My expierences in Berlin. 28 and 29 Augustus 2017

My expierences in Berlin.

28 Augustus 2017

I have doubted about how I would write these texts and I have concluded that it would be best for the structure that it would be this form, the form of a dairy, As of now I am happy with this format and I will write down my experiences in Berlin like this, day by day.

Today it is monday 28 august 2017 and I am 24 years old at the moment, a person on the ASS that is going abroad for the first time ever, on my own that is. I am going to Berlin (if you didn't get that out of the title yet). After years of whining I finally get to go. My mode of transportation is the plane as going from here to Berlin by train would take me 8 hours, with the plane only around 3-4 with getting to the airport and checking in and then finally flying to Berlin included. I am taking the plane in Brussels, originally I booked a flight with Brussels airlines but it ended up being a flight from Star Alliance of which Brussels airlines is a member off.

I just have to take note, that the self check in goes fast, I arrived at the airport around 12.20 and was already past security before 13h. As a citizen of one of the countries of the schengen agreement going to another member state I didn't even have to show my identity card even once. But now the long 3 hour wait before boarding was about to start. What I did at the airport after I browsed the stores was just going from one end of the terminal to the other using those flat moving stairs! For 3 hours on end. Just to keep me busy.

The boarding should have started at 16.10 but it didn't, it began over 15 minutes later and I was freaking out, it was well over 10 years ago that I even taught about using a plane as a mode of transportation so naturally I was afraid I would have missed my flight while being right in front of the gate I had to be after waiting for hours. (Always looking on the bright side of life can be quite difficult at times)

The flight seemed to go by quicker than it actually happened, even tough the cramped leg space I did enjoy the view from my window seat. Common sense seem to have eluded many people on the airplane itself as everyone wants to go outside to plane at once, which is impossible and making the line even longer. Once outside of the airport I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel. The driver was way friendlier than expected as I took to reddit for any etiquette rules that I might not have know about that are living in Berlin.

What I've never seen before is that there is a meter in the cab that shows what you have to pay which updates regularly (you pay by the (kilo)meter).

During the check in in my hotel, I needed to fill out a form with my name and home adress. It assumed my nationality, and it said I was dutch. This is quite the insult! I refused to sign this piece of paper but the girl behind the counter said I could just scrap it and fill in my real nationality which I of course did!

Luggage in the room I went to eat in this local non touristic Italian restaurant which I got a coupon from from my hotel. I barely got time to drink it as my ordered beer was there within seconds after the placement of the aperitif.
The beer was absolutely tasteless (Berliner pilsner or something it was called) but the pizza was pretty good which was nice, I found myself looking for a pub after dinner. Which was surprisingly cheap and found myself entering an Irish bar and drank a pint of Guinnes (looking back later it was the best beer in Berlin.)

Tuesday 29 august 2017

I got out of bed quite early today, because I wanted to have breakfast in peace, without a huge amount of people at the queu to get the food. In the elevator there was this paper that was taped to its wall, with the times of when the breakfast area was not busy to most busy and I think this should be in every hotel that wants to take itself seriously. Just because it is a handy tool.
I have to note that the breakfast options in the hotel is a choice between sweet and salty and nothing in between. Sure there was cheese but there was nothing else.

After I took breakfast, I left my hotel in the Hedenmanstraße to the monument for the murdered European Jews. It is quite a chilling monument the size of a city block and if one should find him or herself in Berlin one should have time to visit this monument, at first sight it might not seem that beautifull, but it is quite chilling to see and walk to.
Afterwards I went to the location of where the Fuhrer bunker used to be. I did spit on the parking lot and littered a bit. I found it a bit disappointing that there was no way to pee there. And yes I am very proud to have spit on this location.

The most logical next destination of mine, was the Brandenburger tor and the triergarten. Which is on the same square of the Bundestag (previously the Reichstags). When I first saw the Brandenburger tor I had some kind of architectural orgasm. The building is even more beautifull than on pictures and when inside the gate there are statues both in normal style and in painting style.
The triergarten, is a large park, more in the style of a forest rather than a park. In it I saw a small critter named a squirrel. I was going to take a picture of it but it ran away from me. I went after it silently apparently it was on a branch above me and when I discovered it it ran away.
The squirrel was looking at me...
Ofcourse, I only saw the Bundestag from the outside.

Later, I wanted to have a bite to eat but it was still a bit to early for Maxemillian restaurant which is a bavarian style restaurant which also serves 1 liter beers I went to this coffee shop (not for weed) and I drank a couple of coffees and then I got up and left for Maxemillian, and I got a pork nee and a full liter of bad German beer.

In the afternoon, I went to the jewish museum in Berlin and I taught the permanent exhibition was quite interesting to see, I happened to enjoy it. Even just for once. I do think this is something we should also have visit when you just happen to be in Berlin.

For the rest of the afternoon, I just walked around the city and ended up near checkpoint charlie on a square, and drank something there. I was doubting to view this panorama painting inside the building I was looking at at the end when I was not thirsty anymore I went inside.
The exhibition, was very very on point the painting ofcourse being a panorama of the wall and on the background speeches of politicians played (audio only) and once the speech of president Kennedy played my hairs stood up straight when he spat out the words: ICH BIN EIN BERLINER! As someone with a low amount of empathy and not roused up quite easily this is certainly something that is emotionally loaded. Literally this is the best attraction in Berlin I've done so far.

Afterwards I went to my hotel and read some pages in the book I am currently reading, then it was time to have some evening dinner. I went to KFC and had KFC for the first time in my life. The chicken tasted good but the fries could better.