Berlin (08/07 - 10/07)

Well, our trip officially started on the 7th of July, but we weren't in Berlin until the next day... took an overnight train from St gallen to Munich and then to Berlin...
The day we left, we had one last dinner with Daisy, Jern and Leslie... the rest were either gone for their travelling or gone home... so sad... met Belle at the train station... gald she was there to sent us off... it will be the last time we see each other in St gallen... the next time we see each other is when they come over to sg... hopefully they will come in dec... hopefully it won't clash with the time when i go to austrialia to see Xn's graduation...
It was a tearful farewell... so sad to see them crying....

well the train to munich then to berlin was nice and comfy... but i couldn't slp much... knowing me... a light slper and stuff...i din really slp much.... i think the shiying slpt the most...as usual. She can slp on any type of transportation as long as its moving.... i was telling her to pass some of her piggy-ness to me so that i could get enought rest...
Well, we reach Berlin safe and sound and very tired, checked ourselves into the hostel and started sight-seeing...
The main reason why we started our trip from Berlin was because we want to catch the WC finals... the atmosphere was great... and we managed to buy some WC souveniors that were on discount...

Fernsehturm (TV Tower0| World Clock| Belbelplatz| Charlie Checkpoint| Berlin Wall
Alexendar Platz| A square with commentaring WC| Belmer Dom
A drain cover on the floor showing places of interest in Berlin| Belmer Dom | Holoucast memorial| Belbelplatz

Belbelplatz was having an exhibition of world bears... its similar to the one in St Gallen... with lots of bears painted to represent each country... there was no Singapore bear though... and he was my favourite bear:

We saw all the above on the first day... had a gd and cheap meal... roasted chicken (1/2 of it) with fries and a bottle of Coke for 4.5o euros... not bad..was very filling but the shop was quite out of the way... but to save money... since we have a 3 day pass... we went to have dinner there 2 days in a row...
Caught the world cup third place match at a pub near-by... after germany scored the first goal... the boss treated all his customers a free shot... it was all in small bottles... nothing much... but one could see how much they love their country... and how they celebrate their victory in WC....

Next day... saw the East Side Gallery.... a 300m of berlin wall covered with graffitti... it was an effort to stop the government from tearing down the wall and to preserve history.... and the most famous picture on the wall is this:

It shows the two man kissing... symbolising peace and unity i think... it was the two heads then.. head of east and west germany I think... can't be sure... too bad there are too many vandolism on it now... there are many more other nice pics on the wall too...


The whole day on the street, fans of italy and france were celebrating cheering and jeering at each other.... We went down to the Olympic stadium... the place where the match was going to take place to get a feel of the atmosphere.... lots of pple want tickets to the show... and there were a few black markets around... think 1 ticket can go up to a few thousand euros...

Japanese supporters of Italy
Human Italy Flag
Cute way of asking for tickets

Fanfest areana: the place to catch live screening of the WC match... lots of pple here

Had to go back early to the hostel after seeing the match at Fanfest... need to wake up early to catch a train to Frankfurt and a plane to Venice... coming up.... entry to Venice

P.S. Saw a few Singaporeans in Berlin... one even asked..." Are you from Singapore?" Must be my accent... was talking to xuan and shiying before tt.... Haiz... is our accent tt recongnisable?
And Shiying ordered beer while watching the match at the pub... but i can't blame her... beer is cheaper than water here...