SOLO EURO: DAYS 4-5 [BERLIN]

on day 3, i spent the morning packing, checking out, and checking into my new hostel. the hotel room was a splurge and therefore i returned to hostel living (more on that later). 

the first stop was the semi-long train ride to gedenkstatte plotzensee, a berlin prison from the 1800's but known for being an execution site during the nazi era. in total, about 3,000 prisoners were executed. most were germans that were seen as threats to the nazi ideology. i got lost along my way (took a wrong turn out of the station and could not believe i had to go down a cobblestone alley to get there), but i was glad i went.

the execution chamber. inside prisoners were killed by guillotine. 

after, i took a bus to the reichstag building. this area is the most touristy and has most of the popular memorials that you may have seen pics of.

the reichstag

memorial to the members of the reichstag persecutions. also known as the 'bike rack.'

the sinti and roma (gypsy) memorial

brandenburg gate

memorial to the murdered jews (i could not believe all the rude people standing on top. who would think that is ok?!)

in the tiergarten there is a memorial to goethe. you can see where the statue was patched up after it was damaged during the bombing in 1945.

i was very hungry and decided to stop at my first restaurant. i was a little nervous. going to a sit-down requires more communication and i did not want to make a fool of myself. also i would be faced with the ettiquette (customs are different than in the us). overall, i really liked this place. i actually came here a second time when i returned to the city,

schnitzel, potato salad (with pickles!), and a cappachino with itty bitty chewy cookies.

the view outside the restaurant

next stop was the museum on everyday life in the gdr. it focused on culture in east berlin and shared stories about east berliners. it was interesting to learn the creative ways germans expressed themselves and made extra money with limited resources. on a side note, i used a paid toilet for the first time. what a newfangled concept for this american!

surprisingly i had extra time, so i stopped at the berlin wall memorial. this is the only part of the berlin wall that still has both walls (west & east) and the death strip inbetween (including a death tower). there is also a little museum about the wall and an outside museum that includes remnants and memorials.

the death strip.

memorial to those who died while attempting to cross the border (they were either killed by officers, accidentally in their attempt, or committed suicide when they knew they would be caught).

a little garden nearby

i then made my walk to the hostel.

and saw a cute little flower stand (there are so many in germany!)

 i stayed at the eastseven hostel and i highly recommend it! they have the absolute friendliest workers (i would say the friendliest workers i have ever met at an hostel, especially max). the dorm rooms are also pretty large and the bathrooms are split up by gender with multiple showers (both things i prefer). the one con is that they do not have female only dorms, but this is a minor detail that is more of a preference. the hostel is known for being a bit of a party hostel, but everything was pretty quiet during my stay except for the one night american frat boys were drunk and sang the national anthem (another californian and i just laid our head down in shame).

the common area.

a reference to hey arnold!

such large rooms for 4 people.

that night i had some ramen from down the street. i went there 2 other times.

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the next day, my first stop was the coffee shop down the street. the cafe was filled with antiques and to even get to the restroom you had to use an old lever key.

this day was a museum day, but before they opened up i went to the 'old town' (which is not very much because the city was bombed) to see the old buildings. unlike many other cities, after the bombings the city decided to not so much preserve, but build new and modern structures.

next i headed to the mitte. the first museum was the deutsches historisches museum (german historical museum). it is very thorough and large! i thought i was done by the time i reached the 1930s, but no i had another half to go. i highly recommend it, but don't bog yourself down.

the german historical museum

walking around the mitte, i did not expect to see so many old buildings. as somebody who has never been to greece, i felt like i was in greece. the buildings were just so old and grand. i really did love this area: pretty greenery, pretty buildings, and live music.

the berlin dom

 next was the alte nationalgalerie old national gallery (an art gallery). this was my favorite museum of the day. i have said this before, but i really enjoy art museum and this is a more recent development. it is super corny, but i feel moved. i am becoming so crunchy granola.

my favorite pieces inside.

the gals.

the next museum was the ddr museum, which is not really worth mentioning. down the street here were some more memorials, souvenir shops, and a coffee place i visited.

a random church i found.

fernsehturm berlin, the tv tower.

neptunes fountain. this is the only place where i saw someone attempt to pick pocket others.

ruine der franziskaner-klosterkirche. the church was bombed in 1945 and today is used for art exhibits. i came at the perfect time when the sun was setting.

i then ate some dumplings and called it a night.

now for a song. at work i have been listening to lorde's new album and i have really enjoyed it. my favorite song keeps changing, but i thought i would choose 'liability.' corny, but i think these lines relate to solo travel and self care:

'so i guess i'll go home
into the arms of the girl that i love.
the only love i haven't screwed up.
she's so hard to please,
but she's a forest fire.
i do my best to meet her demands
play at romance, we slow dance
in the living room, but all that a stranger would see
is one girl swaying alone.'