Berlin - II

22nd of August 2013

Today started out like any other day, woken up early by the sun shining brightly on me due to the lack of curtains. I met up with Laura and Loren (also from BENDIGO) at the aquarium/zoo. There were some humorous creatures there. I made it despite managing to get on the wrong train twice. 

Later on I went to the Museum island and enjoyed it thoroughly, a lot of the things were very interesting. I was particularly interested to go see the DDR museum after having studied the DDR at school for VCE however I left with a bad taste in my mouth. If you're looking for somewhere overcrowded, boring and just not that great look no further than the DDR museum. I think it would have been better with mates but the only reason for that would be to take the piss out of it. 

Afterwards I met up with Laura and Loren again and we had planned to go to a schnitzel place but struggled to find it and eventually gave up and got SCHNITZEL DÖNER which was actually really good, I was glad I tried it. 

Song of the day - Aloe Blacc - Green Lights 

23rd of August 2013

Today I went to the topography of terror again to see the full thing. It is built on the same area where the headquarters of the SS were during WWII. I learnt a lot there, it gives a very good explanation of how the nazis got power and consolidated it as well as implementing all of their ideology and plans on the German nation. These kind of nazi things always spook me though, no matter how many I see I just still can't possibly fathom the idea of a government murdering 6,000,00 people purely because of their religion that you think is a race? 

I decided to use a nicer picture from there too, the image below is the inmates from Dachau concentration camp after they were liberated.

After this I went to the Reichstag and had a look around at the top of it, the dome is pretty impressive and the views from it are spectacular. 

After that I met up with Laura and Loren again and this time we figured out where to go and almost didn't stuff up anything. The schnitzel placed sold 1 schnitzel with a salad and chips for 5 euro which is brilliant. The schnitzel was really good, Berliner Pilsner is not great though. After that we went out clubbing after having a few drinks at a shisha bar. Surprisingly I had a really good time clubbing and dancing around to stupid songs from artists like spice girls and back street boys. Drinking desperados always helps though, it is a truly wonderful beer and I think it is the one i think we need in Australia the most. 

When I got back to the hostel I discovered that our hostel actually does have a common room and kitchen and made some friends quite quickly which was nice. I ended up watching the sunrise at a deserted Brandenburg gate with Sera (also from Aus and on gap year) which was pretty awesome looking at it rise through the gate itself and accompanied by Hendrix it was one of the cooler moments of my life.

Song for the day - Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix 

24th of August 2013

It was my last full day in Berlin and I am incredibly saddened by it. I have fallen in love with this city in a matter of days. I slept for most of the day in an attempt to recover from the night before and went out only to get some food until about 5 o'clock when I left to go to the Bundesliga at the Olympia Stadion (1936 olympic stadium). I had never been to a game of that standard before and must say it was an incredible experience seeing almost the whole crowd of 66,000 jump at once when Berlin scored. The match ended Hertha Berlin 1 - 0 Hamburger SV. 

After coming back to the hotel I hung out with people in the common room and later we went out clubbing in Kreuzberg to this strange hip hop club where they were having dance offs. It reminded me of the rap battles from 8 mile. Now I am in Hamburg having traveled over and am pretty tired. I think a nap followed by a kebab is in order. 

Song of the day - NWA - Express Yourself