Around 2:30 p.m. Max and I made our way to Stanstead Airport. After sitting in about three hours of traffic, we finally got to the airport with about an hour and a half to spare. I had been really worried that we weren't going to make it to our flight on time. I insisted to Max that we leave, at 1 as opposed to 2:30 p.m. but he reassured me that we would have plenty of time. Sure enough we got through check ins and security in under a half hour. It was a much more relaxed airport in comparison to the intensive process one has to go through at Logan Airport in Boston.
When we boarded the plane it was via tarmac. It was a very small jet, a Boeing 737 to be exact. The flight itself was very entertaining. I have been considering going to Scotland or Ireland, and I asked the people next to me about their opinions on the matter. As it turned out the man was from Scotland and the woman from Ireland. They got into a heated debate as to which country was better. On top of this they were both drama teachers so to some extent, I thought they were being a little to mellow dramatic about the subject. However, I have been told that Scotland and Ireland hold some sort of grudge against each other. I am not sure which one I will go to or if I will go to either. We then talked about various other topics such as politics, other travel destinations and hobbies. I really enjoyed being in their company.
Getting through the border in Germany was a piece of cake. Never have I ever gone through a border crossing with such ease. Usually I am asked how long I will be staying in the country, where I will be staying, who I will be with and what will I be doing. However, I simply showed my passport and thirty seconds later I was through.
Max and I then hopped into a taxi to our hotel. In the main lobby there was a very interesting painting on the wall. There were various famous sights painted throughout, including the Brandenburg Gate the Reichstag and the River Spree. Alongside these sights were various people dressed in various types of clothing. Some of the people were in heavier winter jackets, were as others were in short sleeves and shorts. It was just very interestingly laid out and well done.
The room itself was nothing special. It was two beds, a desk, a bathroom, two chairs and a tele. The room smelt pretty bad, it smelt very old and musty.
Then it was off to a late dinner at a traditional German restaurant. I ordered a currywurst, this is a sausage with curry sauce, tomato sauce and various other spices. It wasn't all that bad to be honest, I would not mind trying another one some time. I also ordered a German Beer known as a Koenig Pilsener, it tasted wonderful.
Next, we made a spur of the moment decision to walk to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Granted it was midnight, but who cares????
As we made our way towards the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, not a single soul was around. It felt very strange walking alone in such a quiet city. It felt like it was a scene in an zombie apocalypse movie and at any moment the zombies would pop out of nowhere!!! Okay... maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration....but still it was a very mystic experience.
The first stop was the Brandenburg Tor and it was by far one of the most impressive pieces of architecture, I have ever seen:
The night was still with not a single soul to be heard or found...
I could only hear the sound of my own breath, slowly breathing in and out.
Standing erect before me was the Brandenburg Gate.
It had a sense of mystic power to it.
It was a power of captivation and it gave me a chill down my back.
I rested my hand upon the stone of the gate.
I could feel the cold stone send a shiver up my back.
The stone itself was worn from age in certain sections, yet it was still smooth as a sleek table.
As I walked through the gate itself, I was overcome with an indescribable emotion, almost like a quintessential experience, one of which I will never forget.
About a block away was the Reichstag. We walked around the building till we could see the whole building from a distance. I have some family heritage that roots back to Germany and to see the magnificent Reichstag made me proud to say that I have German heritage.
By the time we got back to the hotel room it was 3am. Granted we were both absolutely exhausted from the day and passed out as soon as we got back. But was it worth it??? Most definitely.
When we boarded the plane it was via tarmac. It was a very small jet, a Boeing 737 to be exact. The flight itself was very entertaining. I have been considering going to Scotland or Ireland, and I asked the people next to me about their opinions on the matter. As it turned out the man was from Scotland and the woman from Ireland. They got into a heated debate as to which country was better. On top of this they were both drama teachers so to some extent, I thought they were being a little to mellow dramatic about the subject. However, I have been told that Scotland and Ireland hold some sort of grudge against each other. I am not sure which one I will go to or if I will go to either. We then talked about various other topics such as politics, other travel destinations and hobbies. I really enjoyed being in their company.
Getting through the border in Germany was a piece of cake. Never have I ever gone through a border crossing with such ease. Usually I am asked how long I will be staying in the country, where I will be staying, who I will be with and what will I be doing. However, I simply showed my passport and thirty seconds later I was through.
Max and I then hopped into a taxi to our hotel. In the main lobby there was a very interesting painting on the wall. There were various famous sights painted throughout, including the Brandenburg Gate the Reichstag and the River Spree. Alongside these sights were various people dressed in various types of clothing. Some of the people were in heavier winter jackets, were as others were in short sleeves and shorts. It was just very interestingly laid out and well done.
The room itself was nothing special. It was two beds, a desk, a bathroom, two chairs and a tele. The room smelt pretty bad, it smelt very old and musty.
Then it was off to a late dinner at a traditional German restaurant. I ordered a currywurst, this is a sausage with curry sauce, tomato sauce and various other spices. It wasn't all that bad to be honest, I would not mind trying another one some time. I also ordered a German Beer known as a Koenig Pilsener, it tasted wonderful.
Next, we made a spur of the moment decision to walk to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Granted it was midnight, but who cares????
As we made our way towards the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, not a single soul was around. It felt very strange walking alone in such a quiet city. It felt like it was a scene in an zombie apocalypse movie and at any moment the zombies would pop out of nowhere!!! Okay... maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration....but still it was a very mystic experience.
The first stop was the Brandenburg Tor and it was by far one of the most impressive pieces of architecture, I have ever seen:
The night was still with not a single soul to be heard or found...
I could only hear the sound of my own breath, slowly breathing in and out.
Standing erect before me was the Brandenburg Gate.
It had a sense of mystic power to it.
It was a power of captivation and it gave me a chill down my back.
I rested my hand upon the stone of the gate.
I could feel the cold stone send a shiver up my back.
The stone itself was worn from age in certain sections, yet it was still smooth as a sleek table.
As I walked through the gate itself, I was overcome with an indescribable emotion, almost like a quintessential experience, one of which I will never forget.
By the time we got back to the hotel room it was 3am. Granted we were both absolutely exhausted from the day and passed out as soon as we got back. But was it worth it??? Most definitely.
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