Home Exchange - Berlin - Day 5 and to the End

 ....the remaining few days in Berlin.

A few more observations:

• Apparently Berliners smoke a lot.  Cigarette butts everywhere.
• Speaking of everywhere, the horizon seemed to be filled with construction cranes.
• I kept speaking Spanish!  They would say hello or thank you in German and I would respond with 'Hola!' and 'Gracias'!!!  DOH!!!

Clearly, I need to come back to Berlin another time to see places I wasn't able to get to, or wasn't able to get inside.  Though some places were completely open, some were closed on Mondays, some closed for renovations, some still closed due to Covid.

I love grand ol theaters.  In most cities I've been to, I've been allowed inside to peer at all their glorious decadence.  Alas, here in Berlin I found none of them had any tours to offer.  Dang!  I chatted up one of the staff and asked him 'why?'  He said 'we want people to buy tickets to see a show'.  I countered with 'the theater could make extra money by providing tours, plus the exposure may GENERATE interest to come back and see a show'.  Ummmm.....okay....thanks.

Day 5 - Tuesday:  Yesterday was sunny and 88.  Today, it turned to rain so I stayed in and tried to remember what was what while reviewing photos I had taken.

Day 6 - Wednesday:  Raining again!!!  Temps down into the 60’s.  Decided to get a head start on assembling my blog on Berlin.

Day 7 - Thursday:  Rain again.  At noon it hadn’t reached 60, so I stayed in again!  Spent my time researching the back story of several sites.  Discovered I was staying where the Berlin Wall ran between 1961 and 1989....right outside my front door!

Day 8 - Friday:  Time to go home.  I cleaned my hosts apt and did laundry.  I’m spoiled having a dryer.  Here, and in Spain too, most people have washers (either in the bathroom or kitchen) but no dryer.  They drape their stuff from a rack outside the window, or a standing rack on the balcony.

More ranting about signage (or lack thereof or poorly presented).

I went to the train station to go to the airport.  Google maps directions said to catch the RE1 train.  In the train station, there was no mention of any RE trains….only a hallway to go to S trains.  I wandered aimlessly until a lady helped me by telling me where to go (so to speak).  She said I should go to platform 8.  Walking down the long hall I saw the large platform numbers.  I walked all the way to the end.  I saw 7, then 9, 10, 11.  Where’s 8?   It wasn’t until I turned around to head back that I noticed odd numbers were displayed walking one direction and the even numbers were facing as if you were walking the opposite direction.  How dumb is that?  I went up to platform 8.

The lady who ‘helped’ me said I could take S3, S5, or S7.  I asked about S9 as I thought it went where I wanted.  She said ‘Nein nine’ (no 9).  We laughed.  But, as it turned out S9 was exactly the train I needed, and took, to the airport.

BER is a new airport having opened less than a year ago...10 years late.  Two other airports were closed and one airport integrated into the new BER operation.  As my luck would have it, my gate was A38….the LAST gate all the way down at the end of a concourse, starting at A1.  Did this ‘modern/new’ airport have moving sidewalks where they should have moving sidewalks?  NO!!!  

The reader board displaying my flight and gate # also had 18 in one of the columns.  I thought it meant they would start boarding in 18 minutes which seemed odd as it would’ve been very early.  I looked again and realized it was the estimated time it would take to walk to the gate!!!   Due to my bad knee situation, I was already walking (more like waddling) like a little old man.  

The concourse had to be at least 500 ft long.  It wasn’t until about gate A20 a moving sidewalk appeared….but it wasn’t moving.  GRRRRRR.  I did, however, get to ride an actual moving sidewalk for the last 8 or so gates.  I was looking forward to a snack and/or drink near the gate.  Nothing was open.  😒😤  I guess it’s one of the negatives of low-cost airlines….they operate out of the lower-rent gates which are the furthest away from the word ‘convenient’.

