Although I only have three weeks left in Copenhagen, I have a proposal for any/all of you. Air Canada has a special offer going on this month. Round-trip flights from San Francisco are as cheap as $736, it doesn't get any better than that!
So...if you can pack up and leave for a bit, I'd love for you to come visit!
Check out the link below:
http://www.aircanada.com/us/en/offers/air/flycopenhagen/flycopenhagen.html?acid=ba#SFO-INT_US-SFOCPH
-Nat
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
"The Holy Right" and Caving
My friend Matt and I decided a few months ago that we would travel to Budapest together. So, we booked our flights and soon enough the day came to travel to Hungary. I flew into Italy the day before we left for Budapest and I stayed at Matt's immense apartment on the Ponte Vecchio. His roommates and friends were all really friendly and made me feel welcomed during my short stay.
Our flight to Budapest left the Pisa airport at 10:30pm. Let's just say it was a very long day for us. We took an airport bus (in which there were only 3 of us on this huge charter bus...how wasteful!) from the Florence train station to the airport. While we waited, Matt and I conversed about everything from home and missing our families, to life back in the states after our respective study abroad experiences. When we finally boarded our Wizz Air flight (they have very cheap flights, under $100 both ways most of the time, but have hefty policies in regards to carry-on baggage), we both fell asleep.
After landing, we withdrew some Forint (Hungarian currency), and took a bus to a metro in hopes of getting to our hostel. It turns out, however, that by this time (around 12:30am) the metro wasn't running anymore. Matt and I didn't want to take our chances since we had no idea where we were, so we took a cab to the hostel. It's a good thing we did, since the cab ride took at least 10 minutes.
Upon arriving at the hostel we would be staying in for a few nights, Matt and I were both confused. Could Tiger Tim's hostel really be next to the street's "69" shop? Luckily, after getting inside, everything was fine. Tim was really friendly, he handed me a map of Budapest and wrote down the wifi passcode for us to use ('Kevin' was the network name, and of course the first thing I thought of was my papa). Then, he showed us to our room, pointed out our beds and told us he would give us details about the city in the morning since he presumed we were tired after our journey.
We both crawled into bed, Matt in the top bunk and me on the bottom (reminded me of my younger days when I shared a bunk bed with my brother), and fell asleep. Of course, I had my ear plugs. Can't sleep in a hostel without them!
The next morning, we woke up and got ready for our day. We slept in a little bit, until about 10am, and talked to Tim before leaving. We told him of our interest in caving, my friend Marissa who previously stayed at Tiger Tim's hostel while she was studying abroad told me that Tim can arrange for us to explore the caves of Budapest). He simply told us to "be back at the hostel at 3pm for caving".
We headed out into the cold of Budapest, I had my beanie and gloves to keep me warm. Matt, on the otherhand, was a less prepared. I mean, he did have his hooded (never seen one of those before), fleece North Face jacket, but he lacked gloves to keep his fingers from becoming frozen. Haha, that kid.
When we stepped outside, we learned just how central Tiger Tim's hostel was. It is in such a great location, right across from the main train station. There are many places to eat and shop as well as nightlife. We walked across the street to the Tesco Express to grab some food for breakfast and snacks for later. This is when we discovered that everything in Budapest is dirt cheap. The exchange rate is about 230 HUF to $1. Together, we bought three apples, two carrots, a bag of mixed nuts/raisins, and two pastries all for less than $3. Matt and I couldn't believe it.
After my revelation and happiness that things were finally cheaper than in Copenhagen, we headed to St. Stephen's Basilica.
We explored the inside of the Basilica, including the chapel where "The Holy Right" hand of St. Stephen is housed.
After checking out the Basilica, we trekked it up to the cupola. After what seemed like an two sets of endless, narrow spiral staircases, Matt and I made it to the top. We made it to the top at exactly 12pm when the bells chimed. All of Budapest was visible, it was a terrific view.
After heading back down the way we came, we walked back to the hostel. We went past the Hungarian Parliament building to see the times for the English tours. We decided we would come back first thing the next morning to get tickets, since the first tour is at 10am.
