July 30 - Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

Wow, Berlin, Germany was not what I was expecting. They are a live and let live society. An example is you can drink, or sunbathe nude anywhere in the city and marijuana is now legal (although it isn't sold in the city). You can't text and drive and seatbelts are the law. Basically if it doesn't cause others harm, then let them be. They don't share their politics with anyone and there is no personal campaigning. And best of all, major corporations don't contribute to specific parties or candidates. I may have to consider moving here

Yes, there was part of the Berlin wall throughout the city. This part of the wall was at the corner of Zimmerstrafze and Wilhelmstrafze. They put up poles to depict where the wall continued

The wall was actually made up of multiple walls.

Backing up a little; we took a train from the port at Warnemunde to Berlin. Much better than a bus. And the Berlin train station is HUGE! Four stories tall.

When we got to Berlin we started touring around. I was disappointed to find out Checkpoint Charlie is a fake. It no longer exists, and an entrepreneur constructed a facsimile and now it's a tourist attraction, right next to McDonalds.

The Glienicke Bridge, became known as "Bridge of Spies", Because it was a restricted conduit between East and West where exchange of prisoners were conducted. Today, the bridge serves as a  river crossing for pedestrians & vehicles.

We went to the Brandenburg Gate. It is an 18th century neoclassical monument, built from 1788 to 1791, by orders of King Frederick William of Prussia. 

The visit to the Victims Memorial was very moving. It is made up of concrete slabs of different shapes and sizes to commemorate ALL victims of the Wars

War Victims Shrine. A mother holding her folded up dead son.

We went to the plaza where the infamous 'Book Burning' occurred

We also saw some other monuments and a fountain

A single church

A Jewish synagogue

And of course took a break for lunch (drinks)

There were very few buildings left after the war, because most were bombed. Here is the remnants of a church.

And there were a couple of bunkers still around. Easier to leave then demo.

After the war, they rebuilt and the architecture is still grand.

And we drove by the "Handicapped" memorial - the Blue Transparent wall

Residences

85% of the residence live in apartments

Downtown

 Cool Structures

You can tell it was a long day - 12 hours! We headed back to the ship via the train. And when we got back we found out we needed to set our clock an hour ahead.

Thank Goodness, tomorrow is a sea day