Our last night in Berlin started with a trip to KaDeWe (the largest department store in Europe) with Emma. It is 6 floors full of shops, that all seemed to be priced a little too steeply for my taste. But it was very cool, and I was able to pick up a few souvenirs. It didn't compare to anything that I've ever been to in the United States, the size of it and the way it was organized was way different. Each floor represented something different, women's, men's, children and toys, home, etc. And the top floor was a huge market/grocery store. That was pretty cool because they were selling huge cheese wheels, I thought about getting one but it was almost the size of my suitcase.
Then we joined the group and went on a quick tour of the Bendler Block memorial, led by Gudrun. It was a speedy tour since it closed a half an hour after we got there, but it was interesting. The memorial was made to commemorate all that were resisting the Nazi regime, from average kids in school, to the White Rose, to military leaders. One bit of information that really stuck with me was that people who were causing too much of an uprising would be punished in such a way that their kids would be sent to foster homes because they were deemed unfit to raise children. After the Nazi regime was taken down these people would post flyers all over looking for their kids. The memorial was also set right next to the courtyard where Claus von Stauffenberg was executed after the failed attempt of Operation Valkyrie.
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| A corner of the square that we were trapped in |
After that short visit, we made our way to Brauhaus Lemke which was located in Hackescher Markt. We arrived a bit early, so we had a chance to walk around the center. It was really neat, and nothing like I had ever seen before. All of the buildings were connected, and there were little courtyards in the middle of the buildings. It was almost like a labyrinth inside. But there were nice places to sit outside, and tables outside restaurants. Brauhaus Lemke was actually pretty cool too because it was under the S-Bahn, so we could trains as they went over head. We were able to sample four of their beers, an original, pilsner, weizen, and a bock. The bock was a bit too dark for my liking, but not bad. I really enjoyed their pilsner and weizen. The weizen had a bit of a fruity aroma with a fruity and a little sour taste. The pilsner paired well with our dinner, goulash, which was basically a decomposed stew (carrots, potatoes, and beef). We even saw some of the guys that were at the VLB! (The school we toured, had a sensory tasting, and enjoyed a reception with.)
Berlin
Berlin is a very fast paced city. Everyone walking around on the streets has somewhere to go. (Unless they are tourists like me.) The trains are almost always crowded. Most people are also very fashionable. Scarfs are worn by the majority of all males and females. Berliners find ways to look fashionable while staying warm.
Drinking beer in Berlin is a very normal activity. People love to drink beer, and do it as they please. It is even allowed on the subway trains, which blew my mind. Finding a bar or pub was pretty easy to do, and were usually located only a few train stops away. Whenever we went into a new pub or bar, it was always pretty busy. Be it a Friday or Wednesday night, people are out enjoying themselves and consuming beer.
My overall experience in Berlin was positive. Usually I don’t do well in such hectic, fast paced cities, but Berlin didn’t stress me out. Being able to travel anywhere in the city by train, bus, or on foot was very comforting, especially since I don’t like driving in cities with crazy traffic. I noticed that in Berlin, people are definitely driving with a purpose. If you’re doing something wrong, you will get honked at.
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| Part of the Sony Center at night! |
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| Beer sampler at Brauhaus Lemke |
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| Saying goodbye to our room :( |
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| See ya Hotel Air in Berlin room 215 |
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