The German "Underground" trains. They're actually very nice. Nicer than Chicago and Paris.
Our goal was to first head over to the Philharmonic to see if we could buy tickets for the chamber orchestra show tomorrow night. They weren't open when we got there, so we walked around an explored for a bit while we waited.
Views!
An awesome sculpture...
It's located in the Kulturforum, which is another very culturally rich part of Berlin.
Okay. I just really liked this sign. :P
How interesting! This is a sight of a center for handicapped and disabled people that they used to gas. It's really surprising how many reminders of their dark days they have here in Berlin. One the one hand, it's great to see that they haven't forgotten; but on the other, there is a lot. I also saw this one sculpture this evening that was called "Train to life, train to death" depicting two arian children heading on a train (presumably to London to be safe from the bombing) and two Jewish children going the opposite direction presumably to a concentration camp. Touching.
"Nazi-free and enjoying it." !!! :P
A beautiful garden/park area (Tiergarten). I wish we'd had time to look more closely. Oh, how I love the autumn!
The...LEGO MUSEUM!!!!
Yes, he's made of LEGOs!!!
We then headed to go buy tickets. But, they don't sell student tickets until at the door. He said there should probably be some seats left, so we're going to have to show up early tomorrow to see if we can get tickets. I really really really hope so, because what they're playing looks REALLY good!
We then wanted to head over to the Film Museum which was right there. However, I just didn't think I was going to be able to make it through, and I didn't want to waste the money. So I sat down in a café while everyone else looked through the museum. They said it was VERY cool. If I knew more about film, I probably would have been more disappointed.
How I felt, all day. Like I wished I could just curl up in a ball and hide myself :/
We then got lunch at the cutest little stand. They had bratwursts and meatballs again. I got the same thing I did last night at dinner, but this one came on a bun and with onions. Oh my gosh, so much better. And the hot chocolate?! Best I've ever had. No joke. I think we're going back tomorrow for dinner before the concert :)
On our way over to Museum Island, we saw a few cool things. Namely, Pinochio. !!
A few more really good views of the Berlin Dome (an evangelical church):
Oh! And there was a wedding nearby! I loooove running into wedding parties!! :D
We first went to the Neues Museum, which houses most notably the Bust of Neferititi in the Egyptian collection. They are also the museum of Early and Prehistory. It's really interesting because while a lot of the buildings here in Berlin are pretty old, most of them are reconstructed. I guess Berlin really got bombed badly during the war. It's pretty sad, but it's also good to see things being kept up and redone for the good of us all. I wasn't able to get a picture of Neferititi (no photos, please), it was really cool. She's housed in a room all by herself, except for the bust of the man who excavated the area in which she was found. I really really really enjoyed this museum. Even though I had to sit down for a large part of it, I still feel like I got a lot. It was organized in a very sensible manner, and the signs and descriptions were so perfectly informative. I really appreciated it.
Ancient Egyptian children's sandals:
TIIIINY little carved gold lions, made by the Ancient Egyptians. The detail!
I've mastered sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Next step: whatever this is!
The Golden Hat. Probably used as a ceremonial hat and sheeted in gold, this hat demonstrates that the connection between the solar and lunar year was understood and calculated as early as the early Bronze Age (3200 - 600 BC). So cool!!
Then we went on to the Pergamon Museum. This one wasn't as big as the Neues Museum, nor was I as impressed. It may have been because I didn't know (or care as much) about any of this stuff, or because I was more than dead by this point, but I just didn't like it all that much. Plus, it was not nearly as informative as the other one.
The Pergamon Alter. It's from the 2nd century before Christ, and is partially reconstructed in this museum.
At least we've been warned!
And the Market Gate of Miletus. It's 60% original and built in the 2nd century after Christ.
Dead, after a long day of museum-ing:
Then we headed out to go look for food. None of us had eaten since lunchtime, and we were all starving. Initially our plan was to eat, then walk over to the Brandenberg gate and Parliament. But we stayed a bit longer than anticipated at this bar we found (sooo German! :P ) and none of us had any more energy. So, we decided to just head home.
My stinking delicous chicken fricassee, "Berlin style." I missed these hearty meals!
Wish me luck for another long day tomorrow!! I'm having tons of fun. I really hate to admit this, but I really am loving Berlin. The atmosphere is so different. It's interesting that it took me coming here to realize how uptight Parisians are. I've decided I like the Germans now :)
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