In summary:

• # of days = 8 (2 of which were travel)
• Cost of City pass = $52
• Cost of HoHo bus and River tour = $41
• Cost of Apartment = .00 (Home Exhange)
• Cost of taxi to/from PMI $20 to, $20 from = $40
• Cost of flight $122 + $60 for priority boarding, seat selection, 1 extra bag = $182
• Other incidentals but those are things I would be spending at home anyway

Total, approx:  $315

I can't leave you without a video to watch!!!    😏  18 minutes of clips from the HoHo bus and River Cruise tours!  Enjoy!

Or, click here:  https://youtu.be/JhqASeckr2E

Until next time...

Dano

By the way, if you're interested in viewing any of my past entries about travelling around Europe and where I live in Mallorca, simply scroll down past my signature to the end.  There, you'll see 'Blog History'.  You can click on any Month/Year to see the titles I published at that time.  Simply click on the title you're interested in and it will take you to that page.

Home Exchange - Berlin - Day 4

 June 28, 2021 (Monday)  

Temperatures up to 88 today.  I decided to head out of the city, via the U-Bahn train, to the town of Kienberg, specifically Kienbergpark, where there was a bobsled run calling my name.  The park, comprised of 60 hectares (150 acres), was opened for the International Garden Exhibition Berlin of 2017.  The ropeway system (what we would call a 'Gondola') has a total length of 1.5 kilometers.  The 'hill' (more like a mound), is a whopping 315 feet high.  LOL  It has eleven international themed gardens, hiking trails, and a panorama viewing platform at the top.  Oh, and a bobsled run where you can ride at speeds of up to 40 km/hr (25 mph) down 500 meters (1650 ft) to the bottom, then it brings you back up to the top (at slow speed).  The bobsled was all I cared about.  My first.

The Gondola (ropeway system) station

I hoped I wouldn't get nosebleed from the heights!!  LOL

Bobsled starting point.

Each sled can accommodate 2 people.

You must hold both levers down to release the sled and free-fall the entire route.

Lifting the levers, applies the brakes.

Short video clip of the 'launch'

Video (sped up) of being brought back up to the launching point.

That was all I needed to see and do at KienbergPark.  I headed back to Berlin.

Deutscher Dom (aka Neue Kirche)

 Opened 1785

After being heavily damaged during the bombing of Berlin in WWII, reconstruction was completed in 1988.

Deutscher Dom (aka Neue Kirche)

As it was in 1981

Deutscher Dom (aka Neue Kirche) & the Konzerthaus

Konzerthaus

Built 1821

Severely damaged by allied bombing in WWII, it was rebuilt from 1977 onwards and reopened in 1984.  As of 2004, the hall's acoustics were considered to be among the five best concert venues in the world for music and/or opera.

Unfortunately, they don't provide tours.

Konzerthaus & Französischer Dom

Französischer Dom

Meaning French Cathedral in German, since 'Dom' is being used in the French sense, it means 'Dome'.  Neither Deutscher Dom nor this one are classified as 'cathedrals'.  Opened in 1701, though subsequently expanded primarily in 1785 like its neighbor Deutscher Dom across the plaza they share.  The two churches almost look identical on the exterior.  It, too, was extensively damaged during WWII  then reconstructed during 1977 - 1981.

Remember this from Day 3?

St Thomas Kirche

The back side of St Thomas Kirche

Digging around, I came upon this photo and recognized the church.  It's St Thomas Kirche and that is the Berlin Wall running behind it.  I put 2 & 2 together and realized the Berlin Wall ran down the street in front of the apartment where I was staying!  

If you remember from my Day 3 blog, a canal used to exist where you see the dirt stretch.  In the 1920's it was filled in and, subsequently, in 1961 the Berlin Wall was erected following the same path.

In the next photo, you can see the places I spoke of (and posted photos of) in Day 3.  On the left and set back from the pond is St Michaels Kirche.  The pond out front is now known as Engelbecken.  My apartment is to the right and one block down from the pond.  It's an L-shaped modern building on the corner next to a red brick complex.  The white strip between the two rows of trees that split the boulevard is where the canal existed and ran to the river Spree.  Between 1961 and 1989, the Berlin Wall stood in the same spot.  In the lower right, you can see St Thomas Kirche.

