Berlin boasts bratwurst, brrrrr breezes, bedbugs

Guten Tag!

Yikes it seems that I am getting a little behind on my posts! However it is difficult for two reasons: 1) Internet is always at a premium in the hostels, with a line of people waiting to get on and 2) When there is so much to see and do, the last thing I want to do is sit infront of a computer screen! However, back to my time in Deuschland....

It was onto a new phase of my trip; time to say goodbye to the hot and humid air, laid back lifestyle and ocean fragrances of southern Europe and welcome the cooler temperatures of Germany and the much different culture of Eastern Europe. Although I was a little sad to be leaving Spain and Portugal after having spent almost 6 weeks there, I felt ready for a change of scenery, people, culture, food....so much more to see and do! I have quickly come to realize there is never enough time spent in one place, and there is always something to be left for the next trip......

I arrived in Berlin after 27 hours of travel - I was thankful to be able to finally sleep lying down! I must say that I was quite lucky to have had a wonderful introduction to Germany, as the woman I sat next to on the plane was a Berliner and was very enthusiastic in giving me some great trips on where to go/what to do/what to see and then even went so far as to offer me a ride to the center of the city, saving me an easy one hour of travel by train and metro - thank you to the kindness of so many strangers that have helped me out along the way, thus far! Such a random group too, she was travelling with 3 others - 2 other Germans and an Israeli. The 4 of them have a clothing company called "Queen of Darkness" and had been in London putting on a fashion show. So random. My hostel in Berlin was only 10 euro per night - a huge change from the 20 euro I was used to paying in Spain and Portugal (which is still cheap by Canadian standards!). Although growing up in Calgary has made me both quite accostomed to and a fan of cold weather, I think my time in the south has made be a wimp! My entire time in Berlin I was freezing and was wearing all the clothes I brought (which does not consist of a lot when you only have a 40 L pack!). What am I going to do when I arrive back home to Calgary in the middle of December.....yikes!

Although Berlin turned out to be much more to my liking than Lisbon, both cities left me with a very unpleasant gift - once again, I had another duel with bedbugs. (Once again, I was defeated.) They are so evil - they get you right through the sheets, even double layers of sheets!! oh well, I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?.......I hope! Albeit bedbugs, the hostel was small and full of character, and the guy that ran it was a carbon copy of Jack from the tv show Will and Grace (both in physical appearance and in personality), so you can imagine how entertaining my time there was!

I was lucky to stumble across a free walking tour of the city, which I had heard about from someone I met in a hostel in Portugal. I joined it (really, what did I have to lose except for time?) and was SO glad I did. In 3 1/2 hours I easily learned more than I did in all of my European history lessons in grade school! It also was a great way to get a feel for the city and an introduction to all of the main sights. The history in this city is incredible and very sobering, to say the least. The city has a very interesting feel as it is a world of contrasts - buildings remaining from the war (complete with bullet holes) sitting right beside brand new and very modern buildings. Despite the incredible history of this city, it has a very young and funky vibe to it. Quite interesting to say the least. I have to say my time there was quite sobering but a huge learning experience, as I spent most of it seeing the sights such as the East Side Gallery (remaining section of the Wall), Holocaust monument, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Reichstag etc. During my time there I came across a quote by Mark Twain that I think was very fitting given the events that have occured at this locale: "History never repeats itself, but sometimes it rhymes." ....... something to ponder.

I had the opportunity while in Berlin to visit the apartment building that my grandmother grew up in - what a privilege. Very surreal to be standing infront of the same building and walking down the same street that she would have so many years ago. A very amazing experience.

Of course I took advantage of the German food, and ate more sausage during my time in Germany than I probably have in the past 10 years! I also feel the need to comment on the efficieny of the Germans - they are amazing! Two examples that stand out for me: 1) The trains run EXACTLY on time. If your train is scheduled to leave at 2:17pm it will leave at 2:17, not 2:18 or 2:20. 2) The school vacations occur at a different time in each region of the country, so as to avoid the roads being crowded with traffic and everyone leaving the country for vacation at the same time. Each year the schedule rotates so at some point everyone gets their vacation at the beginning/end of summer. Makes so much sense, doesn't it?!

And that was Berlin in a (very small) nutshell.....coming next: Dresden and Konigstein.

Tschus!

"I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine." - Caskie Stinnett