T and D's Adventures

Wed, Jun 10 Berlin, Germany

Quick highlights, for more scroll down:
Visited Dunkin Donuts
Kaiser-Wilhelm Church
city bus to TV Tower (former E. Berlin)
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
former Berlin Palace
hilter's bunker site
Holocaust Memorial & Museum
Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag
Tiergarten
Wall
Checkpoint Charlie & museum (cheesy)
U-bahn back to the room @ 10:30

We started our day across the street (kind of) from our hotel at the Kaisier-Wilhelm-Gedachtniskirche (Emperor-William-Memorial-Church). It was bombed during WWII, for awhile the congregation met in the bombed out shell. They built a new church (see an at sea day for that photo) but left to original as an anti-war memorial. I couldn’t tell for sure, but it looks like they might what the original church razed but the info was written in German (of course) so I’m not quite sure what was going on.

Next we hopped on the 100 (or as Tom kept calling it “the 101” which is the bus I use to take to work every morning). The 101 took us past most of the sites we were to visit today.

We got out at the end of the line; at the TV Tower; the tallest structure in Germany – thank you Soviet Union. We had some great views.
Museumsinsel (Museum Island) – 5 museums on an “island” in the river, as seen from the TV Tower.

Tiergarten, like Central Park in NYC. It was once the hunting grounds for Germany’s rulers, now a 167 hectarce park. There was a running relay going on while we were there.
Doesn't that bldg look like a giant PC screen?

hilter's bunker, yes,the one where he killed himself. The Soviets covered it with dirt. But then when the Wall fell, the Germans uncovered it, took off the roof and filled it in properly. Now it's a park down the street from....

Memorial to the Murdered European Jews also know as the Holocaust Memorial. Consists of2711 (hollow) concrete blocks across a huge field. Below the memorial is a museum about Jewish life and the attempted extermination - very moving.

Brandenburg Gate from 1791, the last of the original 18 city gates with the Quadriga on top. The goddess of victory pulled by 4 horses. I thought it was interesting that Napoleon stole it but had to give it back.

Riechstag, the Parliament building from 1894. Partially destroyed in 1933, which helped hilter rise to power. The building got a new modern dome where you can walk around inside and look down on the Bundastag (what a funny word) and also view the city.

An original part of the wall, near the Topography of Terror. This is a small section left intact. The Topography of Terror displays info on the SS, Gestopo etc.

Checkpoint Charlie, it was demolished then re-build. We also visited the museum where there were many stories of escape, attempted escape and modes of escape.

Tue, Jun 9 to Berlin

Got online to blog and upload pics. I'm catching up on previous days. We haven't had much time and have to pay for internet :0

We are heading to Berlin on a 2:15 flight but hoping to leave 2 bags behind until Friday.

I've got to pack, check-out is in half an hr (10 am).

It's now 8:30 pm and we're calling it a night, meaning we're going to bed early.

We left most of our bags in Copenhagen and went off to visit the Museum of Danish Resistance.

This is NOT an outhouse.... Here's Tom trying to get into the armoured shelter provided to the guards at Ameilanborg Palace (where the Danish Royals live) during WWII - I really don't think he'd fit.

It was chilling to see real Nazi uniforms & flags and actual clothes from Danish Jews.

We arrived in Berlin although going through security at Copenhagen was weird. I had to take everything out of my pockets & take off my money belt...why wear one if I have to take it off? I set off the alarm anyway and had to be frisked - and they found a receipt and luggage claim tag in my pocket! Good thing they found that, it's dangerous... but we didn't have to take off our shoes.

We took the bus to the Zoo stop and then wandered around (in the rain) looking lost while we got our bearings. Our hotel is very nice and they have robes & slippers - which I love.

Food prices are much more reasonable and tax is only 19%. We had dinner & dessert (warm apple strudel w/ ice cream) for only $27.

We have "free" internet, so I'll add pics to my blog too. Hope you're enjoyed our vac - we are!

Mon, Jun 8 Copenhagen

Now we feel like pros getting around the city.

