4th April 2024 - Berlin Day 1
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Well actually day 1.5. I flew from Birmingham airport to Berlin
airport yesterday. It was a late flight, leaving at 1800 UTC +1 and
arriving at 2045 UTC+2. Easyjet were surprisingly good. The aircraft
was comfortable and I felt like I had more space than with other
discount airlines. Might be due to the A320 over the Boeing 737.
Anyhow, yesterday was just travel and a quick visit to the corner shop
for water, beer and some paprika crisps.
I am staying in the edge of Mitte and Kreuzberg. It is a fairly
residential area which is appreciated. Quiet but easy to get to
tourist or fun areas. The forecast was pretty wank but the morning
seemed clear. Hmm well time to get all of the outside stuff done as
quick as possible!
I waked across to Checkpoint Charlie. It is cheesy as expected with a
tiny guard hut, a giant sign showing the border guard you would have
to speak to. One side a rather grim looking young chap in Soviet hat
and a similarly grim looking young chap in a US army helmet on the
other. Either side of the street is tacky tourist shops, a museum
about the wall and a McDonalds. It was on the way to other things so I
popped along. Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth a trip for me. I headed
on to the Air Service Welt Balloon. This was tacky fun with
Trabiwworld around it. Trabants galore! Across the road and you end up
at Topographie des Terrors. This is a long walkway showing how the
Nazis rose to power, their crimes against humanity and the split of
Berlin afterwads until the unification of Germany. It also covers the
battle for recognition by various groups who suffered during this
terrible time. It is factual, well presented and rather chilling. The
rise aspect was interesting and it certainly encourages thoughts about
the current world of politics. One of the interesting parts was the
location. This was in the former basement of the SD and Gestapo
headquarters. All that remains is a single basement wall which has the
information panels attached. Yet above you looms part of the Berlin
Wall. A great reminder of how the city was divided. All around here
were information boards showing what each building was used for.
The sun was still shining to I headed out to Potsdammer Platz, flew
through and then up to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
This is a square filled with black blocks of stone. They are in a grid
but at different heights. Both the blocks are different sizes and the
ground undulates. It is an interesting memorial but ruined slightly by
children using it as a parkour arena. The scale is hard to describe.
Certainly worth seeing for yourself. I then headed off to see the
Reichstag and the Brandenberg Gate. Sadly I was not able to get up the
glass dome of the Reichstag as the tickets were booked up before I was
even looking at heading to Berlin. It looks good from the outside
though. The Brandberg Gate is impressive and the inside is great to
look at. Some top notch neoclassical madness.
It was time for cake and some sitting down. My poor feet were still
not happy from seeing Lordi last Tuesday. Cake was apricot and walnut.
Tasty stuff. I went to a vegetarian Indian place for lunch. Had a
thali, a sort of taster meal where each item represents the Indian
notion of flavours. Sadly not enough pickle and the paneer was not to
my fussy standards but pretty good otherwise. I then headed back to
Potsdammer Platz for the Spy museum but that involves booking ahead.
They limit numbers as many museums seem to do and so you need to book
ahead. Sad times. Well there was enough walking so I headed to the S
Bahn and then the U Bahn to museum island as the weather looked wet.
Yes it was very wet when I appeared above ground again. Museum Island
is full of really interesting buildings but the rain will not let you
stand and admire. Instead I had to run to the Neues Museum. No booking
required here but the doorman was confusing. You stood outside and he
asked if you booked or not. If you havn't then he yelled something and
everyone starts pointing left to the ticket counter. This felt mad.
Some barriers could have done this...... Ah well. This museum is
filled with Egyptian, Roman and other such ancient world delights. The
architecture is bewildering as you get mixes of rooms with the
building's brick work and then a grand Roman style entry way or an
attempt at replicating Egyptian pyramid wall decorations. I managed to
surprise myself with coming across Queen Nefertiti's bust. The head
and not the bosom for those with minds in the gutter. It is impressive
but sadly not photos. I wasn't fussed about photos of the bust. I
wanted to take photos of the room. It was another weird ruinous
looking room with a greco-Roman style and murals high up. There was
also a skylight which made me start wondering how you would be able to
pinch the bust. Feet were truely aching by this point and I was
thirsty. Ended up cafe hunting. The cafe in the Neue Museum loojed
cramped and a bit pants so I headed to the cafe in the James Simon
Galerie. Mostly as the exit of the Neue Museum is closest to this
building. That was a good cafe and actually had Darjeeling. First
flush as well. It was a tea bag though but fair enough.
I still had time to kill before the rain stops but it had become
lighter and so I decided to give the Computer Game Museum a go. That
also has slots and I was not willing to wait. I have time. Curse you
school holiday travelling! So yes I gave up and returned to the hotel.
I am still soggy as I write this but glad to be sitting and not in the
rain. Tonight I shall be giving some Vietnamese food a go and trying
out more beers in Kreuzberg.
