i was in berlin, but the wall wasn't

BERLIN
i really didn't know what is was in for at berlin, but i got more than i expected. there was so much to do! we all got a 'berlin museum card' that allowed us into a long list of museums with only paying one price. we only saw a fraction of what was offered.

they don't give you grocery bags unless you pay extra. they drive on the right (and correct) side of the road. they have the coolest new pedestrian signs. they have quite an intimidating language, and their countenance matches right along. they have the most incredible architecture everywhere, which was probably my favorite part. i guess when a country pretty much starts over in a way in the 80's, they're going to start over with a bang. (i don't mean that literally). and their jewish museum & memorial is the reason i want to go back. the memorial was just completed two months ago. look it up if you can, it's called 'monument to the murdered jews of europe' in berlin. i loved it. it's a huge block of valuable land down-town that is covered with 2,711 big cement blocks. they're all lined up & the dimensions are similar to a coffin, but they range in height. it's almost a creepy place, but solomn & peaceful at the same time. i got the chance to go see it again at night before we left. the jewish museum was my other favorite, and i'm going back because i was there for 2 hours & i probably only saw about half of it, and i didn't even see the coolest parts. everything was incredibly well done. the architecture from the outside & inside was all based on a 'shattered star of david' and then the artifacts and information and photos were all presented in the best of ways. there were installations that represented the feelings & sentiments--those were what i didn't get to.

we slept three nights in the hotel pension cortina. i was smiling for about 10 minutes straight as i toured each different room--it was all so eclectic. there was a different wallpaper everywhere, different carpet everywhere, there was lots of art on every wall which ranged from cross-stitches of crying clowns to magazine photos of bison. the light fixtures were my favorite--many of them being big chinese lanterns. it was all decorated with things seemingly from d.i. & seemingly without any thought to what else was being used, but somehow it made everything more fun. the breakfast was just as eclectic. the nice roly-poly german manager layed out little meats & several breads & cheeses & cereal and a german dish (i forgot the name), that was almost like yogurt with fruit in it, but i think it was something other than yogurt. i roomed with jane after jenny was pulled out of our two-person room to sleep with her family because they needed one more bed. it was not planned, but it was great. we got to know each other a bit better & we were with each other more daily because there was only one set of keys. hannah walked in once and said "woah, you guys sleep in the same bed?" (there was one double bed in our 'honeymoon suite') jane said with a smile, "yes but we're best friends now so it's okay." the best part about our pairing was that we went to the grocery store together & split little jars of peanut butter, jelly & then we each bought a few other things and that food lasted me the week of lunches. i felt very money-effecient.

and i don't know how i almost forgot about the zoo. berlin is known for its zoo & there was some rumor going around the group that it was the second-best in the world. i can easily attest that it was the best entertainment i had the whole trip. the zoo as a whole was fabulous because of the variety of animals. pygmy hippos & hyenas & anteaters & flamingos & several of which i've forgotten the name! i especially loved the fact that the zoo put glass in such a way that you could see underwater very well for animals like penguins, seals and hippos. i loved seeing the fast swimming of the penguins, and the graceful prancing vs. playful fighting at the hippopotamus tank. but the entertainment award goes to the orang-utan. typing the story will not do it justice, so you will have to remember to ask me to tell you about it when i return, but for now--just know that it had to do with a very bored grandma orang-utan doing anything to entertain herself & consequentially making me laugh the hardest i have in months. tears--laughing to the point of many tears.