Went to the train station, took it to Central Station again. Went to get more info at the Tourist Office and grab a walking tour with Hans Christian Anderson. It wasn't really Hans but an American dressed like him that gives walking tours. It was great. Got a lot of info about the city & the Danes. How they don't mind paying 52% income tax (!) and 25% sales tax. When they buy a car they pay 180% tax - needless to say not a lot of cars.

After the the walking tour we bought lunch at a butcher shop where they make smorrebord, open- faced sandwich; roast beef & herring (not together). Tom had a meatball sandwich - they were yummy.

Changing of the Guard @ noon includes the band, we were just finishing lunch and there they were, off to Rosenborg Castle.

Off to Rosenberg Castle & Treasury, home of Christian IV (now a museum) and the crown jewels which are always fun to see.

This was another guided tour by H.C. Anderson. We did not have time to tour the gardens because we bought a combo ticket w/ Amalienenborg Palace and it was getting ready to close.

Amalienborg is 4 mansions (for 4 kings) where the royals live today and another is a museum to show royal life. There was a tiara display which I enjoyed, but they would not let me try any of the on.

Next was a canal tour. I became a popsicle but it was a great way to see the city from another view. Again we were eating later than we'd like but found an Irish Pub where the food was good but the bathrooms were terrible.

Nytorv, picturesque part of town w/ old homes.

Back to the room a little earlier, we've got to pack...

Sun, Jun 7 Copenhagen

We woke up about 3 am blah blah I finally went back to sleep at 7 am - not good.

Anyway, got a late start.

Took the train to Central Station, while there we bought a 10 ride tix. Very convenient! It can be used by more than 1 person at a time, you just stamp your tix for as many people are using it.

We had info to take a walking tour. We grab lunch which was chicken sandwich w/ a curry sauce. It was weird, I didn't hate it but I'm not a big curry fan. The good part is we had a chocolate croissant too.

We started our walking tour at City Hall.

Next to City Hall is Hans Christian Anderson status.

We walked down the Storget which is a shopping/eating street.

Gammeltorv (Old Square) features this crazy fountain:

The Caritas Well, I told you it was crazy - lady w/ water comes out her boobs & little boy peeing. It symbolizes the greatest theological virtue, love or charity. Okay, if you say so....

Strolled down to picturesque Kongens Nytorv. It use to be seedy, cuz this is where the sailors use to hang out. Now it's filled with cafes where you can freeze your butt off (it was upper 50s) and have something to drink and/or eat. At least they supply blankets. It started to rain while we were here but mostly it was business as usual with people sitting under umbrellas wrapped in blankets.

We went to church at 6 pm - wooden kneelers!?!? oh my gosh I took a pic of the church because it's just not where I expected it.

Ate a late dinner at the Hard Rock and bought a pin. Back to the hotel @ 10. It sounds late but it stays light here longer.

Sat, Jun 6 Copenhagen

We arrived about 1:10 pm. It's seems like a small airport, very easy to get around. Went to the ATM & got some krons, got a map & some info and we jumped on a train. We had a 15 min walk to our hotel and got checked-in about 3ish. It would have been nice to take a nap but we took a walk.

Our hotel is not centrally located in the city center but out near the port - okay with us. There are several canals and the waterfront, so we had a nice walk - especially since we've sitting for 9.5 hrs.

We visited the most famous (?) resident of Copenhagen, The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue). The French guy having his picture taken had to grab her boob, I just stood next to her.

Also saw the guardian angel of this maritime city. Lots of status in this city.

We ended up at Kastellet Park. This is Gefion Fountain depicting the creation of Denmark, a goddess turned her sons into oxen and they carved out a piece of Sweden as Denmark.

This is the back of the fountain and an Anglican church. A little ways beyond is the Museum of the Danish Resistance, closed.

Back to the hotel & unpacking. Couldn't stay awake much longer, went to bed @ 8:15 pm but woke up at 3 am.

Food is very expensive and usually includes the 25% sales tax. We had the "special" at the airport; 2 thin slices of pizza & a drink for $16.00. Dinner at a Thai place was $50 which included water for $5.00 each and that was just a plain bottle of water - I wish I'd had a beer!