Giant Lego Man found!

First order of business:

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GIANT LEGO MAN WHO WASHED UP ON THE SHORE OF THE NETHERLANDS??
check it out: http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKL0787011420070807?feedType=RSS


Here we are on our last train ride. How sad, we have grown to love trains. Instead of our usual bar of chocolate and sandwich for the train, this morning we purchased a box of Dunkin Donuts. I know I know, freakin’ American chain donuts…but in Germany they’re actually really popular so we feel like it was an authentic purchase.

Okay so Berlin. Well Berlin is a massive city to only have one full day in so this automatically resulted in us attempting to squeeze everything in. We spent 12 hours in the city and I think an all around conclusion is that Berlin was a favorite. It is so rich with history and everywhere you go you’re constantly amazed that you’re standing on the spot where something so ground breaking occurred…or wall breaking that is (pun intended). There is a row of two bricks inbedded in the ground all around the city where the Berlin Wall used to stand. It was strange to see it just making it’s way around. We went to the spot where the wall actually remains—ironically it is located right next to Hitler’s headquarter remains (that is just rubble and will never be rebuilt). We also went to the Jewish Holocaust memorial that was just built in 2005. It has taken years to design and cost about 27 million euro. Basically, it’s a large area of land with 2,711 different sizes and mazes of square slabs. There isn’t any symbolism with the number or shape of slabs and in fact it is supposed to be that way. The designer said it was meant to be contemplated upon as you walk through and get lost in the slabs. We also spent a significant amount of time in the museum underneath which was a personal taste of the Holocaust. It covered personal stories and families whose lives were torn apart from hatred. It has been a rewarding experience to study the Holocaust from such a close proximity.

A few more sights we ventured upon include but are not limited to the square where Hitler held most of his rallies in Berlin, “Checkpoint Charlie” which is the famous point in the Berlin Wall and the only point where international passing through was allowed (there is now a massive picture of an American soldier), the Brandenburg Gate, and the Victory Monument (we actually climbed to the top.)

Our favorite visit of the day: The Reichstag. This is the parliament building and heart of German democracy. The Bundestag meets here (similar to US House of Reps) but most people go inside not for governmental purposes but to climb the huge glass cupola that circles around the top. Okay, so they stop letting people in at 10 pm and the line was massive in the morning so we decided to come back later that evening. Well time let go of us and we actually didn’t make it back until 9:30. Unfortunately, the line was still rather long. We decided to wait anyway…even against warning from the woman in charge that we may or may not get to the door. At first we didn’t have much hope until we figured out the system. There is a huge security room that is opened for people and then closed until emptied out again. Therefore, in 10 minute intervals rushes of people move into this room and the line moves up a lot. Now there was no turning back…we were into it. Kind of life a spectator sport where half of the excitement at the end of the game is not knowing the outcome, we began to get a thrill out of whether or not we would make it in. 20 minutes till close, 15 minutes to close…we were much closer. To our disadvantage, a lot of line cutters figured out the system as well and when the glass security door would open and the masses moved forward, it was mad chaos. We literally saw an old man and woman creep up in the line in front of us. Are you serious? I mean come on. The three or four person-wide line was now 20 people wide like a mob trickling into an entrance. Each time the door was about to open, we would prepare ourselves, grab each other’s hands so as not to get lost, and charge forward like a bull toward a red cloak. The crowd was sort of in this together. It was like a love hate relationship. When it was charging people, people were aggressive. When we all got one step closer, we were practically high fiving. So the outcome? Golden. At 9:56 the doors opened and we closed with us only inches away. However, rumors quickly spread through the line and were translated in multiple languages the door may or may not open one more time. Well it did and we made it in the very last group. People were ecstatic. So what did we do? We climbed the dome, said “there’s that” and came back down. It was all about the chase.

One more thing. Our couch surfing host Caspar. He is the epitome of couch surfing. We were his 114th guests…imagine never living alone because you are constantly housing backpackers. Caspar was very sarcastic and sassy so we quickly learned that to hold our own, we had to bite back. It was a good time and we’re glad we had the opportunity to stay with him.

2 more hours and we’ll be in Prague!!

Some Pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Our BeerGarten experience in Munich:


Kathleen's Accomplishment:


What we fought in line for (the Reichstag, Berlin):