Berlin

Berlin

We docked at Warnemunde Germany and it was a 3 hour train ride into Berlin.  I had met a couple from Ohio at dinner and they said they were going to Berlin on their own and I would be welcome to join them, so I did.  It was a very hot day, or in German "hysa" and no AC anywhere.  The train ride was hot but it was not unbearable and the scenery was great.  Between Warnemunde and Berlin is farmland.  I did get a few good pictures of sunflower fields!  once we reached Berlin, we were given a "survival kit" which was a sheet of paper that had a phrase in German saying we were from Disney Cruise and the phone number for the American Embassy.  I was feeling great!!  

We decided to get a ticket for a "hop on, hop off" bus.  This is a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time.  We had about 4 1/2 hours in Berlin b/f we had to be back to the train.  Berlin was by far the most fascinating port as of yet.  The history is overwhelming.  Our first stop was the Berliner Dome.  This is a church that charges to get in and you have to pay to use the loo.  Isn't it ironic, don't you think...Anyhoo, you can go all the way up to the dome of the church to get a panoramic view of the city that used to be divided into 2.  There is construction everywhere b/c of the wall and the city is working tirelessly to rebuild where it once stood.  there are only a few small places where the wall remains as a reminder of it's turbulent history.  After the dome, we stopped at the Brandenburg Gate.  The Gate represents the changing of the City the not.  From Napoleon, to the Prussians, to the Nazis, all have stood at the Gate to announce their control of Berlin.  As I was taking pictures of the Gate, a tourist ask me to take a picture of him and his friend and so I said sure.  I counted 1,2,3 and they held up their hands like they were nazis.  I wanted to delete the picture but I guess it's there right.  
  
The American Embassy is right next to the Gate and around the corner is the holocaust memorial.  I wish we would have had time to visit it but we continued on the tour.  The next impressive site was the Kaisar Wilhelm Cathedral.  It was destroyed in the Second World War and instead of repairing it, it stays exactly as it was and serves as a remainder.  Next to it is the new church.  After the church we went to "Checkpoint Charlie".  Checkpoint Charlie was operated by the US while the Berlin Wall was in existence.  At the checkpoint is a guardhouse and the American flag.  After Checkpoint Charlie, it was nearly time to head back to, the train so we headed back to the Hilton to meet with our group.  At the Hilton, there was some short of beauty pageant going on b/c about 20 girls in bikinis walked across the street for pictures.  I got some photos for my brothers and then Miss Netherlands walk across the street to.  All she wants is world peace!  We boarded the bus to head to the train station and our host informed up that our trains engine was broken and they were working it our as quickly as possible.  we were dropped off at a public park to wait until we could head back Tom, the ship.  there were about 400 of us total.  About 1 1/2 hrs later, the train was fixed and we were on our way, once agin no AC :), very hot day, sweaty tourists...I stood with at the window to get air on the way back.  We got back to the ship at about 9:30 and so we were all beat.  Luckily today we are at sea so I rested and watched movies all day!!  Basically, my perfect day!                     


Sent from my iPad