Travel Log - Berlin
By Devilish Vikki
I am off again this time to the German capital city of Berlin. Berlin has been the capital city since the 13th century. Berlin has had a turbulent history. Two things that reflect this are that you can visit the Berlin Wall and its holocaust Memorial. The Brandenburg Gate has become the symbol of German reunification.
The Berlin Wall was a barrier that completely cut off the East from the West and was there from 1961- 1989. I recalled seeing on television the people taking all kinds of hammers to knock down the wall I thought it was very moving. There were many deaths (138) in total - some trying to flee, some by accident. over 250 travelers were killed going through checkpoints. That really makes u think just how valuable freedom is.
I also went to the holocaust museum that was a little tough to handle all the sadness in the exhibitions like the personal photos & paintings of real people that were executed for no reason. The room with all the shoes that the prisoners we asked to remove and their glasses (can you fathom not having your shoes and or glasses? I just wanted to go back to my hotel and decompress. As I got out of the shower my cell rang it was my friend Mz Dea. She invited me to Oktoberfest we will have a blast.... I said OK and off I went...
Berlin is a hub for travel of all kinds of rail, air, and public transportation so I tried to figure out the best ways to get to Munich where Oktoberfest; about 36 hours by bike...by car it would take about 5 ½, by bus 7 hours and for about 100 bucks and a little over an hour's flight time you could fly. Guess what I picked?
As I flew I re-read a letter she sent it; reads as follows:
“Hallo und guten Tag an Euch alle (Hello and good day to you all):
When I first experienced Oktoberfest I was 17 years old. I was wishing my BF and I hadn’t broken up a few months before. It would have been more fun to go on the rides with him instead of one of my family members. No offence lil’ sis, (she was 4 at the time). It was like an American fair, but had a more amped up electrified atmosphere. It was wonderful! I got to try all sorts of new foods and some I'd already tried when I first arrived in Germany. My Dad was stationed in Willy Barracks in Neu Ulm, Germany. The first thing I noticed when we entered the fairgrounds is everything was lit up. And I mean lit up.. Either covered in lights or had big lights aimed at it. There were very few darkened places for lovers to steal kisses or anyone seeking privacy. It enhanced the look of the rides, games and food tents.
They had so many games and rides. Almost as much as they did food. I had fun shooting with air guns at the little targets and popping balloons with darts. Ring toss and so forth. Like I said, much like a carnival in the states. Yet the atmosphere felt so different. Was thrilling just to be there. Then the carousels like the ancient but much-beloved "Krinoline"and ever popular chairoplane and Ferris Wheel to breathtaking overhead experiences in the "Top Spin". The smells of Schweinebraten (roast pork), Kalbfleisch auf einem Stick (veal on a stick) waffling through the air, pulling a person towards them. And so much more. Mmmm they have a flair for making what is basic for us into something even grander in taste. They had that knack. When my Dad and Mom went into a huge tent to grab some grub and rest at a bench; I was like WOW at the serving girls, they had like 5 mugs in their hands, each hand! I was how could they do that.
The one thing that stood out most was the Germans were so jovial. They did things with so much enthusiasm. They would laugh loud and sing even louder. Oh, I loved listening to them. My sister got a HUGE bear, (my dad won it for her at a game stall) so big it had to ride on top of the car, strapped on. The sights and sounds were so were so great I over did it? So sadly my last year in Germany ended on a bummer note. I missed ridding on the HUGE multiseating Ferris Wheel. But up until the point I got sick I had the BEST time ever on the rides, with the games an enjoying the culture around me. I didn’t want to go home! Parents! If you ever get the chance to go to one, by all means do so. Take your friends and cameras or phones lol.
Genießen Sie jeden Sehen, Hören, Schmecken, Riechen, fühlen und des Festivals!!! (Enjoy every sight, sound, taste, smell, and feel of the festival!!)”
To my surprise not only did I see Mz Dea she had a few people with her...Purple, Mike, and Richard! We all work together on this publication. We all had so much fun Purple and Mike had bought the biggest beer steins with lids I have ever seen while drinking beers. We as a group did all the things in Dea’s letter and more. This journey has made us more like a family. Thanks BRM for giving me some of the best people I know... thank goodness no one got really sick... and a special thank you too Mz Dea for letting me share her letter.