Germany - Altenburg - Dresden - Berlin

We camped the first night in Germany. The proprieter and his helper were half sozzled when we arrived and started giving me a hard time about my New Zealand accent and the Italian number plates on the car. So I told them I stole the car and did they want my money or not; as my euros were as good as anyone's. We got along fine after that! Cheeky shits! Needless to stay we are camping down the end of the camp away from the office. 

By the way Jim and I have defined roles on this trip, Jim is driving and navigation, I'm communications, food and cash., oh and snacks in the car; Jemma you will appreciate the importance of snacks.

3rd - 4th June 2014

We have arrived in Berlin later in the day, so after finding accommodation we went for a walk. We made our way up the avenue to the Brandenburg Gate, it was early evening and the gate was lite up by lights and I think looked better in the evening than in the day time, we wandered around the square, a few people wandering about but not the frenzy of the day time. These cities are also set up for bikes and have dedicated cycle ways everywhere, hence lots of cyclists even in the evening.

A big day walking around the main areas of Berlin, first to the Berlin Wall Memorial; there are several areas where you can see and read about different aspects of the 'Wall' its history. Where it has been dismantled there are pavers set in the street to show where it was. We also stopped at the National Natural Museum, from Marisa's recommendation.

The next stop was 'Checkpoint Charlie', the  old American checkpoint between east and west. We then visited the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe, which has a memorial called the Fields of Stelae; above ground, and a exhibition below it underground.  The Topography of Terror, exhibition is next to part of the Wall and it has info panels and also an exhibition room too view.  I am unsure how to express what I thought about both of these exhibitions; thought provoking, anger, and such sadness and how incredulously such things went on. Lessons have surly been learnt. Both displays were very well presented however and I would recommend them for a visit.   

After being quite exhausted we opted for a hop on hop off bus to see further afield and have a bit of a rest and stayed on for the whole tour. They are quite good value and you get your bearings in the city and a look at attractions you might not necessarily walk too. We saw many palaces, churches, museums, government buildings... all very impressive in their own right. 

There is heaps to see and do in Berlin and it seems a very well organised city. We have found it easy to navigate around and you could stay here a week easily, however other places to see, so we farewell Berlin reluctantly. 

http://happyhostelberlin.de/

A great place to stay in Berlin, cheap and very clean, lovely team of two sisters who are owner operators. 

It gets light in the morning at about 4.30 am and dark as late as 9.45ish, quite annoying in the morning if you haven't got shutters or if we are in the tent. 

We are thoroughly enjoying the food here and in the other countries, lovely bakeries, deli food, and plenty of fruit & veges stalls everytwhere.  The beer and wines not bad either.