Day #7 Synopsis – Lots of Museum on this day… I highly recommend both Checkpoint Charlie (because it’s so topical with IB Coursework) and Topography of Terror (because of the “raw” perspective that Berliners have assumed since WWII and National Socialism). Of the later museums (two options) I’d lean toward the Berlin Wall Museum. We stuffed in a dining option at an outdoor Biergarten as well… for your viewing pleasure!
Gave the gang a bit more time in the bunk this morning, so Janie and I got in a morning walk and explored a couple of pretty little coffee shops nearby. Cafe & Bäckerei Schokochino, near our UBahn stop, seemed a friendly neighborhood space with regulars, pets and a busy owner managing the early morning! Then another, at Café Bäckerei Kollwitz, where we sat to watch a quiet neighborhood assume its summer morning. Dog walkers, joggers, commuters and the odd newspaper were the backdrop as we sipped our respective coffee ☕️.
Also nearby, during our AM wandering, were many reminders of the Jewish presence in this quarter of the city. We passed a large synagogue, Synagoge Rykestraße, built in 1904. I contemplated what it had seen… WWI, pre-war Germany, WWII, and DDR and the STASI. Even today there stands a barricaded entrance and security. Further down the street rests an expansive Jewish Cemetery, where we entered the gates and strolled quietly through vine laden stones and worn paths. A reflective moment amid a hurried, metropolitan city.
The girls stirred around 9:45 AM… and I’m guessing, between time zones, exercise, diet and sleep changes that the rest was required. Just in time for the trip home 😂. Anyway, we gathered all hands for our first group visit of the day, Checkpoint Charlie.
Checkpoint Charlie is not really a lot… nothing much more remains than some sandbags and a building the size of a fish shack. However, during the Cold War this area was home to the Second Berlin Crisis (1961), which saw American and Soviet tanks face to face in the streets of Berlin. It seemed as though there would be all out warfare as each side waited for the other “to blink” and tensions ratcheted to fevered pitch. In this case, fortunately, diplomacy prevailed and conflict was avoided. There is nearby information signage that details the lead up history through to the crisis and resolution… more particularly, an aerial photo of the area on the sign helped me immensely. However, a guide would be of some use in this part of the city. It’s too bad that hadn’t been part of the Communism Walking Tour.
Panoramapunkt Berlin, located in Potadamer Platz, sends visitors rocketing upward on Europe’s fastest elevator to a visitor’s area and Observation Deck some 90.15 meters into the sky! Excellent method to get above the city… and also economical, as it’s a fraction of the cost charged at the TV Tower! Not being a huge fan of heights, I did have opportunity a floor down from the top to take in the information panels and info on this part of the city. All in, a pretty fun stop!
At this point interests diverged! Girls went shopping… spending those hard won €’s at The Playce (Shopping Centre) in Potsdamer. They landed a few gifts / souvenirs of their travels and really seemed happy to get on their own in a mall!!! Meanwhile, Janie and I made great use of the time to hunt down several samples of Berlin Currywurst (the ads on every corner had finally gotten to me). We nommed a quick but awesome street snack, moved across the street to accost the security guy at the Canadian Embassy, and finally completed Check-in for IcelandAir flights home.
While “Uncle Chris” fell to a PM kink, the gang motored on while he slept! Our Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg accommodation offered us wonderful shopping opportunities from bookstores and stationary to second hand clothes and Cold War antiques. The small shops along Oderberger Straße and Kastanienallee were unique, and we left with a few fun souvenirs to take home 😜!
Paige and I stopped along the little shops lining the streets by the house we were staying at. There was so much to look at; clothes, books, pottery, little restaurants and cafe’s and many other stores. We stopped at a shop full of stationery and things to write with. It was probably one of my favourite places we walked into. The owner was super kind and welcoming. We left with a few notebooks and other little things. There was also a book store that we HAD to stop at. We came out of there with a few things as well. Overall we had such a great time and really loved everything that we saw. We had to remind ourselves we couldn’t buy everything because we couldn’t fit it all in our carry ons.
Josie & Paige
Our last evening ended, aptly, with a stroll through our neighborhood! Our destination was the Prater Biergarten… perhaps best described as the science/art of accessing an ale! This lovely space hummed with the business of a beehive as we watched thirsty visitors queue for the entirely drinkable (and yes fizzy Paige) beers 🍻. We settled in for some pub fare, a drink or two, and people watching. The evening saw sun, rain, and all in between. We sauntered home early for a snack and tumbled into plans for Friday departure. Another great day in Berlin!
Love the way you are squeezing in the early morning coffee stops which include people watching. One of our favourite morning things. Up until 5 years ago I never touched coffee… but now I love it as a treat. It has made those morning coffee stops much more pleasurable.
And again, thanks for the history lesson. I have so much to learn but travel sure helps. And guides are a MUST. We have done some museums with no guide and the visits are pretty ho-hum. We’ve done some with audioguides and they’ve been quite a bit better. But there’s nothing like an expert human guide. It’s like they are immersing you in a movie!! We’ve actually asked a couple we could pay a bit more to continue for a bit longer. When calculated into the overall price of a trip, it’s almost nothing.
Love seeing the comments from your travel buddies. Forty years ago, on our first trips South with friends, I used to keep a journal. Everyone was required to write in it for a few minutes each day. It’s hilarious to read some of the comments now.
And just seeing now that you found the sausage!!!! Mmmm.
Ms Lumsden and I haven’t started the day until we grab a Java. I love a really good morning coffee… ☕️ and we have a good setup at home that we use daily. We do a little search before bed when away, just to make sure we have an option! Guides are something we should use more… but we often just don’t make that connection. When we do… we never regret it! Yes on the snippets from Paige/Josie. So glad the girls contributed… it’s an important element in helping us know what is / isn’t hitting the mark! Sausage was just plain yummy 😋!