Elf's Shrine

Got up to a nice breakfast, I guess most everyone else is drunk or in bed because they went out the the "I spy" tour last night. I didn't go because I don't drink. A groupmate later told me that the guide gave a lot of history on the wall and the escapes. Darn it.

In the morning we go off to a walking tour. It costs 9 euros, starts around Alexanderplatz and will end at Checkpoint Charlie. This tour guide is pretty good, he gives us alot of the history behind the things he shows us. Turns out that he did a Phd thesis about the Nazis so he is a really good resource for such information. Berlin is now rebuilding the Berlin Palace, which is one of two palaces in Berlin. The other one being Charlottenburg (Yay!! I went to that one! I might be the only one in the group who went there *beams*). Currently, the ground is being flattened and prepared for the palace and the guide joked that it should be finished in about 302 years. Also the ground is still being prepared, a section with a window has already been completed and mounted by the side of the road as a display. Goodness knows why.

 There is so much construction going on in Berlin that it's hard to believe that this city is actually poor and owes alot of money to the rest of Germany.

We also went to see the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, which is essentially a plaza with 2711 blocks of concrete. My initial thoughts of this Memorial is that the blocks of concrete kinda look like huge coffins, but as you walk into the middle on the the memorial, the concrete blocks rise up above your head and you can only see what is infront of you and behind you. You will only see what is to the left and right of you at intersections. It kinda gave me the feeling of being isolated and that you never know who is going to the at the next intersection. Apparently the architect did not explain what he meant by this installation but the guide hazarded a guess that perhaps 2711 is an allusion to 9/11 (2+7 =9). Of course, he was quick to explain that it's not the American 9/11 (which I thought of first as well cos that's about the only thing people call 9/11) but rather the very curious Schicksalstag 9th of November.

Near where the Memorial for the Murdered Jews is located, is the bunker where Hitler commited suicide. It is now a parking lot and is very nondescript. This is because Neo-nazism is still a big problem in Europe, and every year on the anniversary of his suicide, Neo-nazis will throw some stunt or another at this spot.

For those who think that the Germans have no sense of humour... near where Hitler commited suicide there is a memorial of Johann Georg Elser who attempted to assassinate Hitler on the 8th of November 1939 (the guide said 9th of November though, not sure why. I suppose he loves 9th of November too!).

The tour brought us past the Ministry of Finance (previously the Nazi Air Force headquarters) and then finally on to the Brandenburg Gate. Near the Brandonburg Gate is Hotel Adlon where Michael Jackson had dangled his baby from. Bit of trivia for you.

As we get to the end of the tour, we finally end at Checkpoint Charlie. This checkpoint is famous because it is the only one that allowed foreigners to pass through and apparently from where World War III almost sparked off from, this time because a US General wanted to watch a performance in East Berlin and was denied entry by the Soviets. Nothing to do with the Germans. Oh and on this trip, I learnt that some people were taught that World War I was started by the Germans. That's mighty convenient but not true.

Really liked this guide, he is very knowledgable and even has information beyond the immediate sights to share. He does give us a feeling that he is doing this because he loves it.

After the walking tour, I went over to Kurfurstendamm to look for shops to help friends buy stuff. It's much farther in West Berlin than all the attractions in Berlin are (Most attractions are in East Berlin.) and actually lined with alot of big name brands. If you liked brand boutiques, this would be the place to be! I had wasted time looking along Unter den Linden!

Tried to find dinner on Potsdamer Platz (someone recommended an Italian Restaurant there, but they only had pasta) but changed my mind and had bread bought from bakeries along the way. Seriously love the diet here. Tasty, meat, potatoes, bread... :D 

Ah yes, also managed to take a tour around the outside of the Reichstag. The Reichstag is the German Parliament, which for all intents and purposes is currently the centre of Europe. In an odd, twisted way... Europe kinda belongs to Germany now, in the financial sense.

Pretty much walked my feet off tonight, but it was well worth it. I like the feeling of exploring, getting a little bit lost and then finding something you wouldn't have. It's so fun!