Berlin!

And the much awaited Berlin post.

I met up with Andrew after a 7 hour train ride from Heidelberg at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof around 2 pm, from where we walked to our hostel. The hostel I booked was called Baxpax (catchy!!) Downtown, and we really liked it. Consider this a positive review of that hostel. Although, I wouldn't go there for swimming... 

(The Baxpax "pool")

But anyway, the hostel was great and the staff were really nice. Berlin is the kind of place to get around by their local trains, so we got our train passes and headed off to the Hamburger Bahnhof, which is an old train station converted contemporary art museum. Some of the stuff was pretty strange, but the installment right when you enter was pretty cool - considered part of an art called "Land art" which involves using natural materials to create art, this installment was done by an English artist Richard Long:

(He liked circles)

There was also some quintessential Warhol at this museum, which was incredible to see in person. It's much more impressive when you see the full size of these prints, and the slight variation between each reprint of the same image. Anyway, of course, I had to take a picture of Mao:

Next on the schedule was the Berlin wall, which is really just a wall with some paint on it. However, there was a protest going on nearby, something to do with anti-capitalist sentiment, which provided at least 5 different blasting beats throughout our walk. Some street art from the wall:

That night (Saturday), Andrew and I eventually made it to a place called Suicide Circus, which was really awesome. Minimal techno craziness!!1!!1!!@!z And people in Berlin don't start getting to clubs until about 2 or 2:30. In the morning, yes.


So, the next day:

 Just a view from the bridge we crossed to get to the train station...

and also inside the train station (hipstamatic):

And eventually, made it to the famed Brandenburg Gate:

(overcast weather doesn't provide the best lighting ever)

Anyway, in the plaza in front of the Brandenburg gate there are tons of people milling about, a Starbucks (yesss), and of course people dressed in ridiculous costumes. Yoda and army soldiers were the theme of this particular pedestrian haven, but a geisha type character could also be spotted. We walked from here to the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe, which was a really interesting monument, with a (predictably) very sorrowing museum underneath. The idea of "undulating concrete" may sound obnoxious and impossible, but that's what the place looks like:

And from here, we walked toward Potsdam Platz and stopped into a gallery full of Dalí - I didn't realize large his body of work is. It was 9 euro, but impressive, so I'd say it was worth it. Next, we walked to the Sony Center and the Berlin Philharmonic building. The Sony Center was very impressive architecture, and covered a modern square with a movie theater and a history of film museum, and some other restaurants and shops. Unfortunately it was slightly rainy, and it turns out the construction above doesn't actually keep out the rain. But, hey, it looked cool, so w/e:

And from here, we walked to the Berlin Tiergarten which is a huge Central-Park-like garden in the middle of the city. They have a lot of paths and benches and various sculptures throughout, and we relaxed there for a little while. 

(A statue in the park)

And after that, we stopped by a somewhat touristy cafe near the Riechstag for a couple delicious hefeweisen beers. (After all, Andrew couldn't be in Germany and not have plenty of delicious beer).

And at this point, my camera ran out of battery. And I didn't bring a charger. So that was smart of me.

But in any case, that night we watched the World Cup game at the hostel (where it seemed like everyone was cheering against us...) which was excitingly sad. We made up for the loss by eating both currywurst and the most delicious döners ever (we got vegetarian döners, but if you don't know what that is: http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/12/the-worlds-best-street-food-em-sigh-em-wheres-the-doner/ - he says the best döners are in Berlin and they are because they are so amaaaaazing). The next day, we got the same döners again. MAGICAL.

I did manage to get plenty of pictures of Andrew. And here, a collage, the many faces of Andrew deJong:

ANDWEWBERRIES!

I want to live in Berlin. (maybe I should learn German first...? w/e)