Berlin....the first day

No blog yesterday because it was a travel day and there wasn't much going on.  Successful trip to the airport in Munich via the S (underground train).  No casualties or injuries, even thought the train was packed most of the way.  The wait in the airport didn't drag on.  Went very quickly by reading a newspaper, magazine, having lunch and reading part of a book.  Flight was nice and very quick!  Just under an hour.  The trip to the hotel was little more eventful with a hot bus, s trains not running correctly and a bumpy sidewalk to the u (another line of underground trains).  We arrived with no injury to our hotel.  It's a great location, near and s and u stations.  There's an elevator :).  Our room is very spacious.  About 8-10 people could sleep comfortable not the floor.  (Not that we're accepting takers) Figured out the 3 knobs in the shower to get it to work (although I was about ready to give up after the struggle).   Today was our first full day in Berlin.  Started by successfully maneuvering on the trains to meet Art and Olga at a WWII underground bunker (well, really Julie did and the rest of us followed :). We were led down and given a 90 minute tour.  It was absolutely fascinating.  Highly recommend it. No pictures because items are from private collections and thus those people hold the copyright :( Check it out here:   http://berliner-unterwelten.com/home.1.1.html  Our guide was a wealth of information and it was quite interesting to hear.  The company Berliner Unterwelten (Berlin from Below) gives different tours.  Ours was in a bunker near the train station- where people from the surrounding area and the train station could go during an air raid.  Only problem (that the Nazis didn't share with the people) was that the ceiling was only 8cm thick of concrete.  It wouldn't have been able to withstand a bomb. Not an important detail to share I guess.....   After the bunker we got a bite to eat.  I had to try McDonalds :)  Pretty good stuff.  Then we headed towards Pariser Platz and saw the Brandenburg Gate and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.  We ended our sightseeing by going to the Bundestag and visiting the dome. Very cool how they have it set up.  You take an elevator up (thank goodness) and then there is a ramp that curves around and up.  Easy walking and as you walk up as the audio guide talks to you about the sights you are seeing through the dome.  Once you get to the top, you start down the dome on a different ramp. Ended the night with spätzle for dinner.  Yummy!! (Even if it did look a little like larvae)

 

 

 

Memorial for murdered Jews. (In the background you can see the dome we went up)