A Banksy Inspired Weekend - Re-discovering My Inner Hipster

Hello all,
I have just gotten back to Edinburgh after an absolutely wonderful spring break.  So rather than pulling up my socks and going straight to the library to get a start on the plethora of papers I have due.. I will remain in Vacation Fantasy world a little longer, by sharing my trip with all you lovely folks.
First stop on my trip was Berlin, so logically, the first blog post will be about it.
Our flight left from rainy Edinburgh bright and early in the morning, honestly the flight was a bit of a blur, until we stumbled off the ryanair flight, into the bright sunshine of Berlin.  Blinking and confused, I stared up into the sky, what is that yellow sphere in the sky, they don't have one of those in Scotland!
We started the first day by getting orientated to the city.  Wandering around, deliriously happy in the sunshine

The TV tower was built on the East Side of Berlin to prove how technologically advanced it was.  Looking at it is like watching old sci-fi movies about the future.  So cheesy! I have to admit though, I frequently caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye and thought I had been magically been transported back to Toronto.

The recently built Holocaust memorial.  The ground inside is uneven, it is very disorienting to walk through.

Ilya and I deep inside the Holocaust memorial.

Beautiful circular facade to the building... Obviously meant for climbing in.  Actually harder than it looked, this photo is taken seconds before I slid back down to the bottom!

Me, Zoya, Rhianna, Kelly, Alex and Ilya in front of the Brandenburg Gate

Our walking tour guide told us that the statue on top of the Gate was taken back to Paris by Napoleon when he captured Berlin.  When the Germans got it back, they adjusted the statue so that the face stares straight at the French Embassy (also located in this square).  A little ironic considering...

Reichstag, the German Parliament buildings.  Unfortunately we couldn't get in, due to heightened security concerns.  Apparently there are great views of both the surrounding city and the German politicians working underneath.  And I guess the German politicians get a nice view up the girls' skirts? Very strange.

Monument in front of the Reichstag

We (Rhianna and Kelly pictured here) were pretty exchausted from our travels.  Took a quick break in front of the Altes museum.  May have fallen asleep on the grass while being serenaded by a violinist.  Hard life I lead.

Altes Museum, designed by Karl Frederich Schinkel, architectural history class did indeed come in handy while travelling.

Humpty Dumpty!

Neue Nationalgalerie where we spent the afternoon.

We went to this open air art gallery that was described in our guidebook as the "sistene chapel of street art." I kept peering into corners looking for Banksy, but unfortunately I could not find a trace of him.  It was a really cool area, all the shacks held collections by individual artists for sale.  Everything in the area was artwork.

It was clearly not a tourist place, it was a great gathering place, with live music and everything!

We wanted to fit in so, of course, got our giant German beer on in the Beer Garden. 

Check-point Charlie.  Apparently, it is about as historically accurate as Disney land.  Also, the photos of the soldiers are incredibly creepy! Stares at you no matter where you are standing.

Memorial to the Nazi Book burning.  Inside there is empty bookshelves with enough room to house all the books that were burnt.

Next day, we headed to the East Side Gallery to see the famed murals.

Rhianna and I were definitely enjoying the Murals!

This mural instantly reminded me of the Canadian flag, so I thought we should try to create it.  Conversation between Rhianna and I - "you go in front you're short" "No you go in front you're red!" I personally think it is patriotic masterpiece.

Me again getting overexcited by all things Canadian.  Perhaps I have been away too long.

I think this was the exact moment that my repressed Montreal hipster re-emerged. Please view ironically.

Beer Garden Break day 2 - Kelly, Katie and Zoya

 Berlin was a beautiful, if broke, city.  Unlike any other major European city I have been too.  It is defined by its continually changing city scape and, needless to say, constant construction.  All the buildings were very modern and crisp.  The metro system was fabulous, it was so nice to be in a place that assumed its citizens were totally rational, and then build a subway based on rational principles! So simple to figure out!!
From Berlin, I headed back to Edinburgh to rest up for two nights before starting on the much longer leg of my journey, which you will hear about in no time!
Goodbye for now,
the Sheepish traveller