We started our first full day in Berlin by eating breakfast in the youth hostel, then taking the U-Bahn (or subway) to Alexanderplatz. Alexanderplatz is a bit of a center for shopping and is a large subway and tram stop area. From there, we began walking along the Spree, which is the river that runs through Berlin. We then followed with a boat tour where we could appreciate more of the architectural and historical background of the main buildings in Berlin. Specifically, some that stood out to me were the Berliner Dom, which is a Protestant church, as well as the newer government buildings which dot the city with newer more modern architecture. We then went on to the “Palace of Tears,” which was the main train stop which allowed access across the border between East and West during the time of the Berlin Wall. It earned this name from the tears shed as friends and family parted. We all then split up for lunch on Friedrichstrasse, which is another popular center for eating and shopping. Perhaps the most exciting part of the day then followed, that being meeting Markus Koob, a representative of the German parliament. We all sat around a conference table near his office and discussed both German and American politics, all in German, of course. Afterwards we went to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauerstrasse, where we saw actual places where the wall once stood, as well as a replica. We also enjoyed a small museum where there was a lot of good information as well as some cool pictures. Then we split up once more for dinner in the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood, where I personally had Indian food. We all came back together for the last event of the night, that being German Improv Theater in an old brewery building that is now an arts center. It was hard to understand at times, but I could understand most context and details, as well as a few jokes. Which brings us to the end of the day, where I now sit on the tram heading back to the youth hostel. ~Meredith F.
That looks like so much fun! I hope everyone is having a good time.