Wandering Boots tour: Day 5 Confused in Berlin

By the numbers

29115 steps

21.86 kms

I got up early to have breaky before leaving although I couldn’t sleep anby more so thought I should get up and get moving. Breakfast cxonsisted of a ‘buffet’, but seems to be big in cheeses and yoghurts with lunch meats . I have a coulpe of sandwiches before I get ready to head off into the city or as much of the city of Berlin that I am already in. The plan for the day was to find the platform that I will  be leaving from when I am on my way to Hamburg at one of the bigger stations in Berlin. The ticket machine when I looked it up online said I could change in at least 5 mins and I had a tour of the Reichstag at 1030 and that would take me up to the dome, but apart from that I could have a little free time.

Turns out getting to the Berlin HBF was easier said that done as I had no problems there it was going down into the bowels of the station to find where I needed to get the train. That was interesting in itself and I thought it was interesting there were so many levels, but the station was bigger than I had seem anywhere before.. I did get confused over finding the direction of the local trains, but that can take some guesswork, although I wasn’t exactly worried and besides the retains usually lists the stops on the board. I left the station wondering if I should take a walk to a cemetery or do that after the tour as I would have enough time if I gave them half an hour head start. I decided that I would visit the military cemetery and then leave.

The cemetery is called Invalidenfriedof, which was established around 1748 as it was built with the invalid officers in the wars who were in a hospital. The hospital I did see today and it might be used for other purposes, the facade on the front says Augusta Hospital. That was founded by Queen Augusta funnily enough. The type of headstones does explain that they were early ones and of a military leaning cemetery.  Many of the graves were bulldozed in the 1920s and then after the Second World War more were destroyed for the Berlin wall to be built through it by the East Germans. A few graves that did survive were the ones from an early revolution that was used for the propaganda purposes of course. I did wander around a bit and thought it was interesting what I had found especially some of the extras on top like a lion and even a suit of armour.

Knowing I had an appointment to keep, I headed to the Reichstag as I did not want to be late. I wanted to visit the dinosaur museum when I returned later that day. I followed some of the old Berlin wall markings on the road and then went into the parliament area. I was nearly taken out by a tourist bus at a crossing as I was looking the wrong way again. At least they stop at crossings. I went to the Reichstag and found there was a long security line. I got stuck amongst school kids and when the line started moving, I was given a pass that said tribune, not that I knew what that was until some guy started moving everyone along and I looked at him and litereally said, ‘huh?, I am confused’. He looked at me confused and I said I was with a tour group and showed him my booked tour. He then told me I didn’t need a tribune pass as that was something else and gave me one that said HFA. I then went through security where I had to show my ID, which was my passport. Security asked me if I had a camera in my bag and I replied, yup and a powerpack. I showed them when they looked lost. I was directed to some people in blue shirts who told me to wait. I knew by this time I was late for the tour. I was wondering where everyone else was and when I again asked, I was told to wait a couple of minutes. One of the guides liked my Smaug shirt as he thought I was from New Zealand as I was wearing something from Weta Studios. I was sent outside  as I was becoming more and more lost and confused where I found the tribune group were actually there for a lecture in German. As a group we walked up to the doors where security let the various people with passes in depending on if it was blue or green. A lady escorted me to the group that was speaking English and the tour guide asked if there were any more and I said, I don’t know we all were confused.

The tour of the Reichstag was actually interesting especially when it was burnt down by whom Hitler blamed on communists, but could have been his people. The Soviets upon appearing to take the Reichstag graffitied the walls, which you can still see today and there are what looks to be bullet holes from that war. The British and French did have their go at building the Reichstag by putting money towards the construction. There are two versions of eagle used in the parliament area. Onbe looks aggressive and the other is more like an American eagle, but with them being back to back the front one now looks like it is smiling. Elections are not compulsory here either. Their parliamentarians do get fined for many things including getting kicked out of parliament, not getting to a vote on time. Their hansard type stuff is written down by person as its easier  especially when someone interrupts and the writer can name them. We were allowed up in the tower once the tour was complete and that is directly above the parliament as hot air rises and they use the mirrors to give them enough light to save on power. I could hear protests down at the Brandenburg gates, but unsure what was happening., but I was taking pics pf the view and the same again when I went up the dome.

Once I stopped for lunch, I went to look at what the protest was about and while it was loud and in German, it felt more like a concert. I stayed there for around 10 mins watching the placards bouncing up and down to the music and then I headed out up the road to find the Soviet war memorial and found that was easy to get to due to that section having no traffic as police had blocked the road. I could walk in the middle of the road without a problem I visited the memorial as I wanted to update my pictures from last time. I knew there were information panels and that would lead me to another Russian monument later that day. I took a longer walk to theSiegessaul or Victory column, which commemorates the Prussian Danish war I didn’t go up as I decided to head back.

On the way back, I found ther p[rotest group had moved and were now marching, which meant I had a clear run at the Brandenburg Gate from the middle of the road again. I did a video walking through and I thought that was pretty cool. The next thing to do was to head to that other Russian memorial after getting a ride with many protestors in the Ubahn to the HBF station and then went out one station past mine. It was on the way kinda. I was confused at this new station as there were tracks running one way and then another set above running horizontal. I was lost as to where I should be going until I realised the track I wanted was on the other side of the small station. I found my way to Treptower Park where I eventually found the statue and was impressive by the sheer scale. There were hammer and sickles everywhere and big bits of stone that told a story. Apparently on May Day every year the Russian soldiers come and sing songs. The place is also a cemetery, but I have no idea where the graves are.

Walking to another station that was closer I came across a farming village that was shoiwn on the TV a few weeks before I came over and they are a small community that all have gardens and are apparently sustainable or something like that. I found the station nearby to be simple and I was happy to find that community and seen the little houses for myself.. I had to figure out the train again, but once I was on, then I was happy as I ended up back at the hostel after a full on day. I need the rest and have some blisters on my toes that I should rest as well.