Wow, what a week we had in Berlin - and we reckon we still could have stayed longer. We pretty much agree that of all the captial cities we´ve seen so far in Europe, Berlin is the best. There´s just something about the place that appeals to us both. It´s so big, yet it´s not imposing like Rome or Paris were. There´s history and culture and architecture everywhere you go, very impressive city.
We also did a walking tour as opposed to our usual bus tour, which proved to be very interesting and filled with lots of history. Apart from the usual sites we also visited the site where Hitler´s bunker once was (aparently they can´t build there anymore due to the unsafe foundations) and a beautiful place called Gendarmenmarkt (there were three magnificent buildings; two cathedrals and a concert hall). We also walked through Museum Island, which what would you know, is an actual island with museums (ha we laughed and laughed). But in all seriousness it really was beautiful.
We saw the Brandenburg Gates (magnificent), the Reichstag buliding (a little daunting), the remains of the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, including it´s museum. We walked through Potsdamer Platz (destroyed during the war but now rebuilt with amazing contemporary buildings on all sides), Alexanderplatz and Friedrich Strasse (both shopping hubs). We also visited the Berlin Zoo, the Anne Frank centre, and a Museum of Nature. And what do you know, Matt also managed to find Lego Land where I´m pretty certain he was the biggest kid there (was kinda fun...)!
We also did a walking tour as opposed to our usual bus tour, which proved to be very interesting and filled with lots of history. Apart from the usual sites we also visited the site where Hitler´s bunker once was (aparently they can´t build there anymore due to the unsafe foundations) and a beautiful place called Gendarmenmarkt (there were three magnificent buildings; two cathedrals and a concert hall). We also walked through Museum Island, which what would you know, is an actual island with museums (ha we laughed and laughed). But in all seriousness it really was beautiful.
It seems like visiting Berlin was one big history lesson, but it was so intriguing to be in a place where so much has happened. The people were great and eating and drinking out was awesome (so much variety) ! Although we were quite disappointed to see Australia loose to England AND be surrounded by so many of them singing a song that I have now grown to dispise - swing low sweet chariot...aaargh!
The only thing we grew to get quite tired of were all the stairs in the U-bahns and S-bahns...everywhere we went it was up one set of stairs tojust go down another set. Look I´m sure our legs appreciated a bit more hard core exercise but *seriously*! ;)
The only thing we grew to get quite tired of were all the stairs in the U-bahns and S-bahns...everywhere we went it was up one set of stairs tojust go down another set. Look I´m sure our legs appreciated a bit more hard core exercise but *seriously*! ;)
Oh and Ed, George, and Ross - we managed to bump into a few of your friends from your World Cup trip - they said to say hi...
