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Wilkommen to Berlin

Day 5

It was a very early wake up call, 6 am! Being patient and sharing one shower amongst four people is another traveling learning experience. Getting used to sleeping until the shower is free is like a snooze alarm for the travelers. There was 15 minutes of wiggle room planned for any morning traveling delays from the route from hotel to train, which there are always some! This morning, however, we were pushing it.  There were two main conflicts to sort out with the front desk. The first was having them give us our key deposits back and the second was making sure they would not find a way to charge us for the shower ceiling that fell on Jack.

Yet, even after the morning conflict, and stopping to get food for breakfast and food for the train, we were able to make it to the main train station a half hour before departure.  YES!  A morning accomplishment! Phew!

In front of the train station I gave my directions. “Inside you will see a blue screen, the train platform number will not be posted, until it arrives into the station. Then we will go up the escalator, walk to the right platform and then scramble to find the correct train coach to sit in. It will be like an airplane seating and before you get on, peak through the windows to see the seat numbers, then enter on the door closest to your seat number. Remember to stand next to who you want to sit next to, as you climb on the train, so it will be an easy process getting your luggage to the right seats. ” Joel took a picture of us all in front of the station, and they headed in.

 I always follow in the rear, to clean up the stragglers. The straggler this time was throwing up in a trash can. (no no no, not what you are thinking, it was true traveling sickness, not from alcohol). I handed her a piece of gum and Bridgette continued to carry her luggage. It makes me proud to see the group care for each other. 

When I walked into the station, I watched the kids being carried up the escalator. I looked at the blue arrival screen and our platform was not posted. Wait, where were they going? Wait, that wasn’t the directions. They reached the top and couldn’t hear me yelling for them to come back.

I planted my bags next to a large column in front of the blue screen. Waiting for the platform to be posted.  Waiting for them to come back. No one came back. Where were they going? Where did they go? Who was leading them astray? Didn’t one person hear me? Ha Ha Ha...traveling. 

After 5 minutes I asked Bridgette to bring them to me.  My eyes were glued to the blue screen, as the train platform was going to be posted very soon, as it was 8:17. 

The group came to the blue screen and I held my tongue about not listening to me (as I knew it was early), or following directions (as they are independent teens) or anything a teacher would say like (maybe someone should take notes), and instead pointed out how to read the blue screen. “The first thing you do is look for the time of departure, then you glide your eyes across the line to view the city of arrival these flash to all the different stops one at a time, so at first glance you may not see Berlin, but if you wait, because it is the correct time of departure, you watch the various stops and see if Berlin shows up. Once you see it flash Berlin, you watch the last column for the platform to be listed, once it is listed get to the platform as fast as you can, as it is arriving into the train station. So we need a scout to go find which way each of the platforms are.”  I knew that I probably wasn’t being listened to, because it was only 8 minutes after the last time they weren’t listening.  And the scout came back still not knowing which track was which platform, deep breath. They are babies in the traveling world. My goal is to get them from A to B.... So, here we go again. City #2.  Platform 3.

Boarding the train was easy, as Praha has a smaller train station. We found our seats, and surprisingly, it wasn’t like airplane seating afterall, it was private rooms of 6, with curtains and sliding doors, and light air conditioning. Spoiled! 

One room of girl’s slept, or tried to get comfortable enough to sleep, one room enjoyed tarot card readings

 and interviews with Joel and the boy’s room watched the scenery from the window,

which was the most beautiful route we had all ever seen. 

The countryside was mountainous, the train followed a river, so all the little spread out cities on the river were quaint, old and full of gardens in their backyards. The mountains had huge castles and the authentic Czech/German landscape was better than any setting of any movie we had ever seen.

The arrival into Berlin was super easy. After arriving at Berlin Hbf we found the S-bahn (metro) which took us three stops to Alexanderplatz. Coincidentally, we exited onto the right street (since there were four possible directions to choose from, and from the inside of a train station, who knows which way to go?) Arriving into the fresh Berlin air, and walking down the side of the train station, across a tram line and to the right, we found the hostel to be only a stones throw (by Hercules) away.

It was easy access into City Stay Hostel, and our rooms were ready for us. We had to tap our white credit card looking room keys to open the main door into where the elevator and stairs were. Then we had to tap it to get into the room hallways, which made it a very safe environment.  You also had to tap the key to get into the first floor hallway, where we were staying. We found the stairs to be an easy walk up and down to the lobby, where there was plenty of couch space, and tables, even an outdoor patio.

After a little “scuffle” finding the correct rooms. Everyone was able to rest an hour before the afternoon bike tour. Which was led by 22 year old Tom, from Bristol England. 

It was awe inspiring to see the Berlin Wall, 

Hitler’s Bunker, Checkpoint Charlie, 

Reichstag, Berliner Dom 

and the Holocaust Memorial. 