When we reached the hostel, Tiger Tim, as Matt and I called him, gave us a suggestion on where to eat for lunch. We walked to the Hummus Bar, which was only about a five minute walk. I ordered a hummus salad sandwich, it was basically pita bread stuffed with vegetables, hummus, and spices. It was pretty delicious. They even gave us a complementary warm mint tea...perfect for warming us up after being out in the cold!
After lunch, Matt and I took a walk along the main street near our hostel. We had about 45 minutes before we needed to be back for caving. Matt finally bought a pair of gloves, much needed, I'd say.
We got back to Tiger Tim's Place, where Tim gave us directions on where to meet with the other people from hostels who would also cave. We met at 3:45pm and waited a while before taking two buses to get to the caves. Upon arriving, we waited in the warm bar area, signed some paperwork, and then waited a little more as the big group was divided into two. Matt and I were part of the second group that had to wait awhile.
When our guide told us it was time, we went upstairs to get our "special" caving outfits of zippered whole-body suits and helmets with lights. Everything was dusty, the room where all of us changed had a huge cloud of dust, you could taste it too. Haha.
After getting all geared up in our blue, red, and yellow suits, our group of about 14 young cavers (one guy from our hostel backed out after five minutes, he was claustrophobic and frankly I think he believed that this was just a walking tour) and one guide headed out for what turned out to be a three- hour adventure.
We walked into the cave and went down the ladder before beginning. During the entire three hours in the cave, we did lots of shimmying on our stomachs, crawling on our hands and knees, climbing up rocks, and sliding. At one point, there was a tiny hole that a few people, including myself crawled through. I'm still surprised that I fit through it.
Our flight to Budapest left the Pisa airport at 10:30pm. Let's just say it was a very long day for us. We took an airport bus (in which there were only 3 of us on this huge charter bus...how wasteful!) from the Florence train station to the airport. While we waited, Matt and I conversed about everything from home and missing our families, to life back in the states after our respective study abroad experiences. When we finally boarded our Wizz Air flight (they have very cheap flights, under $100 both ways most of the time, but have hefty policies in regards to carry-on baggage), we both fell asleep.
After landing, we withdrew some Forint (Hungarian currency), and took a bus to a metro in hopes of getting to our hostel. It turns out, however, that by this time (around 12:30am) the metro wasn't running anymore. Matt and I didn't want to take our chances since we had no idea where we were, so we took a cab to the hostel. It's a good thing we did, since the cab ride took at least 10 minutes.
Upon arriving at the hostel we would be staying in for a few nights, Matt and I were both confused. Could Tiger Tim's hostel really be next to the street's "69" shop? Luckily, after getting inside, everything was fine. Tim was really friendly, he handed me a map of Budapest and wrote down the wifi passcode for us to use ('Kevin' was the network name, and of course the first thing I thought of was my papa). Then, he showed us to our room, pointed out our beds and told us he would give us details about the city in the morning since he presumed we were tired after our journey.
We both crawled into bed, Matt in the top bunk and me on the bottom (reminded me of my younger days when I shared a bunk bed with my brother), and fell asleep. Of course, I had my ear plugs. Can't sleep in a hostel without them!
The next morning, we woke up and got ready for our day. We slept in a little bit, until about 10am, and talked to Tim before leaving. We told him of our interest in caving, my friend Marissa who previously stayed at Tiger Tim's hostel while she was studying abroad told me that Tim can arrange for us to explore the caves of Budapest). He simply told us to "be back at the hostel at 3pm for caving".
We headed out into the cold of Budapest, I had my beanie and gloves to keep me warm. Matt, on the otherhand, was a less prepared. I mean, he did have his hooded (never seen one of those before), fleece North Face jacket, but he lacked gloves to keep his fingers from becoming frozen. Haha, that kid.
When we stepped outside, we learned just how central Tiger Tim's hostel was. It is in such a great location, right across from the main train station. There are many places to eat and shop as well as nightlife. We walked across the street to the Tesco Express to grab some food for breakfast and snacks for later. This is when we discovered that everything in Budapest is dirt cheap. The exchange rate is about 230 HUF to $1. Together, we bought three apples, two carrots, a bag of mixed nuts/raisins, and two pastries all for less than $3. Matt and I couldn't believe it.
