The Last Day

Posted on by Jon

The last day of such a wonderful trip is always a sad time! (Original day: 12/8/2023). So we tried to make the most of it! Unfortunately, our timing was a bit off, as during this day there was a city wide employee strike on the Straßenbahns, meaning most all of the main public transportation all across the city was completely shut down. (Subways and busses still ran normally, but don’t quite have the same reach and convenience of the S-Bahns.)

The day started off similar to last night for me, with a walk with my mom to see the mighty Brandenburg Gate. We passed through and walked down the street a little bit to do some shopping and hung out in the big square around the gate. We walked over and stood in front of the famed Adlon Hotel for a bit and saw an interesting sight. As we stood there, all the taxis were being removed from the area, and after a bit, a non-descript car pulled up in front. Out of the car, came who could only be described as some leader or General from Africa. He showed up in a vibrant green dress uniform decorated in all kinds of badges, and had a security and assistant entourage all around him, and he made his way into the hotel.

We then decided, since we couldn’t take the train, to take a taxi to the main Berlin market at Alexanderplatz. However, it didn’t open until 12 noon, so we spent some time waiting in the nearby gothic St. Mary’s Church, built at the end of the 1200’s. Soon enough noon came and we went through the market doing our last bits of travel shopping! After wandering around for a while, we finally decided it was best to head back to the hotel to begin packing up to head home! Sad times!

However, in the evening, there was still some free time and I intended to make the most of it, and visit another market! I took a ride on one of the thankfully still running subway trams west, over towards the old Breitscheid Platz, site of the famous bombed out Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. There was a lovely and wonderful Christmas Market set up here with a very wonderful atmosphere. Along some steps leading up the the church were some candles and pictures of individuals. This Christmas Market was the site of a brutal terrorist attack in 2016, where 12 were killed when a terrorist drove a stolen truck into a crowd of people enjoying the market. However there seemed to be only joy and happiness this time around.

Finally I made my own way back to finish out the last night of such a wonderful trip! As always I hope to be back soon!

The S-Bahn at Potsdamer Platz. Normally busy, bustly and hectic at all hours of the day, the trains were stopped, and everywhere was dead quiet.
S-Bahn from GDL Strike affected.
No transportation at this station.
Please use alternative methods of transportation.
Along the same path as previous night, the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe. To the right of the screen is a small section of apartment buildings, (hidden behind the bus) That is the site of the infamous former Führerbunker, and spot where a certain Austrian dictator killed himself in the closing days of the way.
The Victory Column, a monument to Soviet Soldiers from WW2, a long long ways down.
Inside the Palace Market once again.
A monument to German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, founders of the Marxist and Communist ideology. Found near the central plaza.
Inside St. Mary’s Church. It doesn’t look too special from the outside.
Entrance to main Berlin market. Many markets had heavy vehicle barriers and entrance blockers.
“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a freeman, I take pride in the words: I am a Berliner!” -John F. Kennedy, a plaque in the ground in the Berlin Mall. There is a belief that he made a gaffe speaking this line, stating that he is literally a jelly donut called a Berliner, but that is not actually true. What he said is actually acceptable to say by someone from Berlin.
German Harry Potter! Even though these are in English.
The Market at Breitscheid Platz.
The memorial to some of the victims. There was a hidden crack – the golden crack on the runs a good distance looking like the ground has been torn.

Auf wiedersehen!

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