Berlin Part 2

Sunday started with a nice breakfast at Josty’s in the Sony Center. We were excited because we knew our destination was Museum Island to see Berliner Dom and the Pergamon Museum.

Some of the sites on our way to the Dom.

Berliner Dom

Berliner Dom was only 4 € to tour which was well worth it. The neo-Renaissance cathedral was built in 1895. It underwent severe damage during WWII but is beautiful today. Our tour took us to the outside at the top of the Dom and provided amazing views of the entire city.

The Fernsehturm from the top of the Dom

We were also able to tour the inside of the cathedral and it was stunning.

While on the top we spotted a market, walked through it and then went on to the Pergamon Museum. The museum boasts a treasure-trove of antiquities of ancient Greece, Rome, and Babylon. We were able to see some life size reconstructions but unfortunately the museum was undergoing extensive reconstruction itself, so we missed out on some of the best exhibits.

Ishtar Gate Replica (604 - 562 BC)

Market Gate of Miletus (100 AD) - This was huge (17m high x 29m wide)

Wood panaling from Syria/Aleppo. (1600's)

Colossal Assyrian 'Lamassu' - part man, part lion, part eagle guardian.

View from outside the museum.

After we finished up at the museum it was time to head home. Little did we know that we still had a long journey ahead of us. We missed a connecting train and didn’t end up getting home until 1:45am. A long night but it was well worth it. It’s going to be hard for our other trips to top Berlin.

Here’s a summary of my learning experiences:

• Maastricht to Cologne is not an easy trip. You have to book the trip there at least 2 days in advance but on the way back in must be booked more than 8 days in advance.
• The ticket office closes early on Sunday so get your tickets ahead of time or have cash to pay because the ticket systems only accept cards with a chip.
• Transportation plus our one night stay in Cologne was almost as expensive as our flights.
• If you get on the bus with a train ticket, the bus driver will be confused but let you ride it anyways.
• You can get your flight ticket printed, through security, and to your gate in 10 minutes in Cologne. (No I wouldn’t suggest you actually do that, it can still be nerve racking).
• If you're touring something, pay for the audio tour. It's worth it.
• Bathrooms cost .50€ to use. (This is the case throughout Europe.)
• The Germans are very nice people and were willing to help out with anything.
• Look for free tours! I’m so glad we did this on Saturday. Sadie was an awesome tour guide.
• Check your bag at the hotel when you check out so that you don’t have to walk around with it.

•  “The” in German is “Die” (so no the Germans don’t actually hate penguins).
• Don't go to a museum if the namesake attraction is under construction.
• The Berlin U & S trains can be a bit confusing but your feet need the rest from walking.
• Buy some good boots.
• Berlin has a lot to see and it’s impossible to see everything in 2 ½ days.
• Missing your connecting train because your train was stopped is not fun. It also gets you home over an hour later than you expected.
• The Maastricht train station apparently closes. I guess it was at 1:30am when we were walking out.
• The trip ended on a good note when our taxi driver got us home in record time.