Yes that title is an 80's pop music reference. Couldn't help myself.Â
But this really is a breathtaking city. It's huge. It's diverse. Our first full day in Berlin we took the train from our hotel and went to the Brandenberg Gate. The marathon was in full swing and it was really fun to wander around in all the activity. There were people along the route cheering, a lot of runners and a lot of controlled chaos. Watching the look of both exhaustion and exhilaration on the faces of runners as they looked for their friends and family was really something to see.Â
Our immediate verdict is that we will have to come back to Berlin and spend several days. The architecture is amazing - both the old and the new -and there is just so much to see.
There are always reminders of the not so distant past - the Berlin wall, etc. These crosses commemorate people who died trying to escape the GDR to West Berlin.
In the afternoon we went to a museum and then took a boat tour on the river. A great excuse to sit down for awhile! We grabbed a coffee after the tour and then headed toward the station. The sun was getting low in the sky and it was just beautiful. It was easy to spot the runners from earlier in the day even though they'd changed from their running clothes. If the medal around their neck didn't give it away, the way they gingerly walked on sore legs and feet did. Tomorrow, a field trip.