I have a HORRIBLE memory espicially when it comes to things like massive Eurotrips. So, I maintained a notebook of times, memories and locations through out our trip. Although looking back on the notes...Very very few of them actually make sense to me.
It all started on a normal sunny day at the barracks in Grafenwohr, Germany. Me, Wade, and Jon were all loaded into the Citroen C4 Picasso edition. Which earned the nickname of "the Fish" due to it's ugly fish like appearance. We left right at 1300 heading up north with plans to stop in Dresden for the night.
(The view from the back of the Fish)
Around 1520 we officially hit Eastern Germany. Wow. It's hard to believe that this place ever fully recovered from Communist rule. It certainly doesn't look it. I have a note here about "Canadian Meat". I'm not quite sure what I mean by that, but Wade is Canadian.
At 2030 we finally got to our reserved hostel and room after having dinner and walking around. Neither the above or below photo are it by the way...
(A government building of some sort)
(Downtown Dresden, or close to it at least)
So what else is better to do when touring Europe? Go out and drink of course! Two of my very close friends and colleagues, Terry and Derek left Grafenwohr a few hours after we did to come up and party with us. It was one of their last nights in Germany. (Have fun in Afghanistan brothers, I'll see you soon.) We started drinking and bar hopping. Of course, someone found the gay bar called Queens. It had neon lighting, so of course it drew a few drunks attention. We were disputing going in, when we asked the bouncer if Queens was in fact a gay bar. He answered yes. This didn't stop Derek or Jon from entering based on the fact that "The gays pour strong drinks". I can't make this stuff up. After arguing with Terry about whether we should go in or not for a few minutes, we decided to act very manly and try our best not to get hit on.
The memories from the rest of the night vary. Everything from Jon and Derek pole dancing, to Wade screaming "LISTEN UP FAGGOTS"...All of course, while still in the gay bar.
I woke up the next morning with a note written in my book (in Jon's strangely girlish handwriting):
"Dear Diary:
As i lay here this night...(After drinking heavily with the boys).. I contemplate my thoughts on gay bars. Are they really so bad? Then I remember what Jon told me about sucking dick. Was it time? Was it my annual re-cert? I couldn't remember. All i know is that I am going to be with the shop's sexiest team leader..And I just may get lucky. In Amsterdam? Brussels? Normandy? I dont know but I like it."
We went out for breakfast to the American Embassy (McDonalds) and then continued the trek north.
Around 1600 we finished at a massive tank museum (Pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2182982&id=60711296 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2188315&id=60711296 )
1800: We approach Berlin. And of course, there is some sort of nuclear waste protest. It didn't quite translate, and I've heard two different stories of it since.
(Panning @ 16mm oh yes)
We continued the drive down the main drag. This city is incredible. If your a reader who hasn't been there...Drop what you are doing and book a flight. Having so much history and culture surrounding you is an unbelievable feeling. Only in Europe.
Waking up early when I'm on vacation was a truly odd feeling. But at least I was rewarded with Starbucks and Dunkin' Doughnuts. We went about 40 minutes outside of Berlin to a Luftwaffe museum. Which was incredible to say the least. A massive collection of planes and helicopters. Everything from Mig-29's to Hind 24's. Not to mention a huge collection of ordnance. SA's, nike's...An extensive collection.
From 1300 to approximately 1700 that day, I had experiences I pray I will never forget. We made several stops including the Berlin Wall, Brandenberg Gate, and the Bundestag. Each one of those places deserves its own page dedicated to it. But what really caught me off guard was the Jewish Memorial, built on top of Hitler's bunker, and the former SS headquarters which now holds a memorial site known as "Topographie des Terrors".
The sheer size of the Jewish memorial was unbelievable in a city like Berlin. It was very dry, stone, harsh and industrial. Not pretty or something for the city to be proud of. It's intended to be an eyesore for the people of Berlin. Unfortunately , I'm not a good enough author to be able to put feelings in to words when you enter these places. And frankly, I doubt many can. You have to see it to believe it. And my photography can not do either of these places justice. You absolutely have to see them in person.
(Brandenberg Gate)
(Berlin Mauer 1961-1989)
(About 200m of the wall left standing. Save Our Planet)
(Jewish memorial)
We spent the rest of the day walking literally all around Berlin. The city is incredibly clean. Despite being in a few shady parts of town, at no point did I feel at all threatened.
(Outside an art collective somewhere in Berlin)
We spent yet another night in our hostel. Then woke up very very early on Monday, and made the long drive back down to Grafenwohr.
Overall...The "North" section of our trip was incredible. I was 100% positive that the rest of Europe would stack up to what I found in Germany. I was 100% correct.
Untill next post.
-Adam
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