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls....that's your history lesson for today!!

Stay tuned....

Up Next - Day 5...

Dano

By the way, if you're interested in viewing any of my past entries about travelling around Europe and where I live in Mallorca, simply scroll down past my signature to the end.  There, you'll see 'Blog History'.  You can click on any Month/Year to see the titles I published at that time.  Simply click on the title you're interested in and it will take you to that page.

Home Exchange - Berlin - Day 3

 June 27, 2021 (Sunday)

Since many places are closed on Sunday, I headed to Tiergarten, a beautiful inner-city park in Berlin.  It was the largest park in Berlin until Tempelhofer field, a former airport, was closed and re-opened as a public park in 2010.  But Tempelhofer has NOTHING over Tiergarten!!

At nearly 520 acres, it contains the zoo, a rose garden, the Victory Column, ponds, trails, statues, grassy fields as well as heavily forested areas in the middle of the city.  Brandenburg Gate is at one end.  It was initially established as hunting grounds in the 16th century.  After the war, due to a shortage of coal, most of the forest (consisting of over 200,000 trees) was cut down for wood and the space was turned into temporary farmland.  It was reforested between 1949 and 1959 with approximately 250,000 young trees.  After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Foreign Embassies were built along the perimeter as well as the ultra-modern Chancellery, the largest government headquarters in the world.   A large tunnel was also built to run under the park to accommodate motor vehicles and transit trains.

Once I arrived via bus, I whipped out my cell phone, located an electric scooter parked nearby, unlocked it (again, via a cellphone app) and took off to explore the myriad of pathways within the park.

First stop...a beautiful flower garden

There were plenty of open lawn spaces for people to bask in the sun (some nude!) or enjoy a picnic.  Interestingly, there were several instances where two trees were close enough together to attach a hammock....and many people did.

A woman had put out these little containers of flowers.  I didn't ask what they were for, but the info card tied to them probably explained.  I'm guessing you could purchase one for a donation to something.  Cool idea!

I rode the scooter to the end of the park at the Brandenburg Gate and continued down the boulevard for more sightseeing.

The Schloss Bridge

Opened 1824

One of the statues on the bridge

'BUHH TOCKS'

(Forrest Gump)

I wonder if people ever stop to notice the detail?

Alas, the Grand Dame - The Berliner Cathedral

Inaugurated 1905.  322 ft tall.  It used to be slightly taller but the dome was destroyed by allied bombing in 1944.

I signed out and left my electric scooter behind and hopped a bus to an outdoor cafe for dinner.  After a LARGE beer and eating, I didn't feel like walking back to the apartment, so I checked out another scooter to tootle home.

Since I was tootling (vs walking), I decided to take the opportunity to view a few more places near where I was staying.

St Michael Kirche

Just down the street a few blocks from my apt.  Completed 1861.  In the final months of WWII, the area surrounding the church was almost entirely destroyed by air raids carried out by the USAAF with over 950 aircraft.  The church suffered serious damage.  As a result of the destruction of the roof, the dome is seen through the large portal window you see in front.

The back side was virtually undamaged.

But, inbetween the front and the back.....GONE.

Engelbecken Park

In front of St Michaels Church, there used to be a 1.4 mile long canal that connected the river Spree and Landwehr Canal with a central pond named Engelbecken (or Angel's Pool).  Completed in 1852, the canal was later filled in, in the late 1920's, and converted into a sunken park.  However, the pond was retained and now includes fountains and an outdoor cafe.

"Hey Marty, keep an eye out for crumbs!!"

"I'm on it Gladys!!"

St Thomas Kirche

Down the street a few blocks from my apt, but in the opposite direction, is this church, completed in 1869.

More on this in Day 4 as I discover some fascinating trivia!!

Next Up - Day 4...

Dano

By the way, if you're interested in viewing any of my past entries about travelling around Europe and where I live in Mallorca, simply scroll down past my signature to the end.  There, you'll see 'Blog History'.  You can click on any Month/Year to see the titles I published at that time.  Simply click on the title you're interested in and it will take you to that page.