The ride through Tiergarten Park was indeed the best part of the tour.

We then stopped at a beer garden to get the largest pitchers of beer along with sausage sandwiches. It was a gorgeous day and the bike ride was a wonderful way to spend our first hours in Berlin.

We were invited to enjoy Christina Perri’s concert at the Franz Club north of the city center. Christina has a number one song on the Twilight movie soundtrack and it was a sold out show! 

We were even able to hang out after the club closed and say hi!

 After a wonderful eventful Deutsch day, we rode off on our bikes in search of a dinner.

The other kids, who did not join the concert were back at the hostel doing what Germans do best.

Prague photos

Outside the Bene hotel

The Lennon graffiti wall

THE Prague Castle

Sleeping in

Day 4 Tuesday July 2
Side Note: Noone has had any trouble as EVERYONE speaks English here, even the German, Sweden and Argentinian tourists we have met.

A view out of the boy's window:

I did not hear any noises from any of the four rooms until 3 pm! I know Jet Lag had finally crept up on many of  our travelers, and know from experience that sleep is the best medicine.
Finally, the housekeeper started knocking at the doors to wake them up.

They fed themselves and decided to souvenir shoppe near Old Town and the Charles Bridge as I mentioned do not shop during the beginning of a tour, as you have to carry everything you purchase the rest of the day.

I am so in love with this group; they listen to all of my traveling advice, I see that they all packed according to the trip guidelines and they are actually interested in their surroundings, the people and the buildings. None have over shopped, in fact, I haven't see any purchases at all, besides food. I am very proud of them spending their parents money wisely! (although they are expected back in a few hours for dinner and I will be able to see their chosen souvenir selections.
A view out the front window of the girl's room:

Today, Joel was up at 5:30 am to get pictures of the Charles Bridge in the best lighting and without any people! He also was walking around the city until 8 am taking pictures. He has napped most of the day as well. I went to the train station and purchased Hannah's train tickets for all of our train legs, and the gifts of the universe show up everywhere, as all of her seats are in our train cars!!!!!!! Usually in summer the train is sold out by the month of travel! I also found an easy route to walk tomorrow am to the train as it is easier to walk 5 blocks then it would be to take the subway 1 stop. The route I found has the least cobblestones, so the rolling duffel bags will roll easier, and there is a pastry/baguette shop which opens at 6 am, so we will be able to purchase our breakfasts and lunch for our train ride, as we are expected to be packed and in the lobby at 7 am and our train departs Praha at 8:30am . We will arrive on Day 5 in Berlin and have a bike tour and concert! Sprechen die Deutsch?

I do not have any pictures of today, but I do want to take a few shots of the rooms to give you an idea of what a really comfortable and large area the quad rooms are. Hopefully, I will post those on this blog later when I upload today's pictures.

Again, please post a comment to let me know you are interested!

Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

Everyone met in the lobby at 11 am and walked slowly towards the Jewish Cemetery in the Josefov section of the city (very close to our hotel) telling stories about "last night".

After peeking over the funeral wall and seeing all the headstones, we meandered through Stare Mesto (Old Town) through the quaint cobblestoned tourist shops on Karlova street heading towards Charles Bridge.

There was a chocolate shoppe and Carson was able to buy a cup of hot chocolate which was literally hot melted chocolate.

We accidentally stumbled into a restaurant and everyone was happy to fill there bellies with spaghetti, goulash and salads.

After lunch we walked over Charles Bridge making wishes on the brass Lorraine Cross so we will have good luck and on the two handed flowers for love.  (Bridgette's camera has these individual pictures, as the poses of wishing for luck were worthy of a real camera).

We visited  the Lennon wall on the bike tour, and had to go again with Joel in tow for our documentary, and after quiet restful moments there,

We headed up the Mala Strana section hill to the Prague Castle steps. There we sat for one of many group shots from Joel on the steps.

After finally making it to the top, and viewing the castle, we walked through into where the guards watch the doors of the castle.

The changing of the guards was happening and we posed with guards and also took a video of walking with the guards.

Then we met a group from Ohio and found out they were jazz singers, so we asked them to sing, and sat down and watched an amazing performance of "Higher and Higher". (thank you Erin for suggesting that one). We all had goosebumps as they sang acapella and filled the square in front of St. Vitus Cathedral with music and a crowd larger than Venice beach performer crowds. It was magical.

A few more pictures on the castle wall looking over the city and

then we headed back down the street towards home.

A nice rest before dinner at the Crazy Cow Steakhouse and then the plan was to go to Old Town square by the Astrological Clock to watch the soccer game between Italia and Espana, but the rain came pouring down, so after running in the rain to find friends and a safe dry place, we ended the evening watching Espana win and in our rooms, but dry.

Please post a comment below to allow me to know what parents are reading, so I can give you more info about your kids time here! Also, it inspires me to write more, if I know anyone is reading it.