BERLIN

Helllooo,
Or, should I say, guten tag! I just got back from a great weekend in Berlin with Joe and Olivia, another amazing but exhausting trip! We left Thursday after our Atelier class, and went straight to the Orly Airport. What follows was a typical transportation nightmare in Paris, of course. We arrived with plenty of time, and as soon as we walked in we wandered over to the departure screen to check on our 6:40 flight…to discover it had been delayed to 10:15 pm (at the earliest). We were pretty upset, for one thing getting in that late would cause problems with the hostel as check-in hours were limited, but we saw that there was another flight to Berlin originally scheduled for around 4pm that was also delayed, so we figured we would try to switch onto that flight. As we had already checked in online, we thought the best way to deal with this was to just through the security and talk to the people at the gate for the first flight, which we did. Unfortunately, they informed us that for flight changes and the like we would have to go back downstairs, so after talking to the security guards we went back out and down, joining the big line at check-in we were so hoping to avoid. After standing in line for forever, as the check-in was amazingly slow, we finally got up to the counter to explain our situation. Of course, they informed us that we were again in the wrong spot, and pointed us over to the “easy jet” information/help area. Increasingly frustrated, we went and waited in line some more, and then were finally able to talk to someone who could help. We were successfully able to switch to the earlier flight, which was then scheduled to leave at the time our original flight would have left (6:40). They gave us a new print-out, and we headed back up to security, assuming that since we didn’t have bags and had essentially checked in at the info desk, we could just go right to the gate. So on we went, going through security a second time, much to the amusement and confusion of the security guards, and found our way to our new gate. It was pretty crazy, everyone was really upset by the four hour delay, so the poor airport crew was basically just getting yelled at and everyone was getting more and more frustrated. We found a spot and settled in to wait, until around 6pm, when the airport crew announced that there would be a free snack for all those waiting for the flight, in an attempt to quell some of the more angry customers. We happily walked over and got in the long line for free food, when after about a half hour of standing in line my friend Olivia got a call on her cell phone. We watched as she got increasingly panicked while taking on the phone, and then she hung up and informed us that it was someone from check-in, calling to tell us that they were about to close and we still had to check in, and saying basically to really hurry up because they might not be able to do it. We ran off in a panic, heading out of security and explaining what the problem was a second time, and ran down to check-in, where the check in lady grabbed us and made some walkie-talkie calls. In the end, she was able to get us on checked in and on the flight, and with our new tickets in hand, and her yelling at us to hurry, we made our way back to security a third time. By this time the security guards found us pretty funny, “the little family” of silly Americans who just weren’t having any luck. We did however, get successfully through again, got some of the remaining free food, and settled back down to wait for check-in. Finally, the plane arrived, and we took off only about a half hour after when our original flight would have left, big sigh. So yes, so began our trip to Berlin, but luckily it got much much better from there.
We got in to Berlin at around 830 or so, and caught a train from the airport to a station not too far from our hostel. The first thing we noticed about Berlin was that it was freezing; luckily I had learned my lesson in Belgium and Prague and had pulled out my winter coat, plus two layers of sweaters, yes! After a bit of walk from the train station we found the hostel pretty easily, and gave the owners a call so they could come check us in. The hostel was pretty good, about 10 people to a room, so we dropped off our stuff and then headed out to catch a very late dinner as we were pretty hungry. We found a place not far from the hostel that was open til midnight, and served yummy and pretty cheap food. After a nice long dinner, where we used our handy new maps and a guidebook from Sweet Briar to plan out the all we wanted to see. Then it was back to the hostel for a somewhat early bedtime.
The next morning we got up around 9, and found a good café for some hot chocolate and a Danish, breakfast of champions. One of the girls told us that the free tour offered through the hostel was really good, so we decided to do that, meeting up with the group at around 10:25 for the free 3.5 hour tour that hit all the major sites of Berlin. Our tour guide was this amazingly attractive and funny British guy, so I was a happy camper, and on the tour we saw so many incredible parts of Berlin accompagnied by some historical background and little stories. We started by Brandenburg gate, where we also got the longest history lesson-which I found helpful as my history is a bit fuzzy, and then we went over and took a look at the Reichstag. Then it was over to a parking lot, which was actually the spot where Hitler’s Bunker was located (where he actually committed suicide). The spot is unmarked, and the bunker itself is destroyed and inaccessible (it is not advertised basically in an effort to prevent a site where Hitler fans could gather and such). We then saw the Holocaust Memorial (officially called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a really controversial memorial is it cost millions and millions of dollars, which many Berliners thought could have been better spent (for example on a shuttle to the nearby Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp). The memorial basically consists of a whole bunch of concrete rectangles of varying heights, right in the center of Berlin. We also saw Checkpoint Charlie, which our tour guide explained was really not that interesting, as everything they have setup there is new and fake, but it was still good to see. We of course saw a section of the Berlin wall; it’s so hard to believe it was up until only about 20 years ago…pretty crazy. We saw the TV tower as well as a variety of other newer and historical buildings, all of which I have forgotten the name (German is hard…), as well as the Nazi Book Burning Memorial, located in the square where about 20,000 books were burned, and consisting of a glass covering in the ground, which you look down and see an empty bookshelf (which supposedly could hold 20,000 books)-I’ll let you guys figure that one out, pretty straight-forward. We ended the tour at Museum Island at the Berliner Dome, so impressive. By the end of the tour we were pretty tired from all the walking, and also amazingly cold-the sky was permanently overcast for our visit. We loitered in the Berliner Dome for a bit and tried to come up with a plan of action, deciding to walk around and explore randomly, and eventually pick up some dinner. We eventually found a place, at this point we were really hungry having essentially skipped lunch, so we sat down and got some nice German food-sausage and beer! We finished off dinner with some amazing apple streudel, taking our time and soaking up some heat. Then it was off to the Jewish Museum, which had some really interesting exhibits; the building itself had a very interesting and symbolic design. We then walked around and back over to see the Brandenburg Gate at night, and to explore the Reichstag-which is free to the public, and which we could climb to the top and get an impressive view of Berlin at night (as well as a glimpse of where government business goes down). After a long stop at the Reichstag we started the hike back to the hostel, eventually stopping at an Irish pub not far from the hostel. It turns out it was Karaoke night, so we stayed for a while and laughed at all the drunken Germans singing random English/American songs (“Country road”, “Back in the U.S.S.R.”, “Thunderstruck”), it was very amusing. Then it was off to bed, we had done so much walking and were exhausted.
