Day 9: Berlin, Germany (The Berlin Wall)

The Viking Star was now docked in Warnemunde, Germany.

We took out the left over room service breakfast from the morning before which we'd stored in our small refrigerator.

Our breakfast consisted of muffins, bananas and coffee that Art brewed for us.

We then headed out to meet our travel buddies for our train ride into Berlin.

There was a line to collect snacks for our trip. There were bananas, tangerines, water and pastries.

That was rather unexpected.

We were assigned to a train car.

It was supposed to be a 3 hour ride.

It was not 3 hours. 

It turned out to be more like 4 and a half excruciating hours because of rail construction and giving priority to regularly scheduled trains ahead of our cruise car.

Our tour guide, Lena met us at the train station and led us to her bus.

Our first stop was the Allierten Museum. The museum documents the political history and military roles of the Western Allies in Germany (especially Berlin) between 1945-94 and their contribution to liberty in Berlin during the Cold War.

We saw a display of an underground tunnel where the U.S. was monitoring (spying) on the Russians during the Cold War. Actually the Russians knew we were spying on them, but that's another story.

It was rather a surprise to see a display about John F. Kennedy.

Our next stop was the Berlin Wall. It was a strange feeling to stand next to the famous Wall that once separated East and West Berlin.

Lena showed us how a brick (I think it's brick) line in the pavement indicates where the rest of the wall once stood.

What a surprise to go from 50 to 60 degree F weather to 80! Doggone it! I wish I'd packed and worn capris. It was too hot!

We were happy to be taken to a beer garden restaurant for lunch in air conditioning. We weren't sure what kind of German sausage that was with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. However, it was tasty. The sauerkraut was on the sweeter side and different from what I've had before, but it was good. The apple strudel was OK. (Art says he liked it.)

After lunch we were out to do more sightseeing.

It felt hotter and more humid.

The memorial to victims of war was a sad reminder of what Ukraine is going through.

I wish I knew more about that very interesting hand pitcher pump.

It was fun to see the famous Brandenburg Gate also. At that point, I couldn't take it anymore and zipped off the bottom of my pant legs.

AND.... then it was ANOTHER 4 and a half hours back to the ship. However, this time, we had a ton of fun talking to Joyce and Ann, a mom and daughter traveling together and seated right across from us. It made all the difference as we swapped stories about our travels. They were from St. Louis, Missouri which does happen to be next to Illinois where we lived for over 35 years.

It was surprising that when we got off the train, we had to pass through a very strict security check point before we could head toward the ship.

Dinner was relaxing at the World Cafe.

And what I came to truly realize was that any trip is so much happier when you are sharing the adventure with others. People make the difference.

By the way, did you know that Gummy Bears originated in Germany? No kidding! 

Hans Riegel Sr., a confectioner from Bonn, started the Haribo company in 1920. In 1922, inspired by the trained bears seen at street festivities and markets in Europe through to the 19th century, he invented the Dancing Bear (Tanzbär), a small, affordable, fruit-flavored gum candy treat for children and adults alike, which was much larger in form than its later successor, the Gold-Bear.  --Wikipedia

Despite the awfully tiring train ride, it was another interesting day.