Vegetarian Frankfurter

So with the India illness taking a week out of our schedule, the North of Germany and the intended plan of seeing Prague was cut short to whatever we could do in 6 days in and out of Frankfurt. :(

Arrival at Frankfurt International Airport was like a dream. The whole process of walking through arrivals, collecting our baggage and passing through customs took a whole ten minutes!
The toilets were cleaner than most restaurants we had eaten at over the last four months and you didnt even have to take your own toilet paper!!! No one asked us for money either!

It took us a little while to get used to the fact that we had no option except to start paying the significantly higher prices that go with the higher standards of living in highly developed countries. :( Oh well, we knew it was coming and it was good while it lasted!)
$70AU for a small room with shared toilet (but our own shower??! Go figure??!) instead of the $7-15 we had become accustomed to. *SIGH!!!!*

A day wandering Frankfurt lead us to realise that despite the city being clean and hassle free, there wasnt a lot of thıngs to be there for. We had Berlin recommended to us, so with only a few days ın Germany, we decided that was to be our destination.









A choking fit needed to be controlled when we found out a train to Berlin was going to cost us about €90 each (one way!) unless we wanted to wait a week!
Luckily we had been told about a website that organises private rides, much like organised hitch-hiking and for €25 each we were off to Berlın wıth a much more comfortable ride than on a bus. Added bonus was ıt was a lot quicker too, due to the auto-bahn letting us cruise at 250 for a lot of it! Brilliant! (I think Renee was very glad the price of car hire was keepıng me under control! ;oD ) This also gave us a chance to chat with a local about life in Germany, which was great!

We found the Berlin train systems gave us the same ease of travel as in Frankfurt, but a fair bit cheaper. Found a hostel that was relatively cheap but came wıth the suprise bonus of a fantasic all you can eat breakfast buffet that we both made the most of! (to the point where neither of us had lunch and still werent very hungry by 5 in the arvo!)

On the first day we decided to join a "Free Tour" provided by company that gives various tours around Berlin guided by Uni students and similar volunteers who operate on a tip basis. We decided to go to Sachsenhausen, the "original" or "mother of" concentration camps which was used to trial concepts the Nazis later implemented everywhere else. Only hitch to this plan was that unbeknown to us, every tour operator meets at the same place! Wıthout realising it we joined the wrong group and had to cough up... but it wasnt too much and we got a great guide who knew his stuff.

Sachsenhausen as can be imagined was a sobering place. Somethıng like 200,000 people experienced the horrific daily routine of life in the hands of sadistic Nazi guards and leaders.
Plenty of stories that makes you wonder how such evil regimes, inhumane practices and barbaric mentalities can become so widespread. Many didnt survive the ordeal (or chose suicide in preference) and most of those who were left were executed or marched to their death in the last few days before Russian soldiers captured Berlin.



Tim at the Jewish memorial site. One of the many memorials being constructed for each of the persecuted groups during the Nazi rule.

Day 2 in Berlin, we tried again with the "Free Tour", this time on bikes.
We met with our Aussie tour guide who had spent the last 7 months living in Berlin. His humour and quirky facts that made things come to life.

The Reichstag (German Parliament House) had a very cool glass dome on its roof. It was bombed during the war, but the dome was rebuilt since with a funky modern feel. A big hit with the tourists as it gives a panorama of the city.




Looking down from the domes viewing platform into the glass roof of parliament house.
(as per politicians all around the world... no one was there doing any work ;oD )


This was the Victory tower around since before WW1 and each section added by Hitler with each millitary "victory". The gold winged figure on top is actually the Greek God Nike. (Lots of Greek historical figures around Berlin.)

Next up was the Jewish memorial / tribute with the hudreds of concrete blocks. I guess its a little abstract/arty where you are meant to get out of it what you want. :-/ (photo above in black and white)

Hitlers bunker. This was something I hadnt thought much about but was suprised to find it was actually about the size of a large sky scraper (the example given was one of the NY twin-towers) on its side; and of course burried. There are no markers or plaques indicating where it is and all entrances are burried. This is partly due to the Berlin people choosing through a referendum that they didnt want anything to do with it for the next 50 years... ie leave it with its history buried. The second reason it has been left unmarked is the fear that it will become a Neo-Nazi shrine as there is a sentiment of neo-Nazi support in East Berlin at a staggering level of ~18% (and rising!). Scary!

Stopped off at "Checkpoint Charlie", the American run checkpoint between East (Soviet run) and the American sector of West Berlin). Right nearby stands some of the last few remains of the east-west dividing Berlin Wall.


"I've found a hole!!!! I'm going to make a break for it!"




Ampelmännchen: The cool way to tell if you are in east or west Berlin.

In West, the pedestrian crossing signs are just the usual standard red and green men.
In the East, they have left the soviet placed "Ampelmännchen" man. Probably should have got more zoomed in pictures, but Renee thinks the green "go" guy is sporting an erection.
(She wasnt the first to think that apparently.)

Other highlights include the arty platic sculptures placed around the city for tourism leading up to the world cup, (Each indicating some of the things Germany is famous for in terms of inventions and development in the world), and a very yummy chocolate store with some awesome chocolate sculptures and buildings.


I think the tyres need some air.


The Reichstag in all its chocolate goodness! (planning a visit Marie?)

Unfortunately the great hostel we were staying at was fully booked on the extra day we decided to stay for. Luckily for us we managed to buy a dorm bed from an aussie couple we met. Made for a bit of fun sneaking out the next day since we were technically checked out! (naughty, naughty! :)

Our short but sweet stay was completed with another "Organised hitch hike" ride back to Frankfurt before saying goodbye to Germany for 4 weeks while we flit off to Turkey and Greece. Looking forward to exploring the south upon our return.