Day 11: Berlin

Today when we were ready, we put our luggage in a taxi and walked to the train station.  We rode one train for about fifteen minutes then switched to another train.  The trains are fine, but I must confess I do not enjoy lugging luggage onto a train.  If you plan to take trains in Europe, pack light people, you'll appreciate it.  A couple hours later, we arrived in Berlin.  A van took us to our hotel.  We had about an hour for lunch.  One of the other ladies and I walked around for a few minutes then went to the grocery store and bought water and snacks, which ended up being my lunch (a banana and a delicious muffin).  After lunch we had a group reflection.  That was followed by a three hour city tour.  We did a few photo stops, but most of the tour took place on the van.  We stopped at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, the memorial for Roma Sinti.  We also stopped at a couple of famous squares (platz).  Around 6:00, we went to the Reichstag (sp?), which is the German Parliament building for a guided tour.  I very much enjoyed the tour!  The building itself was cool, our guide was great, and I enjoyed learning a bit about German politics.

We had the rest of the evening free.  Sam, Darcey, Bill, and I decided to walk back to the hotel and stop at various points on the way back.  Our stops included:  The Memorial to Murdered Jews (the memorial is quite interesting to visit, obviously it's incredibly sad to think about, but the design is intriguing), the US Embassay, the spot where Hitler's bunker was (it's now a parking lot with a sign about the bunker), parts of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie.  We made a brief stop at a souvenir shop then began to make our way back to the hotel.  It was now nearly 10:00 so I was hungry, but by the time we got back to the neighborhood where our hotel was, most of the restaurants were closed.  We found a stand selling wraps and decided to order one.   Thankfully, it was really good because it was now 10:30 and I was starving!  

A few of the pictures are not cooperating and rotating, so turn your head or computer sideways lol  Sorry about that!  

 Inside the Reichstag

 View from the top of the Reichstag

 There are various bears around Berlin.  The one at the US Embassay is dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

 Memorial to Murdered Jews

 I really liked this bear!

 Checkpoint Charlie--if you ever go to Berlin, go here in the evening.  When we drove by in the afternoon, it was packed, but when we walked over at 8:00, no line!