730 days: Berlin

Arrived into Berlin on my overnight train very bright and early at 4am! Killed a bit of time at the station before finding my way to the hostel to re-group. Then headed in to check out the city. My hostel was in the north so took myself down towards Alexanderplatz, which is home to a horrible looking T.V tower built by the communists, then down towards museum island which houses a number of the big museums in amazing buildings. Admired the spectacular Dom cathedral, then walked across the bridge to the Humboldt University introduced by one of the monarchs, which has had many famous pupils and proffers, including Einstein. Then continued on down their main street the 'Unter den Linden' to the end where the Brandenburg Gate stands, an impressive structure complete with Chariot atop. Through the gate and into the Tiergarten, with the famous Reichstag their Parliament buildings, which was left empty during the communist rein and only recently been in active use again as a Parliament building. Slightly south of the gate stands a whole block dedicated to the Holocaust Memorial - or 'The memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe'. A very thought provoking place, hundreds of slate blocks stand on the uneven site, and as the designer left no explanation, people are left to ponder the meanings behind this memorial. The information centre below the memorial is filled with individual's stories, letters and experiences, a rather intense place. After all my walking and lack of sleep it was back to the hostel with me, and time for an early night!

Tuesday I joined one of my roommates on a walking tour, our guide was really good and he took us to all of the main sights with detailed and passionate descriptions. One of these was an unremarkable car park, which he told us was the site of Hitler's bunker, which the communists ended up destroying after the war. It was so well made that the first attempt with dynamite failed to bring it down, so they had to drill holes in the steel to weaken the structure before blowing it up. We also went to a section of the wall still standing with the old Stazi building behind, and checkpoint charile which was the border between east Berlin and the American sector. Afterwards I took my self out east along the river to the East Side Gallery, where there is another large section of the wall that is preserved. It runs over a kilometer and has been repainted as a memorial with some very cool murals.

The following day I continued my history lesson by going to the Berlin History Museum. It was filled with a wealth of information going back to before 100BC right up to the future, a bit overwhelming if you try and read it all! Then headed down and explored a bit more around checkpoint charlie, before going for a stroll in the Tiergarten and finding the Victory Column, which sits directly behind the Brandenburg gate at the end of the park, very paris-esque. A lovely way to finish up my time in Berlin.

Thursday was a full day on the train from Berlin to Krakow, rather a long day, especially seeing as my train arrived an hour and a half late! But was all good, got myself to the hostel through the gorgeously lit square and meet the others who arrived shortly after from their flight. Fun times to follow!