Berlin! 05-07 May 2006

Arno and I began our drive to Berlin Friday morning. Ironically, 05 may is Liberation Day in the Netherlands.

After a long drive, we arrived at our hostel in East Berlin near the Karl Marx street and Communist-styled buildings. The East side is still very delapidated and strikingly different from the West. The city overall, particularly in the East, is alternative and hippy. Among other things, Berlin is reknown for its numerous art museums and diverse architecture.

We spent most of our time walking around, visiting the largest section of the Berlin Wall (pictured above), the Berlin Jewish museum, the outdoor Holocaust memorial, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the oldest beer garden, etc.
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The infamous sign at Checkpoint Charlie












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Me and Arno at the Brandenburg Gate - at one point, it was also part of the Berlin Wall














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Part of the Berlin Jewish museum








The Holocaust memorial - the cement blocks are of different heights and the walkways in between are not level. Intended to give you a disoriented, uneasy feeling (among others).

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The Reichstag






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A cool club we went to--you can see us sitting there on the couch in the distance