Berlin Day 3 Germany

Stay: Berlin as per last night

We had another full day riding around Berlin.
Our niece, Sally had suggested a visit to a bunker located at the Gesundbrunnen Subway Station. The information on their website (Berliner Unterwelten),  said tickets could only be purchased on the day. We arrived at 9am when the office opened and chose one of the four tours on offer at 11am for €11 ea

In the mean time we decided to ride down to the Berlin Wall Memorial. It extends for 1.4km along Bernauer Strasse with information displays about when the wall went up here and how it divided families and how people escaped to the west....jumping out of windows and through man made tunnels. 

We looked at the Chapel of Reconciliation bells being rung. 

There used to be a beautiful church here but it was in the East side where religion was not tolerated. Never the less it had stood here until it was torn down in 1985 because it had become a symbol of the West. 

Near the museum that what free to visit and had some great information and a viewing platform, was a preserved section of the wall and watch tower. 

By now it was time to ride back for the bunker tour. We were taken through a metal green door in the subway wall into one of over 1,000 air raid shelters Hitler had built. It was very interesting ... the shelters were always overcrowded, they had candles to check oxygen levels  in the rooms, which had iridescent paint so when there was a blackout people could still see doorways and signs to reduce panic, a couple of rooms were completely iridescent so that officials could see better. Women had to remove the rubble from the city. What could not be reused was placed in piles with soil creating new hills or making hills taller. We saw part of the 4000km air pipe postal network used throughout Berlin. We learnt why Berlin smells so bad due to the sewer system being designed too big (for a population of 7m, there is only 3.5m) and so there is not enough water flushing it out!

After 90min we were back out and riding down to Hackesche Hofe which is well known for its 8 courtyards.

 From here we rode to Museum Island and had a walk around the very impressive buildings. There is the biggest granite bowl in the world. 

We strolled through the art market and bought a crazy wind ornament. Out next stop was Gendarmenmarkt where the German and French cathedrals and Concert House sit in lovely harmony. 

Now it was time to test out a new beer at one of the many establishment around this area. 

As we rode towards our meeting place with Sally we had another brief stop to read some information boards at Checkpoint Charlie.
We spent a pleasant couple of hours chatting with Sally and some of her friends before we were on our bikes riding back to Bluey through the streets of Berlin for the last time. Its truly been a great city to visit esp. by bike.

Nice vibe where we met up with Sally.

Might be the only way to visit Berlin!

This band from Switzerland liked the B logo on Mark's hat as it was the same design as theirs. One of them gave Mark their pin!