Berlin Day 21 (5 August)
Last day in Berlin. Did favourite walk alongside Berlin Zoo into the Tiergarten, up to Victory column, Brandenburg Gate and down Unter den Linden. Headed into the Spandau suburb in the district of Mitte. An area called Scheunenviertel which we learnt was where barns were built to store all the hay for the then cattle markets in the Alexander Platz. The hay and straw was ordered to be stored outside the city walls because of the risk of fire. Also the Jews who wanted to settle in Berlin were ordered to settle in this area.
Hadn't meant to do a Jewish historical tour but we found ourselves outside the oldest Jewish cemetery in Berlin. Opened in 1672. Not much left as was used as an air raid shelter during WWII and the gravestones were used to line the shelter's walls. Then a number of non-Jewish casualties were also buried there. Very heavy police presence around there as also discovered a Jewish high school had re-opened next door. Impressive security gates and number of police. Was apparently used as a holding pen for Jews set for deportation during WWII. Also not surprisingly came across a flurry of stumbling stones for Jewish people. I even managed to see these ones. Also found a very old garrison cemetery dating from the 1700's nearby. Interesting old area.
Also walked around an area called Hackescher Hof. Very trendy or hipster I guess. Lots of ártisan' style shops. Looked to be some very nice restaurants/cafes where perhaps we could have found some less touristy heavy German meals. Before we entered this area we had a coffee (and I ate some delicious hummus on very fresh sourdough) overlooking the River Spree and Bode Museum. Lovely looking museum on Museum Island.
And came across a Rosa Luxemburg a fair bit in the Mitte area. Caught a train from a U bahn station named after her, walked down her street and there were plaques in the street with I think quotes from her. Found out she was basically an anti-war Communist and was killed by the the German Government in 1919 - thrown into one of the canals after she was shot. She became some sort of heroine for the Communists in East Berlin. Pretty sure we read about her in the German History Museum but our minds are a bit full of many new facts and thoughts at the moment.
Was good to see another area of Berlin before we leave. Back to hotel in afternoon to re-pack bags for Easyjet flight tomorrow.
Hadn't meant to do a Jewish historical tour but we found ourselves outside the oldest Jewish cemetery in Berlin. Opened in 1672. Not much left as was used as an air raid shelter during WWII and the gravestones were used to line the shelter's walls. Then a number of non-Jewish casualties were also buried there. Very heavy police presence around there as also discovered a Jewish high school had re-opened next door. Impressive security gates and number of police. Was apparently used as a holding pen for Jews set for deportation during WWII. Also not surprisingly came across a flurry of stumbling stones for Jewish people. I even managed to see these ones. Also found a very old garrison cemetery dating from the 1700's nearby. Interesting old area.
Also walked around an area called Hackescher Hof. Very trendy or hipster I guess. Lots of ártisan' style shops. Looked to be some very nice restaurants/cafes where perhaps we could have found some less touristy heavy German meals. Before we entered this area we had a coffee (and I ate some delicious hummus on very fresh sourdough) overlooking the River Spree and Bode Museum. Lovely looking museum on Museum Island.
And came across a Rosa Luxemburg a fair bit in the Mitte area. Caught a train from a U bahn station named after her, walked down her street and there were plaques in the street with I think quotes from her. Found out she was basically an anti-war Communist and was killed by the the German Government in 1919 - thrown into one of the canals after she was shot. She became some sort of heroine for the Communists in East Berlin. Pretty sure we read about her in the German History Museum but our minds are a bit full of many new facts and thoughts at the moment.
Was good to see another area of Berlin before we leave. Back to hotel in afternoon to re-pack bags for Easyjet flight tomorrow.
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