So, somehow I scored a first-class seat from New York JFK to Berlin. I have no clue how, but it was fantastic! Our flight was delayed for like three hours but, whatever. First, they give you a "welcome" glass of champagne. Then you get a hot towel to wash up with, then you get peanuts to nosh on. After the plane gets airborne, they come around with little table cloths for your tray and a menu so you can choose your dinner. I got tomato soup and pan-seared tuna for an appetizer, then a salad. For the main course, I got a huge chunk of beef brisket (or something like that) with mashed potatoes and carrots and a glass of Spanish wine. It was sooo good. I almost forgot, for dessert, I got an ice cream sundae.
There's more. I got my own personal t.v. with a choice of movies (I don't think economy class had one on this trip). You get a little kit with socks, a toothbrush, tooth paste and stuff and a REAL pillow and blanket. Not the dinky ones they give you in economy class. But best of all, the seats actually recline all the way back like a lounge chair so your feet go up too! Ahhh...nice....for once I wished the flight lasted longer!
I know the picture is blurry, but I didn't want to let everyone know I'm a newbie to first class so I had to wait until the guy next to me went to the bathroom and no flash!
I began by walking over to the Topography of Terror according to their website:
There were three crossing points into East Berlin where tourists from abroad, diplomats and military personnel of the Western Powers were allowed to enter: Helmstedt (Checkpoint Alpha), Dreilinden (Checkpoint Bravo), and Friedrichstrasse (Checkpoint Charlie). Checkpoint Charlie is now a popular tourist site along with a museum across the street that tells of the daring escapes from East over to West Berlin.
Next, I took the subway over to the East Side Gallery. It is a 1.3 km-long section of the wall where there are about 106 paintings by artists from all over the world originally painted in 1990 on this international memorial to freedom making it the largest open air gallery in the world. Unfortunately, a lot of grafitti has destroyed some of the murals.
It was getting late and my legs were killing me but I was determined to walk back to my hostel.
There's more. I got my own personal t.v. with a choice of movies (I don't think economy class had one on this trip). You get a little kit with socks, a toothbrush, tooth paste and stuff and a REAL pillow and blanket. Not the dinky ones they give you in economy class. But best of all, the seats actually recline all the way back like a lounge chair so your feet go up too! Ahhh...nice....for once I wished the flight lasted longer!
I know the picture is blurry, but I didn't want to let everyone know I'm a newbie to first class so I had to wait until the guy next to me went to the bathroom and no flash!
I finally made it to Berlin in the afternoon and decided to start walking around the city. I have 4 pounds to lose that I gained while I was in the U.S., plus might have gained 4 more on the flight over here. I stayed at "The Grand Hostel" and it was really nice. More like a hotel and I highly recommend it.
I began by walking over to the Topography of Terror according to their website:
More than 500,000 people visit the “Topography of Terror” each year, making it one of the most frequently visited places of remembrance in Berlin. Since 1987 a permanent exhibition at the site where the headquarters of the Secret State Police, the SS and the Reich Security Main Office were located during the “Third Reich” has been providing information to the public about the most important institutions of National Socialist persecution and terror. The documentary exhibition conveys the European dimensions of the Nazi reign of terror.
There were three crossing points into East Berlin where tourists from abroad, diplomats and military personnel of the Western Powers were allowed to enter: Helmstedt (Checkpoint Alpha), Dreilinden (Checkpoint Bravo), and Friedrichstrasse (Checkpoint Charlie). Checkpoint Charlie is now a popular tourist site along with a museum across the street that tells of the daring escapes from East over to West Berlin.
Next, I took the subway over to the East Side Gallery. It is a 1.3 km-long section of the wall where there are about 106 paintings by artists from all over the world originally painted in 1990 on this international memorial to freedom making it the largest open air gallery in the world. Unfortunately, a lot of grafitti has destroyed some of the murals.
It was getting late and my legs were killing me but I was determined to walk back to my hostel.
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