Unexpected adventures - what else :)

So it seems whatever country we visit we encounter surprises on a grand level.   Today in Berlin is the equivalent of the Super Bowl in the US.   Dortman (yellow and black)  and Wolfsburg (green) meet at the Berlin Olympic Stadium (1936).  

So when we went out to take the U Bahn (underground) and S Bahn (above ground) to take the boatride on the Spree River we encountered mobs of fans, many of whom had obviously begun their celebrating early.   The city is also full of police, local and imported. 

On top of that , tomorrow is a huge bicycle race with many streets closed.

                                   Note how full the cars are with passengers at the door

                                                      Had to take this Dortmund fan :)

                                      
                                         Finally we reached the boat dock as it began to rain.

With the amount of beer consumed before the game the local and imported police were everywhere.  The game just ended and I am glad we are safely back in our room.  Wolfsburg won 3 - 1. 



Now pictures from  our boat ride on the River Spree which was part of the dividing line between East and West Berlin. When we got on the boat it began to rain so we had to sit inside downstairs BUT in about 10 minutes the sky cleared and we were able to go up o the open deck.

                                    Pictures on the left are from the former East Berlin.

 This TV tower is the highest structure in Germany.  The East was very proud of having constructed it.  There is a restaurant at the level of the "ball".   Interestingly a nearby church cast a shadow on the silver ball in the shape of a cross which people called "The Pope's revenge".

                                                    The old next to .....

                                                                        The new

                                      The Catholic Cathedral on the East side of the Spree

     This was the largest synagogue in Europe and escaped the bombing ironically

 This (in the East) was described as the home of the  Catholic Military Bishop during the years of division. Not sure what that means.

 These memorials are scattered throughout Berlin in memory of those who died trying to escape through the Wall.

                                 Nursery school for the children of government employees.

 The World Cultural building the US gave Germany - picture taken from the water

One of the 1200 unique bridges in Berlin.  You can take a 3 hour boat ride under many of them

                    How is THAT for a railroad station!  Berlins main Haupbahnhof.  Trains come in on 4 levels.  One level for long distance North and South and another for long distance East and West.  Two more for the various local trains and subways (S bahn and U bahn)

This may be full of errors but tomorrow we will visit friends and have to get an early start to signing off .