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| Side view of the train station |
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| Square-shaped cereal boxes!! |
After my revelation and happiness that things were finally cheaper than in Copenhagen, we headed to St. Stephen's Basilica.
We explored the inside of the Basilica, including the chapel where "The Holy Right" hand of St. Stephen is housed.
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| St. Stephen's Basilica |
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| The Holy Right (hand) of St. Stephen, Hungary's most sacred treasure |
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| Matt and I at the cupola |
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| View of Budapest |
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| Matthias church |
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| Parliament building |
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| Parliament |
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| Sightseeing in a bike/the back end of a car |
When we reached the hostel, Tiger Tim, as Matt and I called him, gave us a suggestion on where to eat for lunch. We walked to the Hummus Bar, which was only about a five minute walk. I ordered a hummus salad sandwich, it was basically pita bread stuffed with vegetables, hummus, and spices. It was pretty delicious. They even gave us a complementary warm mint tea...perfect for warming us up after being out in the cold!
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| My hummus salad sandwich |
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| "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people"- Victor Borga |
We got back to Tiger Tim's Place, where Tim gave us directions on where to meet with the other people from hostels who would also cave. We met at 3:45pm and waited a while before taking two buses to get to the caves. Upon arriving, we waited in the warm bar area, signed some paperwork, and then waited a little more as the big group was divided into two. Matt and I were part of the second group that had to wait awhile.
When our guide told us it was time, we went upstairs to get our "special" caving outfits of zippered whole-body suits and helmets with lights. Everything was dusty, the room where all of us changed had a huge cloud of dust, you could taste it too. Haha.
After getting all geared up in our blue, red, and yellow suits, our group of about 14 young cavers (one guy from our hostel backed out after five minutes, he was claustrophobic and frankly I think he believed that this was just a walking tour) and one guide headed out for what turned out to be a three- hour adventure.
We walked into the cave and went down the ladder before beginning. During the entire three hours in the cave, we did lots of shimmying on our stomachs, crawling on our hands and knees, climbing up rocks, and sliding. At one point, there was a tiny hole that a few people, including myself crawled through. I'm still surprised that I fit through it.
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| Heading into the cave, "watch your head"...but of course I hit mine. |
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| Was it a coincidence that I got to wear my favorite color? I like to think it was fate. Haha |
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| Making our way down |
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| See the face? |
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| Follow the leader |
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| Roots from above |
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| hello there! |
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| It's an elephant! |
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| Matt and I |
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| Our caving group after our crawling, sliding, and climbing adventure |
By the time we finished caving and got on the bus back to the city center, it was nearly 10pm. Matt and I went back to the hostel afterwards to ask Tiger Tim about places for dinner. We ended up walking to an area with a bunch of restaurants and cafes. We both wanted to try some traditional Hungarian food, but at this time, we were both hungry and tired. So anything would do.
We chose a place called Cafe Vian, we sat outside since I wasn't too keen on sitting inside where smoking was permitted. Good thing there were blankets and heaters. I ordered the Hungarian Mushroom soup and Matt had Wiener Schnitzel (which isn't even Hungarian, haha) and mulled wine. I enjoyed the warmth and texture of the soup, creamy with mushroom slices.
After dinner, we headed back to the hostel and after I took a much needed shower (my hair and hands were filthy), we called it a night. Both of us were exhausted and had plans to wake up at 8:15am to get tickets to see the Parliament building.
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| Christmas decorations on the streets of Budapest |
Sunday, November 27, 2011
10 days of escape
Sorry that I haven't blogged in...10 days. Wow!
I got back late last night from a nice getaway to Budapest and Italy that extended from the 16th to the 26th. I have many pictures and fond memories that I will share with you all this week.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of food, family, and love.
I got back late last night from a nice getaway to Budapest and Italy that extended from the 16th to the 26th. I have many pictures and fond memories that I will share with you all this week.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of food, family, and love.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Berlin, Part IV
I wanted to do as much as possible on my last day in Berlin. So, Sarah and I woke up before 8am and took the S-Bahn to the East Side Gallery. This is the part of the Berlin wall with all the different artwork. Since we were there pretty early, we were some of the only ones walking down the street admiring the art. We took a lot of photos, here are just some of my favorites:
After Sarah and I finished the walk along the East Side Gallery, we headed back on the S-Bahn and got off at the Stadtmitte Station. We walked past Checkpoint Charlie and visited the Topography of Terror outdoor exhibit. It was during our walk and standing outside that we realized how cold the weather was. Our fingers were freezing and our bodies just couldn't warm up. We didn't know the exact temperature, but I can tell you that even Copenhagen hasn't felt that cold to me (or maybe, now, I've just become immune to the winter weather).
