Berlin, Part II

The next morning, I woke up around 8:30am and got ready for day 2. I had no idea my alarm was going off (thanks to my noise-eliminating ear plugs) until another guy staying in the room came and tapped me saying "your alarm". There were four people staying in the same bedroom that night (the room has six beds total), two of my roommates who were from Rio (doing a European trip) had gotten up a little earlier so I had to wait for them to finish getting ready in the bathroom before I could have my turn.

I left the hostel around 9:45am and walked to Mockernbruke Station to take the U-Bahn to Freidrichstrade station (I purchased a 48 hour pass that morning, which turned out to be a great investment). I was heading to Museum Island for the morning to check out the Pergamon Museum. Museum Island is home to several of Berlin's museums, including the Altes, Neues, and Bodes. The receptionist at the hostel and another guest told me the previous day that I should definitely visit the Pergamon. There was also a new exhibit that was supposed to be interesting.

After I exited the station, I walked to Museum Island. It was a little chilly and not many people were outside on the streets. As I walked towards the Pergamon, I noticed just how many massive museums there were in that one area.

Directly in front is the Bode Museum (there was a really long line at 10:15am), on the right is the Pergamon

At 10:15am, I made my way into the relatively short line at the Pergamon. I only had to wait a few minutes and then I bought my ticket into the museum. I purchased the ticket that allowed me to see the museum as well as the temporary exhibit of Ancient Pergamon (which included admission into the 360 degree panorama of Pergamon).

Outside the Pergamon Museum

The cylindrical structure is the museum's temporary exhibit, 360 degree Panorama of Ancient Pergamon

I first went into the Panorama exhibit, which is completely separate from the museum. I walked up a few flights of stairs and found myself on a balcony that got an amazing top down view of a depiction of Ancient Pergamon, a city located on the west coast of Turkey. According to the Pergamon website and information from a pamphlet I received, Yadegar Asisi, a Berlin-based artist created this 25 x 100 meter large photorealistic panoramic view. The exhibit displays the ancient culture, architecture and public occurrences in an ancient Greek-Roman city. It effectively uses audio impressions, day and night simulations (complete with sunrise and sunset), and sound effects, and soft background music to depict life in Ancient Pergamon in the year 129 CE. I found myself standing in one spot for over 15 minutes and then walking back downstairs to the ground floor where I could look up at the art. I stayed in the exhibit for 30 minutes and I know I could've stayed longer...it was so relaxing, I felt almost entranced.

After leaving the Panorama, I headed into the second part of the temporary Pergamon exhibit that had artifacts and told the history of how Ancient Pergamon was rediscovered. There were documents, sculptures, and artwork inside the multiple rooms. I was given an audio guide that delivered detailed information about how Ancient Pergamon was stumbled up as well as explanations of different objects from daily life.

Painting of what Pergamon was thought to look like

See the frog?

Alexander the Great

A room with all the ancient gods and goddesses written in family tree form

I spent a good amount of time in the Pergamon exhibit. My next stop was going through the main exhibits in the museum.

Reconstructed entrance to the Athena Temple

The Pergamon Altar

Floor pattern

Market Gate of Miletus

Ishtar Gate

Hammurabi's Code is engraved on this thumb-like sculpture

Guards of a palace

Part of the main procession street in Babylon

I spent a good three hours total at the Pergamon, there were even a few collections that I didn't have time to get a chance to see (which includes Islamic Art). And, to be honest, by the time 1pm rolled around, I was experiencing 'museum fatigue'.

My one photo in the Islamic Art exhibit; tapestries

I left the museum and walked not too far to the Berliner Dom. I was meeting Sarah, who was arriving by bus, at 2pm. So, I had just enough time to go into the picturesque cathedral.

There was some sort of German performance going on...lots of dramatic acting

View from a balcony

Afterwards, I went upstairs to where the models and sketches of the Berliner Dom were located. Then, I climbed endless flights of stairs to get to the top of the cathedral where I could get a great view of the city.

