Berlin

We got to Berlin at about lunchtime and met up with our friend Josh, who arrived about the same time as us. As soon as we walked out of the Hauptbahnhof, there was a sign that directed us to the Reichstag which was only about 600m in front of us. From there, we walked past the Brandenberg Gate to the Fernsehturm (TV tower) so we could get a good view of the entire city. Below the TV tower, there was a famous Poseidon fountain and many other government buildings.

The Reichstag

Poseidon Fountain

Close up of the Poseidon Fountain

Brandenberg Tor

Honestly, I don't know what this is...

After going up the TV tower and seeing an awesome birds-eye view of the city, we headed to the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) to meet up with our other friends. The Berliner Dom is beautiful and has a nice huge lawn out front (which Kevin and I enjoyed resting on while the others spent a really long time looking at the church).

Berliner Dom

Inside the Berliner Dom

Relaxing

We're in Berlin!

Once we were all united, we began our journey to find the hostel. You have to realize that traveling with a group of 9 people isn't easy... it takes awhile to travel long distances. We stayed at a very interesting hostel that was a little off the beaten path, but for 15 euro a night per person, it was perfect for us. We grabbed a bite to eat at a local German vendor and then went back into the city.  We did a lot of walking, but with a group like us, it was entertaining and we all had a great time! When we got to the Brandenberg Gate, there was some sort of huge concert going on and so we stayed there for awhile before finding a nice grassy spot behind the Berliner Dom to chill with everyone and sit and talk til we called it a night :)

Everyone!

Kevin and I in front of the Brandenberg Tor

The next day, we stopped at a random restaurant to eat breakfast and it ended up being one of the best places I have eaten in Germany. It was the first day of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Berlin and a group of old lady soccer fans decked out carrying noise makers, German flags, and wearing German colors, walked in parade form around the place we were eating and sat down at a table behind us.  We had to take a picture with them because they were hysterical. AFter breakfast, we walked around in the East side for a bit and then visited remains of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Holocaust memorial.  Our final stop was the Siegessaule (the Berlin Victory Column) which was built to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian War (thank Wikipedia for that historical fact). Sadly, that is the end of our Berlin experience. The days flew by quickly and it was a lot of fun having the whole Munich clan plus Kevin together again!

The German Soccer Fanatic Ladies

the Berlin Wall

Kevin and I at Checkpoint Charlie

The Last Kremlin Flag...

Holocaust Memorial

Siegessaule (the Victory Column)