Ich bin ein Traveler

Who would have thought, about 6 weeks ago, that I would be traveling to Berlin, let alone flying in a plane to do so? Cleared for flying a few days before, Bruce and I drove up to Frankfurt to pop on the hour flight into the historic city of Berlin. Not only had I never been there before, but we were also hoping for a relief from the record-breaking heat lingering for the past week or so.

After an eerily easy check-in and security check at the Frankfurt airport, an issue-free flight, and a quick taxi ride to our hotel, the trip started off fabulously! We were staying at Grimms Hotel in Potsdam  As the name denotes, the hotel is fairy-tale themed, with some whimsical decorations and furniture in the lobby, as well as carpeting depicting different stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. Our room was right next door to the fitness center, which would help greatly with motivation to exercise every day! Located down the street from a local train stop we hopped on to get to the Mitte area where we walked along a street lined with trendy restaurants, bars, and shops. Of course, we were on a mission for a specific restaurant with our favorite food...Korean! 고고기, or 'Gogogi' is a great little space along this street with plenty of outdoor and seating (perfect for the heat still lingering) and spellbinding smells coming from the grills surrounding us. We ordered some old favorites- 잡채[japchae; glass noodles with vegetables and mushrooms], 파전 [pajeon; vegetable pancake with green onions, vegetables, and seafood], 비빔밥 [bibimbap; a hot bowl of rice, vegetables mushrooms, and extras] , and of course 소주 [soju]. We ate WAY too much, and had to roll ourselves back to our hotel as the rain came to clear out the heat. When we got back, the gym called me and I watched the lightening storm from the top floor windows.

The next morning we rose early and rented bikes from our hotel to take around the city. For those of you planning a trip to Berlin, biking is definitely the fastest and easiest way to get around! It's a very bike-friendly city, with tons of areas for you to tie up your bike as you go and check out the sights. First on the list was breakfast. Bruce had done his research and found a place called "Chipps"  where we ordered quite a spread to prepare for the day ahead. This is where Bruce got, and I quote, "The best eggs benedict I have ever had". So I'd say it was a success! 

"excited hands", not in prayer

Full and happy we head off to find the stop on my list, Bebelplatz, where there is a memorial for the public book burning taken place during the Nazi reign. The memorial is a glass pane in the ground giving you a view of empty book cases, representing the books burnt during that event. Dodging large tour groups and other bikers, we made our way to Brandenburg Gate. This huge square, packed with tourists, has been used throughout history for parades and speeches, including John F. Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" address. 

Continuing our ride, we pass by the Holocaust Memorial with its maze of 2,711 columns. This city is unique in that it has an incredible history, however not a lot of old, historical buildings or architecture, as the city was destroyed and rebuilt. What it lacks in these old buildings, it gains in memorials, museums, and green space. Every block there's a park or open area of green for the people of Berlin to enjoy. The largest of these is the Tiergarten, where we rode our bikes through enjoying the shade, and overwhelming green surrounding us. It's like we weren't in the city anymore. 

 

 

Here we stopped by a large beer garden next to a lake for some refreshments before getting into the Potsdam where we cooled down by walking through a giant mall there. By the time we got back on our bikes, it was about 4pm, and I for one was definitely ready to lay down a bit before the evening. 

 

That night we met up with Nathan, Barbara, and her aunt and uncle for some Italian food at Petrocelli's Bar built right under the train tracks. Some great wine, good food, and interesting conversation led us to a bar nearby that Barbara knows of that has Berliner Weisse which can be ordered in 'red' or 'green'. The red is raspberry flavored, and the green is woodruff. For those of you who don't like beer but enjoy sweet drinks, this is for you. They taste like jolly ranchers or jello in liquid form. Can't say it's my favorite, but apparently something to try for the night! We spent the evening chatting and not losing at foosball (despite what Barbara and Nathan say).

The next morning, after a quick workout, we started out on foot to find a place for breakfast before checking out the Jewish museum (another location on our checklist, recommended by friends). Walking a lot longer than expected, we ditched the intended restaurant and found a small place with some outdoor seating and lots of coffee options for a bite of quiche. 

 The Jewish Museum known for its unique architecture and layout, is a chronological exhibit of Jewish history and the relationship with Germany. 

