4th April 2024 - Berlin Day 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well actually day 1.5. I flew from Birmingham airport to Berlin 
airport yesterday. It was a late flight, leaving at 1800 UTC +1 and 
arriving at 2045 UTC+2. Easyjet were surprisingly good. The aircraft 
was comfortable and I felt like I had more space than with other 
discount airlines. Might be due to the A320 over the Boeing 737. 
Anyhow, yesterday was just travel and a quick visit to the corner shop 
for water, beer and some paprika crisps.

I am staying in the edge of Mitte and Kreuzberg. It is a fairly 
residential area which is appreciated. Quiet but easy to get to 
tourist or fun areas. The forecast was pretty wank but the morning 
seemed clear. Hmm well time to get all of the outside stuff done as 
quick as possible! 

I waked across to Checkpoint Charlie. It is cheesy as expected with a 
tiny guard hut, a giant sign showing the border guard you would have 
to speak to. One side a rather grim looking young chap in Soviet hat 
and a similarly grim looking young chap in a US army helmet on the 
other. Either side of the street is tacky tourist shops, a museum 
about the wall and a McDonalds. It was on the way to other things so I 
popped along. Otherwise, it wouldn't be worth a trip for me. I headed 
on to the Air Service Welt Balloon. This was tacky fun with 
Trabiwworld around it. Trabants galore! Across the road and you end up 
at Topographie des Terrors. This is a long walkway showing how the 
Nazis rose to power, their crimes against humanity and the split of 
Berlin afterwads until the unification of Germany. It also covers the 
battle for recognition by various groups who suffered during this 
terrible time. It is factual, well presented and rather chilling. The 
rise aspect was interesting and it certainly encourages thoughts about 
the current world of politics. One of the interesting parts was the 
location. This was in the former basement of the SD and Gestapo 
headquarters. All that remains is a single basement wall which has the 
information panels attached. Yet above you looms part of the Berlin 
Wall. A great reminder of how the city was divided. All around here 
were information boards showing what each building was used for. 

The sun was still shining to I headed out to Potsdammer Platz, flew 
through and then up to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. 
This is a square filled with black blocks of stone. They are in a grid 
but at different heights. Both the blocks are different sizes and the 
ground undulates. It is an interesting memorial but ruined slightly by 
children using it as a parkour arena. The scale is hard to describe. 
Certainly worth seeing for yourself. I then headed off to see the 
Reichstag and the Brandenberg Gate. Sadly I was not able to get up the 
glass dome of the Reichstag as the tickets were booked up before I was 
even looking at heading to Berlin. It looks good from the outside 
though. The Brandberg Gate is impressive and the inside is great to 
look at. Some top notch neoclassical madness. 

It was time for cake and some sitting down. My poor feet were still 
not happy from seeing Lordi last Tuesday. Cake was apricot and walnut. 
Tasty stuff. I went to a vegetarian Indian place for lunch. Had a 
thali, a sort of taster meal where each item represents the Indian 
notion of flavours. Sadly not enough pickle and the paneer was not to 
my fussy standards but pretty good otherwise. I then headed back to 
Potsdammer Platz for the Spy museum but that involves booking ahead. 
They limit numbers as many museums seem to do and so you need to book 
ahead. Sad times. Well there was enough walking so I headed to the S 
Bahn and then the U Bahn to museum island as the weather looked wet. 
Yes it was very wet when I appeared above ground again. Museum Island 
is full of really interesting buildings but the rain will not let you 
stand and admire. Instead I had to run to the Neues Museum. No booking 
required here but the doorman was confusing. You stood outside and he 
asked if you booked or not. If you havn't then he yelled something and 
everyone starts pointing left to the ticket counter. This felt mad. 
Some barriers could have done this...... Ah well. This museum is 
filled with Egyptian, Roman and other such ancient world delights. The 
architecture is bewildering as you get mixes of rooms with the 
building's brick work and then a grand Roman style entry way or an 
attempt at replicating Egyptian pyramid wall decorations. I managed to 
surprise myself with coming across Queen Nefertiti's bust. The head 
and not the bosom for those with minds in the gutter. It is impressive 
but sadly not photos. I wasn't fussed about photos of the bust. I 
wanted to take photos of the room. It was another weird ruinous 
looking room with a greco-Roman style and murals high up. There was 
also a skylight which made me start wondering how you would be able to 
pinch the bust. Feet were truely aching by this point and I was 
thirsty. Ended up cafe hunting. The cafe in the Neue Museum loojed 
cramped and a bit pants so I headed to the cafe in the James Simon 
Galerie. Mostly as the exit of the Neue Museum is closest to this 
building. That was a good cafe and actually had Darjeeling. First 
flush as well. It was a tea bag though but fair enough. 

I still had time to kill before the rain stops but it had become 
lighter and so I decided to give the Computer Game Museum a go. That 
also has slots and I was not willing to wait. I have time. Curse you 
school holiday travelling! So yes I gave up and returned to the hotel. 
I am still soggy as I write this but glad to be sitting and not in the 
rain. Tonight I shall be giving some Vietnamese food a go and trying 
out more beers in Kreuzberg.