The next morning we got up again at around 9, and headed out on a really long walk that would eventually take us to a famous statue of an Angel (commemorating the victory of the Franco-Prussian war), and then down to Zoo station (as Olivia particularly wanted a picture at the station, she’s a big U2 fan and apparently they have a song about it). It was SUCH a long walk, and afterwards we stopped and got some yummy Thai noodles for lunch. Then it was off to Charlottenburg, a gourgeous palace (the Berlin version of Versailles). We did the free audio guide, and explored a whole lot of the palace, which took a few hours, including the garden (which I think would be much more impressive in the summer). By the time we were done it was nightfall, and we decided to check out Potsdamer Platz, the business area at Berlin, very modern with the Sony center and such. We took the metro, as it was pretty far from Charlottenburg, and were exited to discover a mini little Christmas/Winter fair, with an artificial hill you could go tubing on!!! Joe and I were very excited, and immediately ran over and got in line among all the little kids-so much fun, reminded me of a mini version of the amazing tubing/sledding hill in Canada-so great. We then wandered around and looked at some of the booths that were st up, and then headed over to see if the Imax theater had anything interesting-as we were at this point very cold and tired, and were running out of things to do. However, there wasn’t really anything worth seeing, so we decided to grab an early dinner of Bratwurst at the little fair, followed by this desert that consisted of a circular pastry thing covered in a vanilla-sauce, which was tasty although I still don’t really know what it was. Then it was time for another epic walk through the city; we stopped along the way at a starbucks for some hot chocolate, and spent a long time just talking and warming up, not to mention resting our feet. Then we braved the cold and continued the walk back, stopping a couple times to check out a few stores, and a long time at this huge book store, where I read a “then and now” book featuring some incredible before and after pictures of Berlin-so much was destroyed. By this time it was getting late, so we headed back to the hostel.
This morning we got up at 715 to get our stuff together and head over to the train station. Unfortunately, we missed the first train to the airport, as it was amazingly confusing, but were then able to grab some breakfast at a little place in the station. We then successfully caught a train and made it to the airport with plenty of time, catching our flight without any problems (although it was delayed about 30min, no big deal). So yes, that was Berlin, probably the most historically interesting city I’ve visited so far. As always, I was glad to come back to Paris today, I love this city so much, I literally start to miss it when I’m away. Plus, it’s so nice to actually speak the language! I was getting tired of communicating via charades and pointing, haha. Germany was very cool though, I would love to see more of it at some point.
This week my main focus will be to do my first “Commentaire Compose” for my litterature class at Paris III, which is basically an around 8 page paper due next week, in french of course. The french style of paper writing is very different than what I’m used to, so it’s definitely going to be challenging. Wish me luck! I also have been communicating with the Study Abroad people at Kenyon, and have learned that it is better to apply through the University of Kansas to go to Santiago de Compostela, as it offers much more support (like Sweet Briar), and apparently there have been some problems with credit transfer and grades when students enroll directly in the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. I was pretty freaked out when I heard this, as Kenyon never mentioned this stuff to me, so am somewhat frantically trying to get myself enrolled in the UK program-which techinically should have been done by Oct. 11, whoops. Fortunately, I talked with someone at UK, and they said that the main reason they have that so early is so that people can get a visa, and they made it sound like I should be able to get in fine if I apply now, as I am soooo lucky in that I have a British passport and don’t need a visa (that passport has saved my life, thanks Dad-you are brilliant). Unfortunately, I still have to get together a pretty extensive application to the program, which consists of getting lots of signature from Kenyon and teacher reccomendations, all as quickly as humanly possible, ahhh! It’s gonna be tough, so this week will be devoted to getting all that straightened out, so I can go spend the Spring semester in what is supposed to be an absolutely gorgeous town in Spain (not far from the ocean!). Sam is going through all this as well, hopefully she wont have any trouble and we will be able to do this amazing program together! I’m already starting to get excited. At the same time, I’m running out of weekends in Paris, which is scary! It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye to everyone-I’ve made some really great friends, and have fallen in love with this city. But anyways, life is good, I’m also already getting excited to be home for Christmas-I miss you guys! So yes, hopefully this next week will be a productive one, with some Paris exploration mixed in. Love you all, hope all is well, keep a look out for some post cards!
Brit