We were up early this morning and went for a swim at about 07:45. I can’t believe how I used to swim 2 miles a day once – we both realised how unfit we are 🤦🏻♀️. Once I got into my stride though, I managed about 20 lengths which is better than nothing – hopefully I’ll be able to step that up a bit tomorrow. I’ve put a pool on Jezza’s to do list. I really miss swimming 🙃.
Thomas asked me if we were going to be donuts for the next few days when he knew we were in Berlin – there’s a pic below just for him!!
We showered, I had a cup of tea and we made our way to the underground station to get to the meeting point for our walking tour. Jezza had originally booked us on a 4 hour walking tour, but last night he took pity on me (I think he was very footsore too in truth!) and booked a shorter tour advertised at just 2.75 hours but which actually lasted 3.5 hours🙄🙄.
Coming out of the underground, we wanted to take the escalator, but saw it wasn’t moving. We were a bit surprised at the number of escalators in Berlin that weren’t working- it happened yesterday when we arrived and we had to lug our suitcases up and down stairs. What we didn’t realise was that the escalators work on sensors, so if we’d gone up to them a bit closer yesterday, they’d have started moving 🤦🏻♀️🙄🤦🏻♀️🙄.
We met outside Rotes Rathaus, which is an iconic building and the main Town Hall of Berlin – it translates as Red Town Hall because of the colour of the brickwork. Our tour guide was called Laura – she was originally from Barcelona but had been living in Berlin for well over a decade. She was very passionate about Berlin.
Our next stop was Museum Island which is a UNESCO site featuring five world-renowned museums and the magnificent Berlin Cathedral.
Laura then took us to the university and explained about the Bebelplatz Book Burning – we stood in the historic square of the infamous 1933 book burning as a protest against the Nazis. There was a unique underground memorial of empty bookcases which was to be seen through a thick glass screen on the floor – well Jezza could see them – it was beyond me and most of the others of the tour… 🙄🙄😂.
We went on to see where the Berlin Wall had come down in 1989 and continued to Checkpoint Charlie – the most famous Cold War crossing point between East and West Berlin. It was nothing to do with anyone called Charlie – it was in fact Checkpoint C, and C in the NATO phonetic alphabet is Charlie!!
We then took a short break for a snack and loo break. Jezza at last was able to have currywurst- sliced bratwurst cooked in tomato sauce and sprinkled with curry powder 🤢 – not my taste, but it seemed very popular at the cafe. I had a tub of couscous. Jezza picked out a sort of brownie with cherries and nuts for his pud.
We continued to Laura’s “secret place” – a car park surrounded by flats 🤔🤔. It was Hitler’s Bunker Site – the location of the Führerbunker where Adolf Hitler spent his final days in 1945. He and Eva Braun married when he knew he had lost the war – Germany had been his one love, but having lost it, he turned to Braun. The next day they both took a cyanide pill and just to make sure, Hitler shot himself. The story of it was fascinating- maybe one to research yourselves, otherwise you’ll still be reading today’s blog tomorrow 😂😂.
Next was The Holocaust Memorial – which is a powerful memorial of concrete slabs commemorating the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Our final stop on the tour was the Brandenburg Gate – Berlin’s iconic landmark, a symbol of German division during the Cold War and joyous reunification. Opposite the Gate was The Hotel Adlon, famous for Michael Jackson dangling his child out of the window in 2002. The Presidential Suite there costs 26,000€ per night – breakfast is extra 😂😂😂.
We made our way back to our hotel –The YARD Berlin – and headed for the sauna – a lovely way to wind down. It was now 17:00 and we needed to get ready, eat and be back for our football match at 21.00.
We went back to the same Croatian restaurant as last night. The menu is huge, service excellent and prices very reasonable. I’m even getting used to the Croatian rosé – I wonder if I can find it back home … 🤔🤔😂😂.
We both ordered the scampi, chips and salad with homemade tartare sauce (which always makes me think of Emma – she taught me how to make it). The scampi were huge prawns in freshly made batter – absolutely delicious 😋😋. Feeling very bold, Jezza ordered the apfelstrudel – see the pic below – it was mega!!!! More lengths in the pool for him in the morning methinks 😂😂.
Time was getting on and we had to make it back for kick off 💙⚽️, so we politely declined the schnapps we were offered and settled the bill.
We’ve been so lucky with the weather for our trip, but as we left the restaurant, we felt drops of rain – fortunately it didn’t worsen as we walked back – it was only a 10 minute walk. I think maybe we won’t be so lucky tomorrow, but we can worry about that in the morning….
So, to the football now. Maybe we’ll go to bed happy – maybe we won’t… 💙
Another very interesting and fun day for us – every day is a school day ….
Until tomorrow 😘😘
Total steps: 17,500
