Category: Trip

We started today with a sightseeing bus tour, which was about 2 hours long and very hot since there was little shade covering the open top. 

 
We eventually got off at ‘museum island’ only to find the lines for entry at the five major museums were up to two hours long! 

 
That’s a giant Protestant church on museum island. We didn’t go in since they charge €7/person 🙂

The four of us (JBF was on a train day trip to Nurenburg) then headed to nearby Alexanderplatz for some lunch and to decide the rest of the day (keeping the continuing heat in mind). 

 
Dad decided to return to the hotel for some rest, while B and K and I headed across town to Pottsdam Platz where we saw the Sony building… 

 
Where I found a creeper lurking under a giant Lego statue… 

 
And where KLS are a ‘bum bum’… 

 
From there it was a short walk to Checkpoint Charlie. Berlin was of course once divided by The Wall, and history is very strong in this city. The wall has been mostly removed, but sections remain including a portion near one of the old military checkpoints (also preserved for tourists): 

   
Other sections are in a park in the north of the city, and a large portion along the banks of the Spree River. Personally I find the existence of the wall and divided Berlin a bit surreal and – given the city today – almost unbelievable, and yet it was a very real (and tragic) part of this city (and the world) for almost 30 years.

  
As with all things, the tourist vendors are trying to make money off it. Soviet East Germany is now relics sold in tourist stands and actors in uniform selling photos to tourists!

It was now approaching evening, which meant (after a brief rest) it was time for our Spree River cruise! 

 
We spent a leisurely and extremely comfortable (since the sun was mostly set and the breeze strong) two odd hours cruising along the river that encircles central Berlin. We even went through a massive lock! 

 
It was a wonderful end to another great day 🙂 

Today we left Dresden on a comfortable train to the capital, Berlin. 

That’s Dresden station, which is typical (if smaller) of all the major stations we’ve seen. The ~2 hour journey here on a train with Czech markings (ads, warning signs etc.) was particular comfortable and flew by.

  
That’s a one-man hotdog vendor, which is a thing here. It looks like a terrible job doesn’t it? Imagine doing it while it was 40C out like today. If that’s not a living hell I don’t know what is! 

Due to the extreme heat, today we spent as little time outside as possible. This meant finding air-conditioning (not so easy a task here) and taking it easy. 

 
They have Playmobil stores here! The girl inside even helped us squeeze the blind-packed figures so Bernard got the one he wanted! 

 
Speaking of Bernard, there he is testing out a beanbag. Looks comfy doesn’t it?

 
Can you guess which one of the above I drew? 

 
A bit later in the day K, J and I went to Alexanderplatz while B and A rested. The above shot shows the very famous Weltzeituhr (world clock) that was built during the soviet era and stands in the square. 

 
Behind it was a fire-breathing robot dragon! This was amazing; about as big as a car and fully animated (including wings). The heat given off when it belched fire was extreme!

 
 
Incredibly it was another tiring day for us despite the ‘taking it easy’ part. I managed another >30k steps and am once again exhausted!

Tomorrow we see the sights. It’s still going to be beastly hot, so here’s hoping we don’t melt!

Today we traveled by train to Dresden, a journey which took three trains and over seven hours. This meant lots of this: 

 
As it has been our entire trip so far, it was extremely warm today. The AC’s in the train didn’t do much and the journey was a tad uncomfortable. Luckily our Dresden hotel is quite fine and the room I’m writing this in is as cold as an ice cave 🙂 

 
Dresden was destroyed during WW2 by heavy bombing but has been rebuilt since into a tourist town full of beautiful buildings and prestige hotels and shopping. 

 
The old town district is heavily populated by astonishingly decorated buildings that seem to be competing fur the most tourist photos taken. 

 
Perhaps most remarkable are the churches, one of which holds (or once held, it’s not clear) a piece of Christ’s cross. It is majestic inside: 

 
But it also has a steeple some 294 steps above the street. We had split up after lunch and it was just KLS and myself. We were very hot and quite tired but chose to tackle the climb anyway! It was difficult, but we made it up to the viewing level: 

 
This was pretty good, but what caught my eye were the unusual ring lights on the landings of the lower stairs. I suspected with some creative angles they could be employed as halos: 

   
Not bad eh? 

 
We didn’t have much time in Dresden, which was chosen as a destination to break up the long trip to Berlin. And yet it was quickly clear we could easily have occupied more time here. 

 
After the sights started to close we went to a nearby enclosed, air-conditioned mall for some dinner and snacks. AC is rare here so this was quite a treat.

Tomorrow we’re heading to Berlin and 100F-plus temperatures.  It’s one thing to have great vacation weather but this is a bit absurd. Here’s hoping cooler days are ahead 🙂