The outdoor exhibit had lots of pictures and historical information about the Nazis, government, concentration camps, and it highlighted many individuals from the WWII era.
After visiting so many museums and taking tours of the city and Sachsenhausen, I can honestly say that I have learned a great deal about German history (more so than I have from a book or in class). I am really fascinated by it, and I am very interested in learning more when I get home.
Sarah knew I had a list of things I wanted to do and see before I left that afternoon, I felt a little bad having her run around with me while I tried to get as much in as possible. She said she didn't mind though.
After the Topography of Terror, we briskly walk (so not to waste time and also to keep warm) to Berlin's famous chocolate store. The receptionist at the hostel and Kim (our tour guide) told us that they have amazing chocolate creations and they make some good sweets. When we first got off at Stadtmitte, we were planning to go there before visiting Topography of Terror but it opened at 11am (and we got there at 10am). So we opted to go back afterwards.
Sarah and I were looking forward to being inside where we knew it would be much warmer (we had been out in the cold since 8:45am). When we walked through the door, our senses came alive. The scent of chocolate filled our noses and the amazing varieties of sweets were overwhelming. Not to mention those over-the-top chocolate sculptures that were on display throughout the store. It was chocolate heaven and we stayed in there for over an hour trying to decide exactly what we wanted...there was just so much to choose from (way too many options)!
By the time we left, around 12:15pm, it was much later than I had anticipated. Sarah and I headed to the Jewish memorial since we both wanted to go into the visitors' center/museum section. It was a quick walk to get there, about 10 minutes, but there was a line already formedoutside around the stairwell. By the time we got in, if we waited, and gone through security I would not have much time to spend there since I needed to get on the S-Bahn by 2:30pm to catch my bus back to Copenhagen. So sadly, I was not able to visit the memorial. But...when I go back to Berlin (one day I will!), that will be my first stop (Sarah spent a couple of hours in there after I left, and she said it was definitely worthwhile).
We walked towards the Potsdamer Platz station and decided to get lunch before I headed off. There was a Vapiano (remember, it originated in Germany), so of course, we decided to eat there. The restaurant was crowded since it was lunch time. The set-up of the tables and chairs was odd and it was hard to maneuver, but the food was good. Sarah and I both ordered salads and the pumpkin soup (that week's special). We paid at the cashier, took a few gummy bears from the bowl and left. I gave her a hug goodbye and told her to enjoy the next few days in Berlin. Then, I took the train to Kaiserdamm station.
I walked to the bus station, got on the charter bus with all the other families, couples, and individuals, and made my way back to Copenhagen. It was a long 8 hour journey by bus, ferry, and then bus again (with a couple stops along the way). During the bus ride, the driver had the radio on and one of the songs that played was Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (be sure to wear flowers in your hair)", hearing that made me smile and think of home.
When I got back to my place around 12:30am, I was still soaking in all that I had done, seen, and learned while in Berlin. I had such an amazing fall break trip, I am truly lucky and grateful to have been given the opportunity to study and live in Europe for the semester. The memories I have made traveling here will always stick with me.
After Sarah and I finished the walk along the East Side Gallery, we headed back on the S-Bahn and got off at the Stadtmitte Station. We walked past Checkpoint Charlie and visited the Topography of Terror outdoor exhibit. It was during our walk and standing outside that we realized how cold the weather was. Our fingers were freezing and our bodies just couldn't warm up. We didn't know the exact temperature, but I can tell you that even Copenhagen hasn't felt that cold to me (or maybe, now, I've just become immune to the winter weather).
The outdoor exhibit had lots of pictures and historical information about the Nazis, government, concentration camps, and it highlighted many individuals from the WWII era.
After visiting so many museums and taking tours of the city and Sachsenhausen, I can honestly say that I have learned a great deal about German history (more so than I have from a book or in class). I am really fascinated by it, and I am very interested in learning more when I get home.