Home Exchange - Berlin - Day 2

June 26, 2021 (Saturday)

My first full day in Berlin.  My usual approach is to take the double decker HoHo (Hop On Hop Off) tour bus to get a sense of the layout of the city as well as pick places I want to go back to.  Being 'Mr Organized', I always do some research before my trip and create an Excel spreadsheet (those that know me, STOP LAUGHING!!) of all the things I want to see and do and, naturally, I assign them to a category (ie; museum, plaza, theater, park, restaurant, bar, etc) so I can sort them together.  TMI already?

As it seems with many of my trips, I encounter some hiccups where I wonder 'what were they THINKING?'.  This trip was no different.  Besides the City Pass (which provides unlimited use of transit and discounts to various venues) I also puchased a combo ticket for the HoHo and a 1 hour boat tour.  But, NOWHERE on my confirmation email or printed ticket did it say WHERE TO GO to catch the HoHo!!

When I arrived at the airport, I saw a red HoHo bus pass by the terminal so I decided I should go there.  Once there, could I locate a sign indicating where the stop is....where to stand???  Nope.  I asked someone and I was told it was down there.  Went there.  Nada.  Finally, I went into a hotel and asked the front desk clerk...'oh yes, it's right outside our door'!!   GREAT....thanks so much for the SIGN!!!

The red HoHo bus arrived and I hopped on.  The driver just waived me through when I motioned to scan my ticket.  During the tour, I noticed at each stop there was nary any signage indicating it being a HoHo stop.

I got off at the last stop, at the Mercedes Arena center, which was next to one of the rivers and I noticed tour boats were departing from there.  I THOUGHT maybe my boat stopped there.  The reason I didn't know was because THERE WAS NO NAME OR DIRECTIONS ON MY RECEIPT OR TICKET FOR THE BOAT TOUR!!!  I hung out about 1/2 hour but no boat arrived...at least, not mine.  Idiot me read the posted sign stating it departs at 1:20pm but that was from the STARTING POINT.  Who knows how much longer it would be before it would arrive at THIS point.  I decided to just bag it.

As I was leaving the MB Arena area, along came another red HoHo bus and it was then I realized I had been on the wrong one in the first place because the name on it matched what it said on my ticket!!  LOL   Gimme a break, they were both red busses and had their names scrawled in similar yellow color.  Lo-n-behold here came the bus company I was SUPPOSED to be on in the first place, so I hopped on!!

Here's some of what I saw along the route.

Victory Column

Inaugurated in 1873, it commemorated victory over previous wars.  Victoria, at the top, is known as the goddess of victory.  At 220 feet high, you can climb the 281 steps of the tight spiral staircase to a viewing platform.  I didn't.

Town Hall opened 1869, Mayors office

Altes Museum

Opened 1925

Altes Stadhaus

Old city hall, opened 1911, now used by Senate

Berlin Palace

A former Royal Palace from the 15th century.  It was damaged during WWII and later demolished by order of the East German Socialist Party in the 1950's.  It consumed 19 tons of dynamite to do so.  The construction was so solid, the dome and its entire mount remained intact even after the rest of the building fell to the ground.  In the early 60's and 70's two new modernist buildings were constructed on the site.  But in 1990, after the German reunification, asbestos was discovered.  The government decided in 2003 to demolish the buildings and leave the area as park land.  Demolition was completed in 2009.  From 2008 - 2013 the area was nothing but a grass field.  In the end, it was decided to rebuild the palace facade like it looked before, but the interiors would be of modern designs that would accommodate its new function as a cultural museum and forum.  Now known as the Humboldt Forum, what you currently see was completed in 2020.

Brandenburg Gate

Built in 1791 (230 yrs old).  In 1961 when the Berlin Wall was built, it passed directly in front of it, making it impassable.  In 1987 President Reagan addressed the West Berliners at the Brandenburg Gate and sent the famous message to Mikhail Gorbachev .."tear down this wall".

