Poland, Germany, Denmark......

[hangchoi]

We left Krakow that evening and our next stop was Berlin, Germany. To travel from Berlin by train, normally we should en-route Warsaw as Warsaw has an express train to Berlin for 5 hours, adding 2 hours from Krakow to Berlin, there will be about 8 hours in total.

As we planned our transportation using evening time. We decided to take a longer route by taking an overnight train. We booked a night train from Krakow to Szczecin and got there at early morning about 6:00am. Then we caught other trains to Berlin and arrived there in the morning about 11:00am. This can save up more time for travel and we think this is a good experience to sleep on train. We specifically booked a cabinet for 2 persons so that we can enjoy our privacy. The train was comfortable and clean. Good services too.

Second picture is the Szczecin station.

[hangchoi]

We arrived at Berlin close to noon. After we checked in, we headed to Potsdam, a city at the suburb area of Berlin. A half hour ride of S-Bahn took us to the place with some tourist spots that I wanted to see. We had currywurst (curry sausages) for lunch and then we went to our first spot, Schloss Cecilienhof.

Going to there was a bit inconvenience. You can take bus or tram then walk for 20 minutes, or just on foot for 40 minutes. We of course walked to there as part of the route is in a large park. On the way we took the first picture. When we arrived, we found that Schloss Cecilienhof was under repair, but we can still take some pictures at the entrance. The second picture is the outlook of Schloss Cecilienhof.

The significance of this place is shown on the third picture. If you are familiar with the history, you will know the planter with star was the place for an important meeting during WW2. The fourth picture tells you the details.

[hangchoi]

After the visit, we took another half hour walk to Schloss Sanssouci. If you go to any tour company and look for a tour in Germany, you may see Schloss Sanssouci on their leaflet.

A palace for the King to spend their summer time, this place is like the Versailles in France.

[hangchoi]

Potsdam has its own Brandenburger gate. This one was also under repair. The third picture is the Nauener Tor (New gate), which was rebuilt in 1755. Quite classic, right?

[hangchoi]

The next day we went to a town outside Berlin area, Lutherstadt Wittenberg. There are two Wittenberg in Germany. This one has a prefix Lutherstadt.

We went there very early, merely because the train ticket. The price for the train at 6:20am was 29 Euro for 2, but at 7:20am the price was 39Euro, at 8:20 55 Euro, then 69 Euro at 9:20. They were the same train and all the journey time was 1 hour. Hence we took 6:20 train and arrived there before 8:00am.

We missed the point that that day was the first day of Easter, which meant all the shops were closed. The museums and other tourist spots were still open. So we had a very quiet and silent town there, which you can feel from the following pictures.

[hangchoi]

Visiting this town is all about Martin Luther. The one who started the campagin of Protestant. In 1517, he posted 95 Theses on the church's door to challenge the Catholic Rules at that time. We came to this town to see his history and especially the church that he nailed the theses on.

The first picture was the church, which was rebuilt due to fire. The door that he nailed the theses of course did not exist any more. However, the church had built a new door at the same location and the Ninety-Five Theses was engraved on the metal door. Martin Luther was also buried in this church.

[hangchoi]

We also visited his house and read his history. He was quite wealthy at that time indeed. The first picture is Lutherhaus, i.e. Luther's house. This was a house additionally built on an existing house at that time. So some trace of ruins were found.

He had quite a long time hiding in his house when he was persecuted by Roman Church. He and his friends often had gathering at this house to discuss the church's problem and the third picture showed a handwriting in chalk by his friend.

[hangchoi]

In the afternoon, we started our city tour at Berlin. We took a train from Wittenberg to Potsdam Square (not Potsdam, this station is in Berlin). This is the place where Sony Center is situated. When we exited from the train station, we found a section of Berlin Wall.

Then we walked to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The place needs no introduction as I think all of you would know what it is. I saw someone standing on the concrete block which does not show their respect to the monument. This place also gives me a heavy atmosphere.

[hangchoi]

Waking a few minutes south is the Führerbunker, the bunker of the head of state. That was the bunker that Hilter stayed in the war time. It is now a carpark with a board showing the layout of the bunker. The place where they found the corpse of Hilter has two tall trees.

[hangchoi]

After that we headed to Bebelplatz to revisit the underground library, the place where Hilter organized a book-burning campagin. Underground library is in fact a room underground with white and empty bookselves on the wall. At night a light beam will grow up to the sky. This reminds us how blind they are at WW2.