church located near Unter den Linden/Museum Island, finished 1830 by Schinkel - English Neogothic style. Nice exhibition inside (neoclassical statues and an exhibition about Schinkel's life and work upstairs), entry is free.

- External of Friedrichswerdersche Kirche Church -

- Classical statues are exhibited here -

We had our route navigator, Felix. He's also our "rice cooker". Thanks to him we arrived at the next destination, The Twintowers of the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral). The 2 domes are facing each other at the Gendarmenmarkt in Central Berlin. These 2 domes are really awesome, we did went in since no entrance fee is needed. There was some politic exhibitions in the tower but nothing facsinates us, this bunch of illiterate (to German language) people. Haha, so we blah from the tower very soon.

- Great shoot in front of the French Dome, thanks to HG! -

- The Konzerthaus, the Ochestra House in Berlin (in the mid of 2 domes) -

- The German Dome -

Next we moved along with Felix's directions, and reached the Checkpoint Charlie, a crossing point between East and West Germany during the Cold War, which is no more now. Formerly, it was the only border crossing between East and West Germany that permitted foreigners passage. Residents of East and West Berlin were not allowed to use it. Initially we wanted to take a photo with the pretty ladies at the checkpoint, but they demanded EURO 1.00 from us and we backed off!

- No longer a checkpoint -

We also visited a large stretch of intact Berlin Wall that can be found to the east of the city centre along the River Spree in Mühlenstraße near the Oberbaumbrücke. Known as the East Side Gallery, it is a section of the wall that is preserved as a gallery. We saw many posters displaying how life was like during the Cold War era. It was hell. I can feel how overwhelm all the German were when the wall was down at November 9, 1989. The cold war made the Germans cold, this is what our cultural speakers told us during cultural training before we came.

- We crossed the Berlin Wall (remainder) -

- Berlin Wall Memorial -

On the way, our stomach growled badly, we haven't eat anything since morning and it had passed noon already. So we stopped by a Wurst (Hot Dog) booth to munch some famous German Sausage. Ya, it was all PORK. I hate to eat pork, i really do! But somehow my hungry stomach welcomed the wurst with so called curry.

- The curry wurst -

We continued the journey and reached Potsdamer Platz. It has a large shopping center and two movie theatre complexes (3D IMAX and a multiplex showing only original English versions of first-run films). The Sony Center Canopy was really cozy and we hid from the chilly weather in there.

- The weather was real chilling and windy -

- What a happening place :D -

Moving away from the Sony Center, we came across one beautiful street furnished with autumnly trees. I was so thrilled! Since I thought I will never get to see such sceneries, being 2 weeks here! Just had to take photos here..

- Autumn colour!! -

Opposite the "autumn street" is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Opened in the spring of 2005, this gigantic abstract artwork covering an entire block near the Brandenburg Gate, including an underground museum with extensive details on the Holocaust and the people who died during it. The blocks start out at ground level on the outer edges of the memorial, and then grow taller towards the middle, where the ground also slopes downwards. We had fun taking funny photos here, forgeting it was meant to be a sad place.

- Nice arrangement? Hey, we do respect the deceased! -

Next! We came to the Brandenburger Tor (Bradenburger City Gate). It is the true symbol of the city because it was situated in the no man's land just behind the wall, it also became symbolic of the division of the city. After the Fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989. This area is an open space with many street artistes perform their skills such as singing, playing musical instruments, dancing etc.. We even met some guys breakdancing for some generous pennies from the tourist!

- Q-cellers -

Next, our final destination was The Reichstag. It is the seat of the German Bundestag or federal government and, with its new dome, one of the Berlin's biggest crowd-draws. The Reichstag was constructed from 1884–94 by Paul Wallot, since a representative building was needed to house the parliament of the newly-founded German state. The glass dome of the building is most remarkable considering its mechanism. So we all wondered why German's parliament is this splendid and ours with a broken ceiling.

- Awesome Parliament, when will Malaysia have this? -

By the time we finished taking photo of the Reichstag, everyone was devasted. We sat on the large field in front of the building resting and finally decided this is our last destination. Our legs couldn't move more! Felix confirmed that we have covered >50% of the places of interest in Berlin just by half day tour! That's good enough we thought, as we really have time constraint. Now we slowly move our legs back to Hauptbanhoff to board the train back to Leipzig.

- Felix was so tired navigating (don't complain don't have your pic!) -

So we boarded the evening train back, and reach Leipzig around 8pm. I enjoyed the trip very much, I'm sure we all did. :)


... to be continued