A Day in Berlin

Began our day with a great breakfast, made our way to the meeting point for our walking tour “Discover Berlin” (Original Berlin Walks). Our guide was Ashleigh, from Newcastle, England. Joined by a pleasant couple from Toronto, ON Lorenzo & Sandra.  In total, there were about 20 but almost half of the group seemed to be teachers. Actually the bulk of the tour (roughly 4 & 1/2 hours in length) took place in what was ‘East Berlin’. 

 

 

Ashleigh gave us the underlying history of Berlin; close to 800 years – touched on the unification of Germany, the events of and results from WWI, the hyper-inflation of the 1920s; Hilter’s rise to power; WWII; the Cold War, Berlin Wall & it’s fall; to present day Berlin. She led us to the Museum Island; Humbolt University and the site of the Book Burning; Unter den Linden; the Holocaust Memorial; Brandenburg Gate; the site of Hilter’s Fuhrerbunker; Check-Point Charlie; the Berlin Wall; the Gendarmmenmarkt.  Ashleigh was knowledgeable, engaging, well prepared and very friendly.  On our own, we also took in the Topography of Terror.  A weighty but rewarding experience … got to be in places neither of us thought we would ever be or see.

Finished off the day with a pleasant dinner and packed and prepare to travel to Austria tomorrow.  More to follow …