My first weekend trip abroad was to Berlin, Germany! Three friends and I took a five hour bus from Prague to Berlin at 7:30AM on Friday. I slept, did some reading for class, and watched some blockbuster hits (Dragon Hunter, and Something's Gotta Give...the animation in the first one was so realistic...not).
The bus company we used (Student Agency Bus) was decent. They provide a working toilet, headphones and drinks during the ride. From the bus station, we managed to find our way to the hostel. The public transportation system in Berlin is NOT easy. In Prague, there are basically only three lines (green, red and yellow). This is what the Berlin subway/bus/tram map looks like.
We navigated the system pretty well by asking the information desk at every stop and analyzing the maps at every platform. We ran into a few problems on Sunday. Some of the trains only ran between a couple stops. We had to switch three times to get nine stops down on the same line. All the announcements regarding this change in schedule were made in German. Of course.
We stayed at the Meninger Hostel. This was the first time I have stayed in a hostel and the experience was not bad, though I have no other hostel to compare it to. We booked the cheapest option (8 bed) and though we r0omed with three random people, they mostly kept to themselves. We were provided with bedding, blankets, bathroom and shower (and WiFi in the lounge next door). It wasn't as nice as a hotel (the room was very stuffy, the mattresses a bit uncomfortable) but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I only had to kill one spider this weekend.
My friends and I did, ate and saw a lot of things this weekend. We hit all the major tourist-y areas. 2.5 days is not enough time to see such a big city. There were many museums and places that we just couldn't squeeze into such a short period of time.
Here are some of the things we did:
The bus company we used (Student Agency Bus) was decent. They provide a working toilet, headphones and drinks during the ride. From the bus station, we managed to find our way to the hostel. The public transportation system in Berlin is NOT easy. In Prague, there are basically only three lines (green, red and yellow). This is what the Berlin subway/bus/tram map looks like.We navigated the system pretty well by asking the information desk at every stop and analyzing the maps at every platform. We ran into a few problems on Sunday. Some of the trains only ran between a couple stops. We had to switch three times to get nine stops down on the same line. All the announcements regarding this change in schedule were made in German. Of course.
We stayed at the Meninger Hostel. This was the first time I have stayed in a hostel and the experience was not bad, though I have no other hostel to compare it to. We booked the cheapest option (8 bed) and though we r0omed with three random people, they mostly kept to themselves. We were provided with bedding, blankets, bathroom and shower (and WiFi in the lounge next door). It wasn't as nice as a hotel (the room was very stuffy, the mattresses a bit uncomfortable) but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I only had to kill one spider this weekend.My friends and I did, ate and saw a lot of things this weekend. We hit all the major tourist-y areas. 2.5 days is not enough time to see such a big city. There were many museums and places that we just couldn't squeeze into such a short period of time.
Here are some of the things we did:
- Brandenburg Gate: This is the former city gate of Berlin at the end of Pariser Platz. The Roman goddess of Victory, Victoria, drives a chariot on top of the gate. She was taken to Paris when Napoleon strolled into town, and returned after his defeat. She represents German victory over "Paris" plaza. Also, her gaze happens to land over the French embassy.
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: This memorial consists of 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern on a randomly sloping cobblestone field in the middle of Berlin. The slabs are different sizes. It feels like maze when you walk through it. It has become somewhat like a park now, open to the public. The designer Peter Eisenman did not give an explanation for his work, leaving it up to individual interpretation. Some say it looks like the trains that took Jews to concentration camps. Other say it looks like the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague's Jewish Quarter. I haven't been to the Jewish Quarter yet, but I plan on going now.
- East Side Gallery: 105 artists painted different sections along the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall (almost a mile long). Though it is called a gallery, the wall remains out in the open, along a busy street. This was my favorite part of the trip. My friends and I walked along the wall stopping a nearly every section to take picture. It is amazing what can be done with a historically cruel structure.
- Lastly, I always enjoy trying new foods. Here are a few things I tried this weekend.
- Pork Schnitzel: This is a thin slice of breaded and fried meat. It was served with a potato and radish salad and a couple of lemon slices.. Yum.
- Currywurst: This is a giant sausage smothered with curry ketchup and curry powder. It was served with pomme frites (aka fries) and a mayonnaise sauce. I love meat.
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(I didn't take this picture) - Croissant: I have decided to try a croissant at every new city I visit (since I love them so much). For breakfast on Saturday we went to this small bakery near the hostel. I got a plain croissant. It cost 1 euro (1.5 dollars, 24 Czech Kc). I usually get a croissant in Prague for 9.90 Kc, though the one in Berlin was bigger. The croissant was really good. It was crispy on the outside and had a lot of soft dough in the middle. I felt like I was pulling crab meat from its shell. However, I missed the extra buttery glaze that Czechs put on their croissants. I think I still prefer the Czech croissant.
Berlin was a great first trip. It was close to Prague and relatively easy to navigate. There are lots of tourists, people speak English and seemed very willing to help a confused visitor. But at the end of the day, it was nice to return back to Prague. It felt like I was leaving a trip and finally coming home.