Sarah knew I had a list of things I wanted to do and see before I left that afternoon, I felt a little bad having her run around with me while I tried to get as much in as possible. She said she didn't mind though.
After the Topography of Terror, we briskly walk (so not to waste time and also to keep warm) to Berlin's famous chocolate store. The receptionist at the hostel and Kim (our tour guide) told us that they have amazing chocolate creations and they make some good sweets. When we first got off at Stadtmitte, we were planning to go there before visiting Topography of Terror but it opened at 11am (and we got there at 10am). So we opted to go back afterwards.
Sarah and I were looking forward to being inside where we knew it would be much warmer (we had been out in the cold since 8:45am). When we walked through the door, our senses came alive. The scent of chocolate filled our noses and the amazing varieties of sweets were overwhelming. Not to mention those over-the-top chocolate sculptures that were on display throughout the store. It was chocolate heaven and we stayed in there for over an hour trying to decide exactly what we wanted...there was just so much to choose from (way too many options)!
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| The oh-so-beloved chocolate advent calendar |
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| TV tower replica |
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| massive chocolate volcano that spewed liquid chocolate every few minutes |
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| After our chocolate store adventure |
We walked towards the Potsdamer Platz station and decided to get lunch before I headed off. There was a Vapiano (remember, it originated in Germany), so of course, we decided to eat there. The restaurant was crowded since it was lunch time. The set-up of the tables and chairs was odd and it was hard to maneuver, but the food was good. Sarah and I both ordered salads and the pumpkin soup (that week's special). We paid at the cashier, took a few gummy bears from the bowl and left. I gave her a hug goodbye and told her to enjoy the next few days in Berlin. Then, I took the train to Kaiserdamm station.
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| Some guy's backpack on the train |
I walked to the bus station, got on the charter bus with all the other families, couples, and individuals, and made my way back to Copenhagen. It was a long 8 hour journey by bus, ferry, and then bus again (with a couple stops along the way). During the bus ride, the driver had the radio on and one of the songs that played was Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (be sure to wear flowers in your hair)", hearing that made me smile and think of home.
When I got back to my place around 12:30am, I was still soaking in all that I had done, seen, and learned while in Berlin. I had such an amazing fall break trip, I am truly lucky and grateful to have been given the opportunity to study and live in Europe for the semester. The memories I have made traveling here will always stick with me.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
BRUUUUUUCCEEEE
Right now, as I sit in my room typing, Bruce's Blinded by the Light is being blasted on the radio outside of my building (a few construction workers are creating a brick wall). Even the Danes have it right.
Just a sweet, little reminder of home :)
Just a sweet, little reminder of home :)
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Lovely Sunday
Yesterday, my friends and I had a large and wonderful noon brunch at Keops kollegium. After a few days of planning the potluck, we all showed up with a dish to share. There were various dishes, sweet and savory, that were all delicious. There was a huge group of us that showed up in the common room with our serving platters, bowls, plates and utensils to share a well-planned meal together.
Anna and Sonia made yogurt with musli
Jacob (our Danish friend, see Papa!) made "Danish" pancakes that had a hint of lemon (his grandmother's recipe)
James made grilled mushrooms
Tom made French crepes,
Ned made a dill salad with potatoes and veggies
Sarah made an apple crumble
Rachael made scones
Samantha made banana chocolate chip bread
Henrique and Anna (from Brazil) brought apple and orange juices
Laura made pesto with cheese bread
Lindsey brought almonds, syrup, jam, and whipped cream for the "American" pancakes (that Sarah was originally going to make, but they still went well with Jacob and Tom's flat pancakes)
Lucy made ginger cake, Magnus brought his vast collection of cereals and a carton of milk (he had 5 boxes of different muslis and corn flakes)
Louise made french toast
Matthias made a scramble with ham and veggies.
Yours truly made a fruit salad that had apples, oranges, plums and sultanas...we're pretty limited on fruit at this point in the year.
