Sat we started with a early morning hike for Helen and I up to the top of Victoria park which is actually quite a large hill from which you can see Berlin in all directions.
We then went to meet the other girls for Breakfast on the Bergmanstrasse and then set off into town walking from former west into the east, past checkpoint charley and down Unter den Linden past the museums, and Dom up to Alexanderplatz (checking out bike rentals for the next day) and back towards Kreuzberg for some dinner and to meet friends of Nadzyra's before heading out to a party that Jens and Susanne told us about.
Dinner ended quite late and we got to the end of the train stop to realize there were no more buses or trains in that end of town. So we walked, stopping for beers and such along the way. It was a pretty interesting walk, and we only got lost once. Finally arriving at the Ehemaliges Rundfunkgelaende, which translates to the former Eastern German radio and television buildings . And it was a cool spot as well. The part was held partly inside and partly out with the former bar and marble grand floors and stairs. Pretty neat. We stayed a few hours and then headed back to Andreas's for some sleep.
Sunday we rented bikes from Alex Bike Rentals and took the tour. down the Unter den Linden, under the Brandenburg Gate, past the Reichstag and then through the Tiergarten to the Victory Colum and climbed to the top.. to a even better view.
Back through the tiergarten stopping at the new Jewish Monument before stopping for another coffee at Starbucks and back to drop off two of the bikes.
We stopped at the Dom and Contemporary Art exhibit and climbed over the E=MC2 before taking a daring move and doubling Nadz on my handlebars and Mary on the back of Helen's. It was also quite a cool adventure. We went back for some great food at a fantastic vegetarian place on Meringdam.
Helen and Nadzy had to leave early in the morning but Mary and I had another couple of days to hang out. So after breakfast the next day we took the bikes along the Spree into the east again as I had never been through that part of the city. It was really neat. Then we ended up back near Prenzlauerberg and finally dropping the bikes off at Alexanderplatz again. After which we walked back towards Andreas's and met Jens and Susanne for dinner at the same vegetarian place as the night before; the food is that good!
On the Tuesday we just hung about walking even more through the city and taking in the sights.
It was a great weekend and so nice to know I have some really fantastic friends who are just so lovely. Thanks girls.
