Berlin

Like I said in my last email I took a little trip to Berlin and Latvia. Took the train last Monday after work to Berlin. Four and half hours later I arrived. Had all my hostel information with me and the directions on how to get there. I took the S-bahn (an above ground metro) two stops and then had to switch to the U-Bahn (underground) for one stop. It was around 10 at night by this time and I could not figure out why the gate was closed to the U-Bahn. Kind of earlier to close the metro down. Come to find out from someone on the street that the U-Bahn/tram/bus workers are all on strike. Great timing! Thank goodness I have my Lonely Planet Germany with me and have a map to find my hostel. Great start.

I just had Tuesday to look around the city so I did a much as I could in that day. Started off with a tour for tips walk around the city. Latest about four hours which was well worth it. I think I learned more history in that one walk then I did all through my high school social studies classes. You'll all from the pictures below. From there met a guy from Australia and hung out with him the rest of the day going back to Checkpoint Charlie and reading all the info on the old wall. Then we went to the Jewish Museum which is the largest of it's kind in Europe. I went through it all and read almost everything taking me almost three hours. Then for supper went to a random Thai Restaurant that was recommended to us, it was amazing. I parted ways with my Aussie friend and went to meet Chelsa at the train station where she was arriving as we were off to the next day to Riga, Latvia for the World B Pool Women's Hockey Championships. Here are some pictures below...

Bandenburg Gate


Hotel Aldon - where Michael Jackson hung his baby over the railing, very historical significance


Memorial to the Murdered European Jews - a ton of concrete rectangle boxes signifying graves


You know the city's old when there are still bullet marks in the exterior of the building from WWII


Berlin Wall - this part has been fenced off to keep people from taking the wall and selling it on eBay


Can't remember the name of this church but thought it was a cool picture


Bebelplatz and Humbolt University - the sight where in 1933 they burned about 20,000 books that didn't agree with the Nazi Party's ideology


Another Memorial


Berliner Dom


Check Point Charlie

I will post pictures of Latvia hopefully in a day or so when I get the time!