Berlin: Day 2

Since Carina had a packed day full of seminars,  I was on a solo excursion on my own. She dropped me off at Dima's and from there I walked along the riverside to enjoy the fall colors and then to the East Side Gallery. It's always surreal and weird to be an observe such an historical site in front of you. I've seen it in countless documentaries, textbooks, and news coverages but when you're actually there, it's as if you can actually feel the "history" looming in air. It sounds cliched but I have no better words to described it.

I then stumbled into Central Station to have a bite at none other than Berlin's Famous Currywurst!  It's basically a grilled sausage topped with ketchup and curry powder. Don't forget the side of fries! The ketchup's a bit sweeter than the normal Heins so it goes well with the curry powder on top. Frankly there's much better food to eat in Berlin but this seems to THE must-eat item in town.

Curry Wurst Express 
at Hauptbahnhofs Station
Open: usually 8:00 -23:00 (including Sunday!)


Took a quick stroll around the Berlin Cathedral and into the DDR museum which shows how life was on the West-Soviet dominated Berlin side. It's quite an interesting contrast looking at the everyday life of West Berlin, a country which obviously no longer exists!

DDR Museum: 
Address: Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin Germany
Phone: +49 30 847123731
Open: Monday to Sunday : 10am - 8pm Saturday : 10am - 10pm
Fee: 7 Euros (discount for children, students, seniors) 

The day can't end without shopping. I stopped by at the Tiger shop, a Finnish version of IKEA but only household items. It was big news when it opened in Osaka last year and I've never been. The stationary is so cute wish I bought more for souvenirs. Good thing I'm going to Finland this week to stock up on more!

TIGER Trading GmbH
Wilmersdorfer Str. 117
D-10627 Berlin

I then headed to Arcaden in Potsdamer Platz to do some shopping for winter clothes. The thing that sucks in Switzerland is chain stores such as IKEA, Claires, McDonalds all have a higher sticker price than the rest of Europe. Hence getting out of the country is definitely shopping time for me. I got a worker's jacket at H&M; lightweight perfect for traveling and also good for layering in cold winter.

Wilmerdormer Arcaden
Alte Potsdamer Straße 7, 10785 Berlin, Germany

Phone:+49 30 2559270

Hours: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

One last stop at the blinging Kaufhaus des Westens aka KaDeWe to window shop some beautifully expensive items. It reminded me of Isetan in Japan, a department store I dearly loved during my days in Tokyo.

bling bling caviar!

yummy antipastas

Christmas decorations already

Kaufhaus des Westens 
Address: Tauentzienstraße 21-24, 10789 Berlin, Germany
Open: · 10:00 am – 8:00 pm                                 
Phone: +49 30 21210


Now that I'm a poor graduate student, I couldn't afford to shop till I drop but definitely a good day walking and looking around this beautiful city!




Expenses:
One day ticket -6.3 €
Lunch - 4.5  € I got a curry wurst and fries. They've forgotten my order so went up to complain and they got my a free drink.
Bathroom - 1  € (bathrooms ain't free in this country. The good thing to use in the Central Station is that you get a 0.50 € coupon for eating at one of their restaurants)
Museum - 4  € (EU student discount)