We walked through the top floors of the exhibit, learning bits and pieces about what life was like during that time until we got to the ground level where artifacts from families, homes, and survivors are on display with descriptions and stories. On this level there is the Holocaust Tower; a 79 foot, hollow, concrete silo only accessible through a giant metal door, lit only by a small slitted window near the top. Walking in gave me chills up my neck and overall a feeling of being trapped. I think it was the closest I've felt to claustrophobia. I rushed out of there before the door closed. The next area is the Garden of Exile, where huge prisms of concrete jut out at an angle from the ground, which is sloped in the opposite way, causing a sense of disorientation and unease. 

 

 

From the museum we grabbed a taxi to the KaDeWe (or the Harrod's of Berlin) with its endless floors of pricey merchandise, food, and anything you could imagine. Meeting with Barb, Nathan, et. al. again, we tried some delicious cheeses and champagne before walking around shopping for sunglasses, and people watching. At this point we took the subway to see Checkpoint Charlie, the famous crossing point between East and West Berlin once the wall was in place. It has become a top tourist destination, and the surrounding area is taking full advantage with souvenirs, museums, and photo ops. 

One side has an American soldier, and the other has a Soviet soldier

Bruce and I split off once more from the group to get some rest before meeting them for dinner that evening at Barbara's favorite pizza place called 'I Due Forni'. I was able to meet up with Danielle, a friend from Bucheon who was passing through Berlin as well! Such a small world. We were able to catch up and talk about her adventures across Europe before the storm came...Dark looming clouds made their way towards us, so we quickly finished and prepared to run to the meeting place for our planned pub crawl that evening (rain or shine unfortunately). 

Bruce grabbed a pack of trash bags which we used as makeshift umbrellas for the walk there. At one point, the wind picked up so much that we were all stranded on the median of a highway unable to move or hold onto our trash bags! Soon after, the rain subsided and we could walk without being pushed over by the rain. 

Turns out the pubcrawl was a bit of a bust. Mainly attended by young euro-travelers, we were the oldest by far and the least impressed by the completely empty dance club on our first stop. What made it worth it was seeing the lightening bolts strike the TV tower in Alexanderplatz from the balcony of the club! After experiencing that a few times we decided it was ok to ditch the party and find our own. Easier said than done. Barbara took the lead and tried to find an old dive bar she used to go to in the area. Forgetting that it was about 11 on a Tuesday night, we were surprised that the majority of places were closing down or shut for the night. Bruce took the reigns to find a hipster speak-easy type bar nearby. After knocking and passing the test to get in (apparently they choose who they want to allow in. After making sure I was of age, we made it!), we found that a shot would cost us about 32 Euros. Skipping out on that atrocity, Nathan put the leader-hat on and guided us to a bar called 'am/pm', which, as you probably guessed, is open 24 hours! Surrounded by little hammock chairs and very intoxicated people, we sat and enjoyed each other's company a while before heading back home.

 On our last day in Berlin, we packed up and dropped our bags off at Barbara's flat for safe keeping until our flight that evening. Nathan and Bruce decide that they wanted to grab a giant burrito for lunch before our adventures of the day. Apparently they were delicious, but also GIANT. 

The item on our list today was the TV tower in Alexanderplatz, where you can get a view of the entire city from about 200 meters up. While the wait to get up can be long, once you get to the viewing deck, it's worth it. We could see everywhere we got to during our trip, as well as places we would like to check out next time! 

 

Once we got down to ground level once more, we left for the final stop of our trip, the East Side Gallery. This is where some famous murals painted onto the wall are left standing and get renovated every so often to cover up the writing of others who have visited the site. While it was a bit difficult to get photos of some of the murals without getting an arm or head of another tourist in there, I loved the talent and creativity that went into each painting. This is definitely a must-see!

 

After the wall, it was time to get our bags and get to the airport to catch our flight back to Frankfurt. Despite it being a short trip, it was a meaningful one. It means that I'm well enough to travel now (although the hour flight is a bit shorter than the one back home!). While I still get tired after lots of activity, I'm feeling stronger each week. I'm continuing with my PT for a few more sessions, then I think it will be time for me to continue training on my own. Things to look forward to before traveling to the states include Bruce's little brother coming over to visit for a few weeks (woo!) as well as the beginning of festival season.

Until next time xoxo

German of the post:

"on a summer morning , a little tailor was seated at his table by the window , was in good spirits and sewed with all his forces"