Day #6 Synopsis – So… hammering out Central Berlin (Mitte & Brandenburg) on this day. Not a lot of cost involved on this day in regard to attractions… but an important day for you to capture some of the city’s most iconic places / spaces with the iPhone. Anchor attractions include a visit to the Reichstag @ 8:00 AM and Berlin Wall Walking Tour 2:00 PM. However, we’ll see the Jewish Memorial / Brandenburg Gate / Site of Hitler’s Bunker. Lots of steps on this day. If it’s warm, we’ll carry water/snacks, if it’s wet, some water resistant clothes will be important. The evening is pretty up for grabs as well… ideas welcome! We can add a place to eat / nail down some street food if that tickles your fancy.
The day kicked off with another early attraction (8:00 AM). Why… one might ask? An early attraction time does a couple of things… but most immediately it removes large crowds from the mix. That was the case this morning as we glided through the morning commute. First “scenes” out of the subway included Brandenburg Tor (Gate) and Pariserplatz, both iconic landmarks and attractions of the city. As the trip begins to wind down, we’ve arranged more attractions with “info provided” in our itinerary, perhaps as a matter of self-preservation!
Our 8:00 AM timed reservation was to visit the German Bundestag (Parliament) Building. Entry is controlled and by pre-approval only. The ticket allowed us to enter parliament and the rooftop terrace / glass dome atop the old Reichstag building. This was a first time visit for all of us as Janie and I had missed the opportunity on our previous visit. Indeed, it was worth the visit, with audio guided info on the amazing views of the cityscape, interesting elements of Berlin history, and the institution that is the German Parliament. And… all for free and minimal upfront planning!
Fencing restrictions near the Soviet War Memorial and Tiergarten turned our attention toward the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, adjacent to Brandenburg Gate. The contemplative design seems both maligned and appreciated (see photo). Critics protested that the memorial was too abstract and did not present historical information about the Nazi campaign against the Jews. Yet, other people said that the design resembled a vast field of nameless tombstones that symbolically captured the horror of the Nazi death camps. My opinion, for what that’s worth, is the monument is a metaphor for “balance”, and it represented to me how the Jewish faith, in all its horror and turbulence, has remained steadfast and true.
After a quick caffeine / hot chocolate stop, and a warm discussion with a couple of Floridians at the cafe we stopped at, we slipped into a side street and sourced the Führerbunker location / Interpretive Sign (Panel Information). Discretely positioned street side, the unassuming panel hosts information enabling the viewer to envision the complex by using past & present images. Unless one purposefully goes looking for this site, the average visitor is unlikely to stumble upon it. We discussed the location, what occurred there, talked Eva Braun, and why we were glad it isn’t a museum!
Established above the foundations of buildings which, during the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, were the SS Reich Security Main Office, the Topography of Terror is an indoor/outdoor museum that lays bare the many truths of National Socialism in Germany. The information is presented in a raw form, direct and without sanitization. The examination is akin to our Gov’t / Religious groups taking a residential school, turning it into a public museum, providing all the information and taking responsibility for what happened. Alarmingly, the descriptions presented in the chronology and planning of the NAZI rise to power parallel existing Democracies today. Chilling…
The afternoon’s itinerary consisted of the Sandeman’s Communist Berlin and Berlin Wall Free Tour. We’ve done these in several cities, using the pay afterward model, and have really never had it go wrong (another great Mike Hinchey tip). Shortly after 2:00 PM our guide took us on a journey through Berlin focused on its communist era history, the many buildings of the era, the footprint & geopolitical nature of The Wall, and life as it existed for every day Germans on both sides of the border.
Stuff our group learned as part of the tour included…
- Ampelmann (Green walk light guy 😂) was a hold over from East Germany
- The “text” on the metal plates denoting the wall always faces West Berlin
- That there were multiple layers of obstruction (guard fence/lighting/towers) between the walls in “death strip”
- That the wall had started with just barbed wire / continuously improved as escapes / defections continued
- That train stations remained empty underground between East / West Berlin
So holy Lebanese food for supper at the Babel Restaurant, located just a few minutes walk from our rental. Walked up, were seated right away, and our waiter had us served in minutes! With some helpful assistance, we ordered a huge “Grill Plate” for three & salad… an honest, healthy and filling meal that sent all hands reeling into our respective corners upon arrival home. It was expensive, but such an authentic European experience to dine Street side in the summer and a solid trip memory! We’ve set a busy pace for the last week… time to gear down with easing back on the last full day tomorrow and getting ready for the return flights/journey home!
Impressive day!! So much history to absorb!
It must be interesting to see the kids response to what they are seeing/reading during this part of the tour.
Everyone got kicked for a loop when the language changed except for Janie! She seems to always find a way through it 😂. Last night I watched her take a picture of something and then show it to the person at the checkout… there is always a way if you’re creative 👍. Just packing up in Berlin for the long road home. Fingers crossed we have a smooth travel day.
Now that’s a ‘day of experiences’!! Love the idea of beating the crowds early morning. These cities are a whole different experience than at noon… and then they change even more into the evening. I think I’ll just print out todays plan as it’ll look after everything for a future visit…we hope. Great seeing you take advantage of the Sandeman’s Free Tours. We’ve used them all over the place and have never had a bad one. It’s one of our first recommendations for people. And that looks like one nice plate of Lebanese food. Wondering what the most common food was in your area… mostly sausage, big chunks of meat and giant beer? That was my best memory of Munich. And, are VRBO/AirBNB rentals permitted in Berlin? They were not in Munich… and I think we’ll see lots more cities moving that way. Great for tourists but hard on residents.
Accomm: Yes to the B&B in Berlin… Janie nabbed these (London & Berlin) on booking.com… all was easy peasy and we rcvd exactly what was presented.
Food: The German fare was available, but our neighborhood had a little of everything! I remember seeing Vietnamese, Lebanese (that was so delicious), Mexican, Italian… and I’m sure many more. There really was a lot of choice!
Sandeman’s: You were the guy that hooked us up with this attraction. Janie and I talked and I don’t think we’ve ever been disappointed with one!
Planning: Early day always! It’s the time when I get to circle the dog bed before settling in! 😂