Everything was so great, I think I sampled a little of everything. All of my friends are such great cooks, all of the food (except the cereal, of course) was hand prepared which makes it even more special. James is always so considerate and keeps me in mind when he cooks. When we have potluck dinners, he frequently puts the meat in a separate bowl from the rest of the dish so that I can have some too. It's really nice of him, I really appreciate it. When we were serving ourselves yesterday, he said to me "Hey Nat, the mushroom dish I made is vegetarian".
After lunch (at 2:30pm), some of us (Tom, Ned, Louise, Matthias, Samantha, Magnus, a new Mathias-from Belgium, Max, and Henrique...Katrin, Dan, and two young Danish boys joined a little while later) walked across the street to a park. Within the park, there is a huge field with nets, we played soccer there until 4:30pm. When we first arrived, a dog punctured the soccer ball, so we had to wait around for a new one. Eventually, we played a friendly game of soccer. It was pretty cold out there (I kept my sweatshirt, jacket, hood, and gloves on) but it was fun to run around and burn off that food we ate.
It was such a great 'not-so-lazy' Sunday. I had the best time with all the friends I have made here in Copenhagen. We've all grown so close and I really love spending time with them. When the time comes, it'll be very hard to say goodbye to them...but I'll worry about that later. I'm just going to keep enjoying the rest of my time here.
Anna and Sonia made yogurt with musli
Jacob (our Danish friend, see Papa!) made "Danish" pancakes that had a hint of lemon (his grandmother's recipe)
James made grilled mushrooms
Tom made French crepes,
Ned made a dill salad with potatoes and veggies
Sarah made an apple crumble
Rachael made scones
Samantha made banana chocolate chip bread
Henrique and Anna (from Brazil) brought apple and orange juices
Laura made pesto with cheese bread
Lindsey brought almonds, syrup, jam, and whipped cream for the "American" pancakes (that Sarah was originally going to make, but they still went well with Jacob and Tom's flat pancakes)
Lucy made ginger cake, Magnus brought his vast collection of cereals and a carton of milk (he had 5 boxes of different muslis and corn flakes)
Louise made french toast
Matthias made a scramble with ham and veggies.
Yours truly made a fruit salad that had apples, oranges, plums and sultanas...we're pretty limited on fruit at this point in the year.
Everything was so great, I think I sampled a little of everything. All of my friends are such great cooks, all of the food (except the cereal, of course) was hand prepared which makes it even more special. James is always so considerate and keeps me in mind when he cooks. When we have potluck dinners, he frequently puts the meat in a separate bowl from the rest of the dish so that I can have some too. It's really nice of him, I really appreciate it. When we were serving ourselves yesterday, he said to me "Hey Nat, the mushroom dish I made is vegetarian".
After lunch (at 2:30pm), some of us (Tom, Ned, Louise, Matthias, Samantha, Magnus, a new Mathias-from Belgium, Max, and Henrique...Katrin, Dan, and two young Danish boys joined a little while later) walked across the street to a park. Within the park, there is a huge field with nets, we played soccer there until 4:30pm. When we first arrived, a dog punctured the soccer ball, so we had to wait around for a new one. Eventually, we played a friendly game of soccer. It was pretty cold out there (I kept my sweatshirt, jacket, hood, and gloves on) but it was fun to run around and burn off that food we ate.
It was such a great 'not-so-lazy' Sunday. I had the best time with all the friends I have made here in Copenhagen. We've all grown so close and I really love spending time with them. When the time comes, it'll be very hard to say goodbye to them...but I'll worry about that later. I'm just going to keep enjoying the rest of my time here.
Berlin, Part III
Sarah and I started our Wednesday early with a trip to the Reichstag, the Parliament building. A week before leaving for Fall Break, I registered online for us to visit the Dome since you can't just walk in (it's a free visit). I received a confirmation email for Wednesday at 9:15am.
We woke up around 7:30am and got ready for the day. We grabbed a bite to eat at a bakery a few blocks away from the Reichstag (I bought a fruit cup and a pretzel, which was really good!).
The steps leading up to our visit to the Dome were extensive. Our passports were checked at a bungalow next to the Reichstag and then we had to go through security. Afterwards, a large group of us were escorted to the building by a security guard. We entered through one set of automatic doors and then were stuck in between that set and another set...the doors trapped us in. After a minute or so, the second pair of doors opened and we were led into a huge elevator that took us up to the Dome. Everything from getting our badges at the bungalow to riding the elevator was well-thought and meticulous, all for security purposes.
