Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin!!

Berlin Wall

Check Point Charlie

Brandenburg Gate

Holocaust Memorial

Sanssouci Schloss

My weekend trip to Berlin was quite the whirl-wind adventure! The trip was planned by ISO (International Students Office) and included the participation of about 25 people representing countries all around the world. The trip was partially subsidised by the University, which meant that we each paid only 45 Euro for the whole trip (including travel, museum entrance, two nights stay, breakfast, and one dinner...quite the deal!).

We began our journey Friday morning on our tiny pink bus. After a few stops throughout the trip we arrived in Berlin early afternoon and preceded to check into our hostel. This was my first experience with a European hostel and I am pleased to say that it was quite the positive one. The rooms had ten beds (5 bunk beds) which I shared with my fellow international students on the trip. Everything was quite clean and well kept as well! After check-in, we went to The Story of Berlin Museum. The museum was pretty amazing. Step by step we were taken through the history of Berlin dating back to the 1200s. Each room had a hand's on theme with new technology and great displays gallor. The museum also included functioning atomic bomb shelter, which although amazing, turned out to be quite spooky! After the museum, our bus driver took us around a little bit more of Berlin and then back to our hostel to enjoy our free dinner. The next morning, we were shown even more of Berlin as we got to see so many famous and historic sites. Check Point Charlie was most definitely a favorite. After getting our Passports stamped with old Check Point Charlie stamps, we hopped back on the bus and drove a short distance down the road to a piece of the Berlin Wall still standing. Later on, we visited the area in which Operation Walküre (Valkyrie) as well as the execution of the members took place. The bus tour then ended at the Brandenburg Gate. After a quick bite to eat and walk around the gate, we went to a Holocaust memorial. The memorial consisted of several cement blocks of all different sizes put into rows. Underground was a memorial explaining and displaying the history of the treatment of Jewish people before and throughout World War II in Germany. Although very open to interpretation, the memorial was very unique and awing. Later that night, we were given free time to walk through the city and enjoy the amazing Berlin sites in the amazing sunny weather. The next morning, we left for a town close to Berlin called Potsdam, filled with amazing old buildings and sites. We specifically went to see the Sanssouci Schloss ("No worries" Castle). The park which held the castle in its self was amazing, dotted with castles and ponds. We then walked through the town a little bit (and enjoyed an amazing scoop of gelato along the way). Eventually, we got back on the bus and returned to Oldenburg Sunday evening.

The weekend was definitely a trip of a life time filled with everything one could ever ask for!