Travelling the World on Wheels.: My awesome first day in Berlin.

We woke up at around 9am, Good Morning- Maria would say, I love it. Anyways we got dressed and all, it was around 11am when we left. First by metro and the bus and a lot of walking we went to Maria’s friend’s place where her husband was staying, Oh he is lovely! Then lots of conversing at around 12:30 pm we left for lunch. We went to an Argentinian Steak House where the boys had beef steaks and Maria and me had veggie pasta.

We finished around 2 pm. Maria had an appointment at 3 pm, hence I had to hang out with Thomas (Maria’s husband) lovely he is. We went around all by foot to Potsdamer Platz the Berliner Philharmonie, it is a concert hall home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The building is acclaimed for both its acoustics and its architecture.

The Philharmonie lies on the south edge of the city's Tiergarten and just west of the former Berlin Wall, an area that for decades suffered from isolation and drabness but that today offers ideal centrality, greenness, and accessibility. And yes we did also check out the Berlin Wall. Two small pieces are also in Potsdamer Platz and in its neighbourhood at the corner between Ebertstraße and Bellevuestraße. On our way Thomas also pointed out the area where Hitler killed himself in a underground bunker.

Now we were at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, very impressive. It was made in 2005, this gigantic abstract artwork covering an entire block near the Brandenburg Gate, The blocks start out at ground level on the outer edges of the memorial, and then grow taller towards the middle, where the ground also slopes downwards. 3.5 million visitors in the first year make it one of the most visited memorials in Berlin - and it's worth it, as it's one of the most impressive memorials in Berlin.

Then Maria called to ask where we were, Thomas told her and soon she was with us. We were now heading to the Brandenburg Gate (pictures of these places visited are not with me) but we went to the magnificent Berlin Domthz that is the biggest and most impressive church in Berlin, built at the turn of the century (19th/20th) as an expression of imperial power. Located next to the museum island. Entrance is €7, and you can climb on top of the dome for a beautiful view over the Berlin center.

The Twintowers of the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) face each other at the Gendarmenmarkt in Central Berlin, flanking the Konzerthaus.

Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche— Highly symbolic church, dating back to 1891-95, with two modern buildings designed by Egon Eiermann in 1961, a hexagonal bell tower and an octagonal worship hall, aside the ruins from World War II.

Marienkirche— Located near Alexanderplatz, this is not only the highest church tower in Berlin (90 m), but also one of the oldest churches left in the historical center of Berlin (which is totally torn down in this area). Entrance is free and inside are many treasures from the old days.

Nikolaikirche— The oldest church in Berlin, dating back to the beginning of 13th century (at least the stones next to the ground). Does not serve as a church. Changing exhibitions inside, entrance free.

St. Hedwigs Kathedrale— Domed Church located at Bebelplatz/Unter den Linden, the oldest (mid 18th century) and one of the biggest Catholic churches in Berlin, interior was redesigned in a modern style in the 1950s - but still many treasure chambers in the basement.

Friedrichswerdersche Kirche— Nice church located near Unter den Linden/Museum Island, finished in 1830 by Schinkel - English Neogothic style. Nice exhibition inside (neoclassical statues and an exhibition about Schinkel's life and work upstairs), entry is free.

Synagoge Oranienburger Straße – Today the building houses the Centrum Judaicum foundation which opened in 1995, an institution for the preservation of Jewish memory and tradition, a community congregation centre for study and teaching. Until the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom of November 1938 when the Synagogue was attacked by Nazi thugs and heavily damaged, Jewish citizens had enjoyed full equality and civic rights, enshrined in the 1850 Prussian constitution.River Spree,

It was late evening now, we were all tired and exhausted and had no energy to take any pictures. Hence I have no pictorial evidence! We all had dinner a small Thai restaurant and then off to our hostel.

Maria, I so enjoyed today. Thank you and good night.

Maria, ich bin so genossen heute. Vielen Dank und gute Nacht.