We all got audio guides and then started on up the spiral ramp of the Dome. The audio guides were very high-tech, instead of having to press a number and then 'play' like you would normally, this one would move to the next section when you were at a specific place on the ramp. It knew exactly where you were because it would tell you to 'turn left' or ' now look at' a certain building or landmark. It was pretty incredible (although mine did mess up a few times).
From this audio tour, I learned a lot about Germany's government, the different buildings in Berlin, and about the architecture of Reichstag building (including the construction and energy efficiency of the Dome itself).
After walking back down the ramp, Sarah and I took a look at the photograph exhibit that circled the cone. There were pictures and descriptions of significant events in the Government's history. Afterwards, we returned our audio guides and headed back outside (the same process as before took place, except in a reversed order).
After our visit to the Reichstag, Sarah and I headed to Bradenburger Tor for our Free Walking Tour which began at 11am. Our guide's name was Kim and she was a young woman from Australia who's obsessed with Berlin. She was so enthusiastic, informative, and a terrific tour guide. Sarah and I gave her a nice tip at the end, since this is how she makes her living and did an amazing job.
I'll give you a run-down of the sites Kim took us to because writing and describing everything would take far too long:
We ate at this little restaurant across from the Pergamon. Sarah got soup and beer, I ordered a salad and tea. After our brief lunch, we headed to the German Historical Museum. The place was huge, with memorabilia and information about Germany from the beginning of its history. We only had a few hours to look around since it closes at 6pm. So we spent the entire time on the floor dedicated to the years 1933 to the present.
There was so much to see, even two hours was not enough. But I learned and saw a lot, from vast amounts of information about the Nazis to German culture.
Sarah and I left when the Museum was officially closed. We headed to a Mexican restaurant called Santa Maria in Kreuzberg (I was reluctant to eat another faux quesadilla after the incident in Tallinn. Long story short, what I ordered was NOT a quesadilla and it came with a side of ranch. Upon asking for salsa, I got the "we don't have salsa" response. WHAT?!). We met up with a couch surfer who Sarah had been corresponding with over the past week. She was there with her boyfriend and two other couch surfers from Israel also showed up. Sarah and I started with margaritas and we shared a plate of chips with guacamole and salsa, which were pretty good. But honestly, how can you mess that up? I ordered a burrito, risky I know. It wasn't even wrapped up like a proper burrito, the ends weren't tucked in, it looked more like a taquito. Sorry for my complaining, let's just say I can't wait to come home to some good Mexican food (along with a whole laundry list of other cuisines that I've been missing while away).
Dinner ended around 11pm and Sarah and I bought some snacks at the Kaiser's grocery store near the metro station. Regretfully, I bought a 2 kg bag of shelled peanuts, Sarah convinced me to upgrade from the smaller bag. Let's just say, I had more than enough of that snack after a few days.
We then decided to call it a night. We were pretty exhausted after such a long and eventful day. I immediately fell asleep upon putting my head on the pillow.
We woke up around 7:30am and got ready for the day. We grabbed a bite to eat at a bakery a few blocks away from the Reichstag (I bought a fruit cup and a pretzel, which was really good!).
The steps leading up to our visit to the Dome were extensive. Our passports were checked at a bungalow next to the Reichstag and then we had to go through security. Afterwards, a large group of us were escorted to the building by a security guard. We entered through one set of automatic doors and then were stuck in between that set and another set...the doors trapped us in. After a minute or so, the second pair of doors opened and we were led into a huge elevator that took us up to the Dome. Everything from getting our badges at the bungalow to riding the elevator was well-thought and meticulous, all for security purposes.
We all got audio guides and then started on up the spiral ramp of the Dome. The audio guides were very high-tech, instead of having to press a number and then 'play' like you would normally, this one would move to the next section when you were at a specific place on the ramp. It knew exactly where you were because it would tell you to 'turn left' or ' now look at' a certain building or landmark. It was pretty incredible (although mine did mess up a few times).