German History Museum

Humboldt University

Kaiser Wilhelm Church

Opened in 1895 it was nearly destroyed in a 1943 bombing.  The modern belfry (on the left) was added in 1963.  A new church was built at the rear of the ruins.  Berliners were adamant the old church not be torn down so it would be a reminder of the war.  The (tear down) plan provoked a public outcry in which the ruined tower was characterized as the "heart of Berlin".

If there's a boat tour offered, I usually do that, too.

I asked the HoHo bus driver where the boat tour (associated with the HoHo and sold as an add-on) launched from and it was just 3 stops away.  Good, I'm back on track.

But wait....

At that stop, I approached a boat company with a name that seemed to ring a bell to me.  I explained my situation and showed her my email and voucher.  She scanned the code.  Nope.  But, neither one of us knew where I should be.  I had tried calling the customer service number earlier, but there was no answer.  She was very kind and gave me a ticket anyway and I enjoyed a 1 hour cruise on the river Spree.

Bundeskanzleramt

The equivalent of the White House where Angela Merkels' (Chancellor) offices are located.  Opened 2001.

The two pedestrian bridges crossing from one side to the other symbolize the reunification.

See the reflections in the glass?

Reichtag

Home of Parliament.  Opened 1894, severely damaged in 1933 after being set on fire.  Fell into disuse after WWII until 1960 when it was partially refurbished.  Wasn't fully reconstructed until 1999.  However, the original cupola (dome) was not reconstructed as it once was.  Instead, a glass dome was erected with a spiral ramp inside and is open to the public.  Providing 360 views the public can also see down into the parliament chambers below. The dome symbolizes reunification and transparency of the government.

Haus der Kulturen der Welt

(House of World Cultures)

Built in 1957, a gift from the US.  In 1980, the roof collapsed, killing one and injuring numerous people. The hall was rebuilt in its original style and reopened in 1987 in time for the 750-year anniversary of the founding of Berlin.

We got MOONED!!!

I was tired from baking in the sun (about 86 F) but when I got off the boat, I realized I was just a few blocks away from the TV tower.  'Do I reallllly want to walk over there?' (I said to myself), plus another 50 yards to the base of the tower?   Gawd….I figured I should take the opportunity since I was already in the area.

I stopped into the Marienkirche for a few minutes, if only just to get out of the sun.  

Then I shuffled over to the Neptunes fountain and sat for a while....in the middle of a huge plaza with no shade.

The Neptune Fountain in Berlin was built in 1891.  The four women around him represent the four main rivers of Prussia at the time the fountain was constructed: the Elbe, Rhine, Vistula, and Oder.  59ft in diameter and 33ft high.  It was formerly located at the Berlin Palace but when the palace was demolished, the fountain was moved to the present location.

I mustered up the courage to drag my butt another 50 yards to the base of the TV tower.  I dreaded a long set of stairs leading up to somewhere around the base.  

There were NO signs (that I could see anyway) that pointed where to go to enter the tower.  Do you see a trend here?  There were many other venues around the base adding to the confusion. I went to what looked like a ticket trailer with 3 cashier-type windows.  After a bit, I realized I was in line for a Covid test!!  So, I walked around the base this way…nope.  Back track.  Take that elevator to the upper level…nope…out of order.  Up that long set of stairs I'd been dreading (due to one of my knees being bone on bone) and entered what appeared to be the welcome center…nope…gotta go down (those same stairs) and around.  Did that...to another entrance.  Nope, keep going all the way around (almost to where I had gone before).  THERE it was.  I was sweating profusely.  

There was no queue but staff was there to ‘check me’.  Have I been vac’d?  Yes, showed them.  Latest antigen?  Yes, showed them.  Gotta wear a mask.  Also, I needed to download a tracking app ‘Luca’ and register my info, where I’m staying, etc.  Then, scan a QR code.  THEN I could go in and pay for my ticket.  Got the ticket.  Then I had to climb more stairs (no elevator in a modern building?) that branched off in multiple directions some of which were roped off.  I chose one to the top level.  Nope can’t get to the ticket reader that way, gotta go all the way around the other way to reach it.  WHY didn’t they cordon off that path if it led nowhere?  GRRR   Now, I’m pissed, realllllyyy sweating, and starting to morph into a hatchet murderer.  I was greeted by yet another staff person and told to go up a small set of stairs to the ticket scanner. 😡    I tried scanning my ticket, but it was the wrong way.  After being corrected, I was able to get in the elevator.  No elevator attendant/operator any more, just a staff person who simply clicks a remote control that instructs the elevator to go to the observation deck or the restaurant level.  It involved SIX people to get to this point!!!