The red building with the clock tower is City Hall

A view from atop the Berliner Dom

The building on the middle-left is the German Historical Museum

<3

I ended up leaving the Berliner Dom at 1:50pm and had to rush to meet Sarah. By 2:10pm, I had talked to Sarah and she had just arrived. We agreed to meet at Bradenburger Tor instead of the hostel since we were planning to go on New Europe's Free Walking Tour, which would start at 4pm. I didn't have to walk as fast now, which was a relief. So, I took slowed down to enjoy the area as I made my way to the Alexanderplatz U-Bahn station. 

Sarah and I found each other (in front of the Starbucks, of course) at 3pm. We sat and talked for awhile on a bench near the meet-up point (which is again, the Starbucks). During this time, the weather started looking a little gloomy, as if the rain was quickly approaching. At 4pm, we met the guides and after 15 minutes of waiting to see if more people would show up and determine whether it would rain or not, the tour was called off. Sarah and I were both a little disappointed for two reasons, 1) the tour group would have been small, about ten people, allowing us to hear everything and ask questions easily. 2) The tour would have gone into the night and since the Festival of Lights was taking place, we would have had a great chance to see Berlin at night.

After the cancellation of the walking tour, Sarah and I decided to walk to the Potsdamer Platz U-Bahn Station (since she hadn't seen much of the city) where we would then get on the train to go the hostel. On our way, we walked past the Holocaust Memorial.

We got on the train at Potsdamer Platz and got back to Grand Hostel where Sarah checked in and had tea. We sat at the same table I found myself the previous morning. I wrote some postcards while Sarah looked up some dinner recommendations from her French boyfriend.

Potsdamer Platz is known for its modern architecture

 We decided on Schwarzes Cafe, a 24-hour cafe that serves the traditional German sc. So again, we walked to the U-Bahn Station and took the train to Zoologischer Garten. It started to rain as we were on our way to the Cafe. After a little bit of searching and asking the location of Schwarzes to a random woman on the street we found the place. We sat down and browsed the enormous menu, so many dishes and drinks to choose from...there were at least 10 pages total.

Can you find me? Haha

Sarah, of course, ordered the schpetzel and I ordered the 'oatmeal burger'. As we waited, Sarah and I talked about our weekends and plans for the rest of our days in Berlin.

When our food came out, we were so confused...you know the "wait, I don't think I ordered that" look at one another and our waitress. But after asking if those were the schpetzel and oatmeal burger, we learned that, in fact, they were. The schpetzel was green (because of the spinach incorporated into the noodle) and my oatmeal burger was actually two oat-meal patties with carrot sauce and no buns (I guess I still think like an American, haha). Both were really delicious and filling!

Before

After

After paying for our meal, Sarah and I decided we needed to walk off this food. I headed to the metro to check out the Festival of Lights. Taking place for ten days, many of the city's buildings and famous structures are lit up nicely for the public to admire. We took the train to Alexanderplatz station and walked towards the Berliner Dom since I remembered that it would be lit up. On our way there, we took pictures of other lit buildings.

Opera house

I think this sign would be more appropriate in the US

City Hall (there's a fountain in front)...I hadn't mastered the night setting on my camera yet

the TV tower lit up

Berliner Dom during the day

Berliner Dom during the Festival of Lights

After many unsuccessful attempts at capturing the awesome lighting of the Berliner Dom, I finally fixed the setting on my camera (a lovely couple changed my luck, Sarah and I like to believe). Afterwards, we walked to Bradenburger Tor to see how it looked at night (that same couple said it was lit up the nicest out of all the buildings in Berlin.

We took the train there, but we didn't think it was as impressive as the Dom. It was still nice to look at, though.

Bradenburger Tor during the day

Bradenburger Tor during the Festival of Lights

The Declaration of Independence lit up on the US Embassy

After seeing the Festival of Lights, Sarah and I walked to Potsdamer Platz to catch the train back to our hostel. We walked by the Holocaust Memorial again, but this time we got to see it at night.

Sarah and I got back to the hostel between 10 and 11pm, both of us were exhausted. I immediately hit the hay...but not before putting in the earplugs to guarantee myself a peaceful night's sleep.