Well it’s noon & I’ve already been awake for over 7 hours. One of
the many perks of traveling the cheapest routes possible. As I type
this, I still have 4 and a half hours until my bus to Aarhus leaves from
Copenhagen & I’ve already been waiting for 4 hours. But, I woke up
in Prague this morning so I really have nothing to complain about! I’ve
spent the last week traveling around Berlin, Germany & Prague, Czech
Republic: two very different countries that I was dying to visit.
Let’s
start with Berlin.
After visiting Auschwitz just days before going to Germany, I knew this
was going to be a very interesting trip. I had just seen what the Nazis
had done to millions of Jews and now I was going to their headquarters
to see where it all began. The most satisfying thing was the fact that
we were able to see Hitler’s bunker where he committed suicide because
he knew he was going to get captured towards the end of World War II.
Just days before, I had seen a place where he caused so much pain and
suffering for so many innocent people, and then to be able to see where
he was finally in a sense defeated…that was one of the most incredible
things.
Hitler’s bunker
By the way: in every city I’ve visited, I’ve always done a free
walking tour. These tours are completely free and at the end you just
tip your guide based off of how well you think they did or how much you
enjoyed the tour. I’ve learned so much on these tours & highly
recommend them to anyone traveling around Europe. Without these tours, I
would literally just be looking at cool buildings & being like “oh
ok that looks nice, no idea what it is but I’ll take a picture of it”.
But with these tours, the guides give you an in depth history of what
happened at the major buildings and sites of the city.
They’re awesome. I
especially recommend a guided tour in Berlin. We waited until the last
day to take the tour which in hindsight I feel was a mistake. Up until
the tour I was enjoying the city, but I felt as if the city was too
large and modern. I wasn’t getting that German feel that I was really
looking for. We visited the East Side Gallery, where artists have
created beautiful portraits on pierces of the Berlin Wall. This was so
cool because people were able to turn the wall, which was something so
horrible, into something completely beautiful.
East Side Gallery
East Side Gallery
When we finally decided to be smart and take the tour around the
city, I was amazed at how much history was right under my nose. I
learned that the Berlin Wall was actually not a straight wall, but
actually a circle that closed off West Berlin. This was weird though,
because West Berlin was the free half of the city. West Berlin was the
only free section of all of Eastern Europe. There was a wall to keep
Easterners out, but the West Berlin citizens were allowed to leave
freely. The wall was literally put up over night, and if you had someone
you knew on the other side of the wall, it would be another 28 years
until you saw them again. Isn’t that insane. WOW I am ranting but I
found all of this so interesting.
Also, the reason Berlin is so modern
is because the entire city was destroyed in WWII. There was almost
nothing left. The buildings and churches that look old are made to look
that way to remind people what the city used to look like. And still to
this day, Berlin is still rebuilding from the damage it suffered from
the war. (fun fact: I got to see the hotel where Michel Jackson was seen
hanging his baby out the window. Just when you think you have seen it
all….)
Hotel Aldon, where Michael Jackson infamously dangled his son, Blanket, out a window
After 3 days in Berlin, we took a reaaaally early bus to Prague! This
bus was LAVISH. It only cost 15 euros and we were waited on hand and
foot. We were given coffee, hot chocolate, tea, literally anything we
wanted. There were movie screens on the back of all the seats (which
were leather btw) & there was wifi hallelujah. Back to Prague,
though. (another fun fact sort or relating to my rant above: the reason
Prague was so well preserved during World War II was because Hitler
loved the city so much. He was planning on vacationing there after the
war so he didn’t want any damage to be done there. Interesting right.
And also kind of twisted. What a terrible guy).
In Prague we did another walking tour where we learned all about the
history of the Czechs and the Slovaks, how the country of Czechoslovakia
came to be, and how the counties because two separate republics. We
toured old town and saw the Astronomical clock move (sort of
underwhelming but something you have to see).
Astronomical Clock
We saw the Jewish quarter and the Jewish cemetery. Back in the 15th
century, every Jewish person in Prague had to be buried in this cemetery
which was not very big. At certain points, the graves in this cemetery
are 12 graves deep. Some people say that this gave inspiration for the
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe located in Berlin, which we were
able to see just the day before. In this memorial, there are many
rectangular stones that are different heights across an uneven ground.
Again, the timing of my trips and seeing these sights has been
incredible.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (located in Berlin)
Later in the day we crossed the famous Charles bridge which gives
beautiful views of Prague from either sides of the river. Across Charles
bridge lies Prague Castle. You can see it from miles away and it is
breathtaking. On the same side of the river is the John Lennon Peace
Wall. Here, people are free to spray paint messages of whatever they
want. There are paintings of John Lennon himself, his lyrics, and
inspirational quotes. We spent almost an hour reading everything on the
wall. Easily one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
John Lennon Peace Wall
One of the nights we were there we went to the Prague Ice Bar!!!!
I’ve always wanted to go to one of those so I was stoked. They decked us
out in parkas and gloves and we were ready. We got inside the actual
ice room and literally everything was made of ice. The walls,
countertops, the tables, the glasses, everything. They only let you stay
inside for 20 minutes but after the first 10 I thought I was going to
die of hypothermia. I lasted the full 20 though and after needed about
two liters of hot chocolate. Oh wow I just said liters & not
gallons. I am so metric system….
inside the ice bar
Now I know it doesn’t seem like I am actually enrolled in school but I
promise I am and I do attend class! I have two presentations this week
so it’s time to get back to real life. Exams are starting at the end of
May so as shocking as this sounds, I will be spending this next month in
the library buried in text books.
currently studying in starbucks waiting for my bus…i’m not a total bum I swear
