A few hours of sight-seeing in Berlin

So, after spending the morning dealing with some after-effects of work, I thought that I would rest my eyes for a few minutes. Well, that few minutes turned into...4 hour nap. I am just that awesome. So then I was sitting down in the lounge with a couple of my co-workers and I see a kid in the soccer jersey of my high school. Turns out, I went to high school with his older sister and my little sister went to school with his little brother. Its a small friggin world.

Anywho, we went out to dinner at the Sony Center. It was pretty good, I had a pretzel and apple strudel. Both were awesome. We also did a little bit of sightseeing, however I plan on doing most of that tomorrow. We walked around a little bit and went to the Topographie des Terror, it is an original part of the Berlin Wall, and it is built right where the Gestapo Headquarters building was (we bombed the shit outta that place during the war). There is only a little bit left of the building, mostly foundation.  After that we went to Checkpoint Charlie. I got a picture right where my mother got one when she was here (that was when the checkpoint was still active, but still, pretty cool. I also took a picture of part of the wall with a giant Ipad billboard behind it, on what would be the East German side. Lot of progress in twenty years. Allright, here are some pictures.

Here is the wall at the Topographie Des Terror. I like this one because it makes the wall look like it goes on forever. Kind of like it did originally.

An American Flag painted on the West German side of the wall. I am sure this was a later addition, but it is still symbolic of what an effort the Cold War really was.

Checkpoint Charlie. From the East German side.

Your final warning before entering Soviet Territory. Obviously that new high-rise wasn't there during the time of the Wall.

Just to accent that point; look at the IPad billboard on the East German side of the wall. This is at Pottsdamer Platz.

Last but not least is the Sony Center. Its kinda indoors, kinda not. It reminded me of the British Museum with the roof the way it is. Pretty corporate and stuff but a neat building.

Well everyone, that is my first day of sightseeing in Berlin. Granted it was for about two hours and dinner, but tomorrow I will see some cool stuff. Oh, I had awesome bratwurst for lunch. Just sayin'.

Flight to Berlin

So here I go again. I am traveling for the 3rd time in as many weeks. I have spent three days with my wife out of the last thirty. We did go on vacation, but it was with family...so...It was still nice though. It was just not as relaxing as I had hoped. But; going on vacation straight off of travel is difficult too, so all in all I will take what I can get.


So, I took today off work in order to clean up around the house and make sure I was ready for this trip. I also watched the third season of 'The Wire' but that is neither here nor there. Anyway, I saw my wife for a few minutes, we took some shots, and then I hopped in the cab. Here is the first gripe (not really anything bad, just a damn-it-moment) I booked through United, so logic would dictate to me that I need to check in at United. Regular can of 'Baky you say? No says I! I wait in line, then get told to check in on Lufthansa. I admit that one is probably more my fault for being a dumbass, but I had some drinks in me and whatever. So then something which has never ever happened to me on any of the hundreds of flights I have been on. I got the center row to myself on a flight over 45 minutes long. I was passed out in um about 10 seconds flat.


That flight was pretty good. I watched Clash of the Titans. I enjoyed it, but I feel the 7" screen I watched it on left something to be desired. Also, stupid headphone jacks, I had to use the airline's and they hurt my ears.  Oh, by the way, that flight left about 45 minutes late, so I barely made my connection. I mean, I am already the Ugly-American, and now after running through Munich Int'l, I am also the Smelly-American. No pictures of anything, my phone isn't working and I haven't had a chance to Skype yet. I am pretty pissed about that, I should have a working phone, but none of my sims seem to have the correct frequency. I will have to buy one, hopefully here at at Berlin they have a little phone store or whatever. This post is a little bit more rambly than usual, I do apologize, but we are in turbulence, I need to pee, and I really need a cigarette.


So, That is about it for now. For my Mrs B: I hope all is well and I love and miss you very much. I will get this post up and hopefully re-establish comms once I get to the hotel.