Saturday May 23: Reichstag and travel to Dresden

We ended our time in Berlin with a trip to the Reichstag before getting on our first intercity train to Dresden.

The first time we visited the Gate of Brandenburg as a group, it was pouring rain, we all looked like drowned rats and were all exhausted from our flight.  We decided to NOT get a group picture that time.  This time we look much better.

When Napoleon conquered Berlin, he liked this statue on the top of the gate so much, he took it back to Paris.  It was returned later. I also really like it - but not so much to steal it and take it back to Bluffton. I don’t think it would fit in my carryon.

Next we headed to the Reichstag - the main governmental building in Berlin. It is sort of like the Capitol building in Washington D.C.  In order to get in, you have to submit your passport number and apply ahead of time.  David did this process months ago.  We were given an official time to show up, present our passports, and then had to go through security - similar to what you would go through at an airport.  There was no official tour.  We were herded into an elevator and straight up to the level of the glass dome.  There were audio guides and a map/brochure to help you know what you were looking at.  Leah was very proud that she made it all the way around the top and accurately identified each of the 60ish places on the brochure. (I think she had help, but I’m not sure who all helped her - so I can’t give proper credit to the other scavenger hunt champions.)

This is the dome at the top.  You can walk the long ramp that circles it on the inside all the way to the top.

And then you can crash at the top and take a rest on this surprisingly comfy bench.

The middle of the dome is this giant tower of mirrors.

You can see yourself in the various mirrors.

You can also make fun “selfies” in the mirrors if you position yourself just right.

LOL

After the Reichstag, we picked up our luggage at the hotel and headed for the train station.  This is a holiday weekend in Germany and there was a BIG soccer match between Stuttgart and Munich.  Berlin was full of Stuttgart fans with a big rally by our train station.  We had to navigate our way through this crowd of excited, singing German soccer fans more than once. 

Our train was delayed and then the platform changed, so we all got to learn about how to adjust and interpret train stations, schedules, etc. 

We all made it safely aboard!

I don’t have a photo, but some of the group found a seat in the children’s area and their table had a board game printed on it.  At the end of the day, some of them said that was their favorite part - playing the game for the train ride to Dresden.

In Dresden some of us wandered over to check out an art fair next door to the hotel that was full of pottery.  We didn’t know at the time, but Dresden is famous for its pottery.

This was the best part of the pottery fair! One vendor had thousands of little colored tiles that she made things from - everything from mirrors to trays to frames.  They had a “do-it-yourself” option where you could choose your own tiles and make a little frame.  Some of us tried this and really liked it!  Here is mine.

For supper, we headed to this Indian restaurant- something David tried out on his pre-trip in January and has been looking forward to for months!  We got a little introduction to Indian food and were treated wonderfully by this place!

At the restaurant, you could choose spice levels 1, 2 or 3.  Anyone who ordered a 2 was considered very brave.  The waiter/owner was reluctant to even let anyone try a 2.  But three people in our group braved it: Aiden, Casey and Luke.  Here is Aiden about to try his level 2.  They all declared it great and Luke asked for more spice to kick it up to level 2.5.  I’m happy to report all survived and suffered no harmful effects - at least to my knowledge.  Their roommates might have a different story. :) 

We all went our own way after the restaurant.  David and I enjoyed a walk back to the hotel through the heart of Dresden, getting a little preview of the things we were going to see tomorrow. 

This is a Catholic Church along the river.  Across the street from it were three street performers.  One was singing an Ed Sheeran song, the next was playing the accordion and then two people were singing opera, all within about 100 yards from each other.