Berlin Trip (Part 3)

Day 3

We woke up late, and in addition, we were watching TV and they were talking about Bahnstreik (train strikes) being organised all over Germany. We were worried that there were no trains to the city, but worst still, that we couldn't go back to Munich. But it was all OK *phew* However, we spent most of the morning sleeping.

We checked out and carried our bags with us the whole day. First we went to the Turkish quarter to jalan-jalan, as Bernard knew of a place that sold Krumpler bags. But still too expensive lah, so we then just walked around the place. Enrique saw a post office and went to buy stamps for his postcard.

We then found the shop "Curry 36", which is one of the most popular places that sell Currywurst here in Berlin. Apparently even Tom Cruise drops by here. But we didn't find it particularly special. The fries with mayo were nice though =)

Curry 36. Went there by recommendation from Jan.

Currywurst und Pommes Frites mit Mayo.

We decided to eat more for lunch, so we went to a Kebab stall. There's a popular dish in Germany called Döner Kebab which apparently originated amongst the Turkish immigrants in Berlin. We paid 2 euros and we got this nice huge Dürüm Döner which was bigger than those we get for 4 euro in Munich.

Dürüm Döner

So anyway we then went to the Jewish museum (weird zig-zag building). Most places like this have discounts for students. The museum itself is somewhat an art-type statement. In the museum there are lanes such as "Axis of Exile", "Axis of Death" and "Axis of Continuity". There was lots to see but we didn't have much time so we rushed the last few sections. It's really worth a visit (got that Gun Kiat? Haha).

Strange zig-zag building

Along the "Axis of Death". Auschwitz was one of the worst deathcamps built by the Nazis. Might be visiting the actual place in Poland.

"Fallen Leaves" by Jewish artist Menashe Kadishman. Visitors are encouraged to step on the artwork.

A Jewish Torah

Jewish garb

Probably the most famous Jew - Albert Einstein

"Jews will not be served here" - sign showing the discrimination faced by the Jews during the Hitler era.

With a few hours left we went to the large famous shopping centre KaDeWe ("Kaufhaus des Westens "Department Store of the West), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As a Jewish owned place it had hard times during the Nazi and WWII eras but it is now of course rejuvenated. Bought some chocolates and soft drinks. We then walked around the shopping district of Ku'Damm (Kurfürstendamm), which is the Champs-Élysées of Berlin (hope to visit the actual Champs-Élysées soon). Somewhere along the stretch is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which is one of the few buildings that has not been renovated/rebuilt after WWII and it serves as a reminder of the horrors of war.

Blurry picture, but if you see carefully you can see the top of the church steeple has been bombed off.

We then went back to Munich on a night train and got ready for the new semester ahead.

At Berlin Hauptbahnhof before going back

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Afternotes:

1. Berlin's U-bahn and S-bahn system is rather complex... and I already had kinda a shock when I saw Munich's! Guess the ones that I've seen before (in KL, Singapore and HK) are all simpler and smaller systems.

2. One night in an U-bahn station, we were going up this escalator and we saw puddles of water in front of us. When we got off we saw a trail of liquid leading up to a guy near a wall (who was still peeing). He basically started peeing while he was still on the escalator. That's Europe for ya! =P

3. This trip has been a very "Jewish" one, in the sense that we learned more about the plight of the Jews during WWII and more about their culture and history.

4. There were many other sights that we didn't manage to see such as the Fernsehturm. We really find the city a pleasant place and we wouldn't mind going there again! =)

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Next up, my Sommeruni trips or Prague trip. Depends on my mood bah. Haha.