Well, it's been a long time since I've updated my blog, so I suppose it's time for a new post before I forget everything!!
After settling in to my apartment in Neuenhagen, I spent a few days of last week exploring Berlin. I spent most of my time near Alexanderplatz (Alexander Plaza) and Unter den Linden (a famous street that includes to the Brandenburg Gate). This is in the heart of the city. There is a huge shopping mall here called Alexa, which has 4 or 5 levels, I'm not sure...all I know is that it's huge! I finally got my surf stick for internet there, as well as some other necessities like extension cords, power converters, measuring cups, a DVD player and some DVDS (like That 70's Show!), a hair dryer, etc. at this 4-story electonics store called MediaMarkt.
After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, I got to the register. The lady scanned everything, and the total was 140 Euro-ish. No problem, EXCEPT THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS! What the crap? Am I the only one who sees the irony in this? Long story short, I had to run to the ATM and get some cash. Lame.
I also spent a total of 2 days going through the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German History Museum). It was awesome! I couldn't believe how much information they had there. The first day I got there around 3, and by closing at 6 I was only through WWI...and that was with me rushing me a LOT. The next day it took me about 5-1/2 hours to get through the consequences of the war, the Great Depression and the development of the National Socialist (Nazi) party, WWII, the Cold War and the separation of East and West Germany, and the reunification. So much information! I loved it though. :)
I also went through the Berliner Dom (a big beautiful church). Everything was so... fancy. The weirdest, and arguably the most interesting, part of churches in Europe is that when someone important dies, like a priest or royalty of some sort, they aren't buried in a cemetery like "normal" people. Rather, they are kept inside the church either in an ornate casket, or sealed in the walls of the crypt downstairs. At the Berliner Dom, there were some extremely ornate, solid gold caskets with beautiful figures and designs. These were for a king and his queen. Then, downstairs, there is a huge area full of about 100 caskets dating from the 1500s to the 1900s of royalty and other nobility. The bodies aren't on display, but it is still pretty eerie.
Then I walked under the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) just for the heck of it. It was kind of cool I guess, just because so much history went down there.
I also practiced getting to the airport from my house, timing myself to be prepared for when I have to fly to Cologne next week for orientation. I have to take the S-Bahn (the city-wide network of trains), switching trains once, and then catch the bus up there. All in all it takes about an hour and a half.
I'm happy to report that I now have absolutely no more fear of the train system in Berlin. Woohoo! I still need a little work with the regional and country-wide trains, though...
Yeah. I'm hoping to add some pictures to this blog soon.