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| Walking up the ramp |
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| A view of Berlin |
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| We made it to the top! |
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| The Reichstag doesn't have a roof, so this cone captures the rain and snow |
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| Heading back down the ramp |
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| You can't see now, but below those windows is the Reichstag Plenary Chamber, represents transparency |
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| Sarah and I in front of the Reichstag |
After our visit to the Reichstag, Sarah and I headed to Bradenburger Tor for our Free Walking Tour which began at 11am. Our guide's name was Kim and she was a young woman from Australia who's obsessed with Berlin. She was so enthusiastic, informative, and a terrific tour guide. Sarah and I gave her a nice tip at the end, since this is how she makes her living and did an amazing job.
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| An impostor 'Leia' Minnie Mouse in Pariser Platz |
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| Does that building look familiar? Well, it's the hotel where Michael Jackson infamously dangled his baby. |
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| Random 7 person cycling contraption |
I'll give you a run-down of the sites Kim took us to because writing and describing everything would take far too long:
- Bradenburger Gate
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| It was not an accident that the statue of 'Victory' is placed above Pariser Platz (thus, victory over Paris). Victory is also a keeping an eye on the French Embassy that is in the square. |
- The divide between East and West Berlin
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| The line in the street represents where the Berlin Wall once stood |
- The Jewish Memorial
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| Everyone has their own understanding of what this memorial is, there is no 'real' meaning. |
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| The concrete slabs are different heights, have no writing and are separated from one another. When you walk through it, it is as though there are blinders separating you from everyone else. |
- Hitler's Bunker
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| Kim standing above Hitler's bunker, where he spent his last days. It is now a car parking lot, there are no signs that tell people what this site represents. |
- Part of the Berlin Wall
- Nazi-style Building (that now houses the Department of Taxation)
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| Communist mural on the wall of the building |
- Topography of Terror
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| On the other side of the wall is the Topography of Terror Museum |
- Checkpoint Charlie
- Gendarmenmarkt Square, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe has two nearly identical French and German Cathedrals (although the German cathedral is a few meters higher, typical)
- Humboldt University, this is where the Nazi book burning took place in 1933
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| Plaque in front of Humboldt commemorating the book burning |
- 'Mother and Her Dead Son' statue in Neue Wache (New Guard House)
- Berliner Dom
When we got to the Berliner Dom, we sat on the steps as Kim told us the story of how and why the Berlin Wall fell...turns out it was unintended and an act of miscommunication that led to the event.
By this time, Sarah and I were freezing and hungry (it was about 2:30pm now). It was a very cold day and we wanted to get a bite to eat and something warm to drink before we continued to our next stop.
We ate at this little restaurant across from the Pergamon. Sarah got soup and beer, I ordered a salad and tea. After our brief lunch, we headed to the German Historical Museum. The place was huge, with memorabilia and information about Germany from the beginning of its history. We only had a few hours to look around since it closes at 6pm. So we spent the entire time on the floor dedicated to the years 1933 to the present.
There was so much to see, even two hours was not enough. But I learned and saw a lot, from vast amounts of information about the Nazis to German culture.
Sarah and I left when the Museum was officially closed. We headed to a Mexican restaurant called Santa Maria in Kreuzberg (I was reluctant to eat another faux quesadilla after the incident in Tallinn. Long story short, what I ordered was NOT a quesadilla and it came with a side of ranch. Upon asking for salsa, I got the "we don't have salsa" response. WHAT?!). We met up with a couch surfer who Sarah had been corresponding with over the past week. She was there with her boyfriend and two other couch surfers from Israel also showed up. Sarah and I started with margaritas and we shared a plate of chips with guacamole and salsa, which were pretty good. But honestly, how can you mess that up? I ordered a burrito, risky I know. It wasn't even wrapped up like a proper burrito, the ends weren't tucked in, it looked more like a taquito. Sorry for my complaining, let's just say I can't wait to come home to some good Mexican food (along with a whole laundry list of other cuisines that I've been missing while away).
Dinner ended around 11pm and Sarah and I bought some snacks at the Kaiser's grocery store near the metro station. Regretfully, I bought a 2 kg bag of shelled peanuts, Sarah convinced me to upgrade from the smaller bag. Let's just say, I had more than enough of that snack after a few days.
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| Me and my giant bag of peanuts...more than enough for an elephant! |
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