Last weekend was my 30th birthday and I went to Berlin! Like Prague, I was able to take a 5-hour bus ride, which started at 9 am on Friday morning. This was great timing, since I couldn't pack until Thursday night due to preparations for my interview with Reebok Thursday afternoon! (I'm waiting 3-4 weeks to hear back on that, btw!) This e-mail is going to have a few more pictures, since it was my birthday weekend and a lot happened!!
Since I didn't have much time to prepare, I was reading our Lonely Planet Germany book on the bus like a madwoman. I got off the bus, onto the metro, and headed for the Reichstag/Bundestag. This is where the German version of the House of Reps meets. But in addition to a history/current events lesson, I wanted to go to this place to get into the glass dome tower to get oriented with a scenic view of the city! I ended up spending over 2 hours reading about German history, admiring the 'green' reconstruction of the WW2-bombed building, and learning (1) why Germany has such a tumultuous past, and (2) how important it is to the German people that the government is transparent (hence, the government meets in the center of the dome where the public can see them through glass!).
I thought I would check into my hostel at this point, but I realized daylight was ticking by and there were a lot of cool sites nearby. I visited the Brandenberg Gate, the Holocaust memorial (next to the US Embassy!), the parking lot where Hitler's Bunker used to be (and where he committed suicide), THEN went to my hostel. I was pleasantly surprised by its proximity to metro and the incredibly high cleanliness/price ratio. Good thing I packed light!
Friday night, I met up with the sister of a guy that Dave used to work with for dinner at a cute little vegan restaurant. Her boyfriend and his friend came to meet us, then I was surprised with a birthday cake organized by my fiance!!! It was quite a surprise! Then I learned that the Berliners stay out until 5 am, and I did my best, but could only stay out til around 2 am. Such a party pooper.
Saturday I slept in a bit, then met up with Dave's friend's sister (yes, related to the same friend! He is from Berlin.). His sister is a journalist and just had a WWI documentary premiere the night before, so her parents were in town. Well, this turned out to be a huge treat, because her parents were super nice and were raised in East Berlin. Her Dad was even dancing on the wall when it came down in 1989! So we brunched for 3 hours and talked about growing up in East Berlin, her movie, my engagement, our travels, our families, etc. It was amazing and very emotional for all.
After that, I called Dave and took a brisk walk along the river and through the park to tell him all about it. With some new energy, I saw more sites including a watchtower leftover from the Berlin wall, the 'new' Berlin (like Times Square), and the Pergamom Museum, which houses the Ishtar gate from Babylon. Saturday night I had more contemplation attending a German yoga class and visiting Checkpoint Charlie before I planned an early bedtime.
Sunday was the last day, where I visited another touching museum on the site where the SS headquarters used to be, then the 1936 Olympic Stadium where Jesse Owens won medals in the land of the Nazis, then jumped back on the bus, then on my bike, to head back home.
Monday morning, I sure was pooped from the weekend! But again, my spirits were lifted when I got to my desk and found 30 purple and red tulips from my secret fiance admirer!! I sure feel like such a lucky lady. <3
Reichstag with glass dome
Center of Reichstag... where government meets
Historic Brandenberg Gate
Holocaust memorial
Parking lot where Hitlers Bunker used to be
Entranceway to the Hostel
Birthday surprise from Dave
Going out with friends of friends
Post-brunch walk
East Berlin Tower still standing
Babylon Gate of Ishtar
Birthday Bikram Yoga
East side gallery - Berlin wall
Checkpoint charlie American side
Topography of Terrors - demolished SS building spot
Berlin Olympic Stadium where Jesse Owens made history
Biking home Sunday night
Valentine's Day flowers from my fiance!