About the TV tower (formally known as 'Berliner Fernsehturm').  Opened in 1969.  1,207 feet tall including antenna.  An observation deck at 666 feet and a rotating (twice per hour) restaurant above that.  Similar to the Space Needle in Seattle which also has a rotating restaurant and an observation deck but at the 520 ft level (of the overall 605 ft height).

Observation deck guests are allotted 45 minutes which the ‘Luca’ app was ticking down the remaining time left.  Information plaques and aerial images and telescopes were lined up around the entire perimeter.

Neptunes fountain in the center and Marienkirche lower right

Afterwards, I headed to one of the train stations across the street to head home (6pm).  The train services were stalled due to some police activity.  I had 4 lines to choose from.  The one I was waiting in wasn’t moving.  So, I got off and went downstairs and over and up to another platform.  I determined which direction I needed to head and got on the train.  We were moving.  Hmmmm….but the stops didn’t seem right.  I was going the wrong direction.   😒 I got off and switched to the other side.  Meanwhile, my cell phone was down to 2% battery so I had to quickly check google maps to determine my path home.

Back on track (scuze the pun) I got off at the stop I needed and walked across the street to catch the 147 bus which stops right out front of my apt.  But, I wasn’t sure which side of the street I should stand on to go the right direction.  My cell phone was now dead.  A 147 bus came and I asked the driver.  He didn’t know.  Other guys on the bus chimed in to be helpful.  One guy got off the bus to check the route board but he wasn’t sure.  It ended up being 6-10 people debating whether I had the right bus or not!!  I thought, 'what the hell, give it a shot'….I would know within 2-3 stops anyway.  We were all laughing about it.  It was the right one…the bus stopped smack dab in front of my building!!!

Once inside the apt, I headed straight for the fridge and a MUCH NEEDED cold beer.

I downloaded my photos (from my cell) and videos (from my GoPro).  I had taken 121 photos that day!  During an initial review, I pared them down to a modest 99.  LOL

Some observations from my day:

• Like a lot of cities, there is a LOT of graffitti....grossly and insanely so. I don't get it.

• What would normally be maintained by the city, such as medians, sidewalk strips, parks, etc were very unkempt.  Lots of overgrown dry weeds with litter mixed in.

• Most likely due to WWII, the re-construction boom that occured afterwards was primarily in the 50's and 60's....the bland era.  Everywhere I looked was plain, square, box-like buildings with absolutely NO architectural esthetic.  Like a sea of hospitals or prisons.  Lifeless.  Without personal identity.
• However, mixed in with the uglys and historical buildings were newer, innovative modern buildings that pushed the envelope...primarily from the 1990's and 2000's.

• Almost everyone in the service sector offered to speak in English, German, or Spanish.
• There's plenty of transportation modes from busses, surface trams (light rail), subway trains, bicycles, taxis, and these two....pedal taxi and electric scooters (even electric motorcycles!).  There's at least 4 different brands of electric scooters.  All you have to do is use your cell phone to find the nearest parked scooter, scan the bar code to unlock it, and away you go!  When you're done, you simply park it (properly like these are...but many times you see them strewn all over) and lock it via the cell phone app.  The charge is automatically debited to your account or credit card.

Next up - Day 3...

Dano

By the way, if you're interested in viewing any of my past entries about travelling around Europe and where I live in Mallorca, simply scroll down past my signature to the end.  There, you'll see 'Blog History'.  You can click on any Month/Year to see the titles I published at that time.  Simply click on the title you're interested in and it will take you to that page.