6th April 2024 - Berlin Day 3
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My last full day. Thankfully the weather made it a hot one.
Unfortunately I did not have shorts with me. Just sweaty jeans.
I headed out to the Stasi museum. This was in the central records
office and rather creepy. The building is part of an estate of Stasi
buildings. It was truely a time warp. Not just to the 80s but to the
60s. Everything wqs stuck in when it was built. Wood panelling, beige
curtains, brown walls, brown everything. The museum did a great job in
explaining what, why, who and how. There were no screaming kids this
time. Just tours of bored teenagers to avoid. One of the strangest
parts was going through the head of the Stasi's offices. Mundane and
yet the terror which came from within those walls. Well worth a visit.
Then I headed to Alexanderplatz. A busy shopping area with lots of
shops I avoided Grabbed lunch from Frittewerk. Pretty good chip
focused fast food joint
I wqs feeling knackered and so headed to Ephaim Palais, a museum about
Berlin. This was really good. Straight forward and well explained
about the history of the city fron 1200s to now. I love visiting city
museums. It is interesting finding out how they see their selves and
tell their story. Berlin is simply a trading hub which got big it
seems. An adaptable city with no great love of the past, it responds
to the latest political nonsense.
After this, I headed home, tired and sweaty. A quick nap and I was
back out for sone food. I ended up in a lovely Nepalese restaurant
called Kanchi. It is part of Kreuzberg but towards the Spree. Damn
fine food at a very reasonablr price. I am currently holed up in a
craft beer bar around thr corner called Hopfreich. 22 craft beers on
tap and plenty of Berliner breweries.
Tomorrow is a flight home so got to get to the airport at midday. Not
looking forward to leaving. Still so much to visit. Ah well, great
excuse for next time!
