Our first full day in Berlin was a busy one! We started off by creating our own inexpensive sightseeing tour with a ride on city bus #100, which passes by several of the main landmarks in the city, including the Brandenburg Gate. We got off the bus at the Alexanderplatz and then made our way to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße, where we were able to see how the wall was constructed and guarded. Next on the agenda was a walk down the Oranienburgerstraße to admire the beautiful gold dome of the New Synagogue, followed by lunch in the lively Hackescher Markt area. Then it was time to meet our guide for an underground tour of the escape tunnels built to help East Berliners trying to flee from the GDR. After our tunnel tour, we made our way back to the Alexanderplatz, where we enjoyed some coffee and cake in the revolving restaurant high atop the Fernsehturm (TV tower). We then took a stroll down the grand boulevard Unter den Linden, where we were able to see the Berlin Cathedral, the reconstructed City Palace, the Humboldt University, and many other impressive buildings and museums. We ended our day with dinner in two small groups on the Savignyplatz, a popular area for dining in West Berlin.
Typically, a student would have written this blog post, but given our packed schedule in Berlin, we thought it best to let the students get their sleep while we’re here without expecting anyone in the group to stay up extra late writing for the blog. Instead, I will keep you updated over the next few days with photos and a brief description of our activities, and the student reports will begin once we arrive in Oberursel, starting with three students sharing their reflections on their experiences in Berlin.
For now, all the best from Germany!
~Frau Greene