2014 EUROPE by Rail 20 - Berlin by Night

There were several Berlin train stations, but we had learned that lesson. The Berlin HBF station is quite modern. It has several levels and lots of shops and cafes to keep you entertained, if you are waiting for a train. We crossed paths with the Berlin Bear, which we would see painted in many motifs throughout the city.

It took a few minutes, but we  found the taxi stand. Our driver here was the best we had on our whole trip. He kept us laughing and in awe of his knowledge through the entire ride.

First he asked where we were from. He knew Michigan and named off all the Great Lakes. He knew Detroit and its auto manufacturing industry AND Motown. But he did not know Kalamazoo. Who'da guessed!

We mentioned it was half way between Chicago and Detroit. He then spouted, "Oh, Chicago, Obama-land!" We had to laugh.

He said our hotel was on the old East Germany side. We had not thought about that one way or another, but it seemed cool to us. It would be interesting to see how modern the East was at this point.

We commented that he spoke English very well. He advised that in the East or Ruskey side where he had grown up, you learned German and Russian in school. On the U.S. (not West) side you learned German and English. He was very proud that he had never learned Russian, but knew English very well. He continued on with the history of the area and hints for visitors until time ran out and we were at our hotel.

It was the Hotel Amano. Maybe a little too hip for us, but comfortable. It was in a great location though, as we would find in our wanderings later.  www.amanogroup.de/en/hotels/amano/

Our room was ultra modern and sleek. It seemed small due to its awkward layout. No place to put your luggage except on the floor under a desk which for us was little used. Maybe better for a businessman.

The shower had a glass door and across the room was a huge full-length mirror. That experience would keep me on my diet at least as long as we were at this hotel. And I wasn't even wearing my glasses!

Outside our window was a cool graffiti piece. It was as though the illustration of what looked like Einstein rubbing his eye, had been painted over and then the paint started to peel away. This was a perfect shot for my November photo club project back home, which was "body parts!" A great nose shot!

We refreshed and headed out. I was feeling a bit helpless at this point. I had taken Latin in high school and a little French in college, but I understood very little German. It did not come intuitively to me as the Romance languages did. I did not know which way to turn, so we just started walking.

The streets were crowded with few our age. No one around us was speaking English. I felt lost. But Mike, my rock, felt exhilarated and excited. That gave me some confidence. We continued on.

Also, hunger will help you conquer all challenges. We were on the hunt for the perfect German schnitzel. This was something Mike had hungered for since he was stationed in Fliegerhorst at the Hanau U.S. Army Airfield many years long.

We looked at every window menu for schnitzel, but no luck. After a few blocks we came across a night market--lots of produce, huge pretzels, eggs, hand knit sweaters and scarves, felted baby booties, you name it. Lots of little sidewalk cafes, too.

We were a little disoriented until we saw the beautifully lit old city train station. That got us back on track with our map.

We also found an Argentinian restaurant, Steakhaus Maredo, selling German schnitzel. We were a little suspicious of getting caught in a tourist trap with crappy food. And it was a steakhouse and didn't seem veggie / fish oriented for my taste. But, on the other hand, it was the only place with schnitzel on the menu.

There was indoor and outdoor seating. We chose indoor, as I was a bit cold. We had to wait quite a while to get service. That added to our anxiety. But when our food was served, all worries disappeared. What a find! Be sure to ask Google to translate for you, so you can read the menu in English:  www.maredo.de/restaurants/standorte.html

Mike made a trip to the salad bar with lots of German style pickled treats. Then corn on the cob and his yearned for pork schnitzel with fries. I had shrimp, baked potato, and fresh cooked spinach. The tater was served with plenty of rich sour cream and chives. All was tasty and Mike said the schnitzel was the best he had ever eaten. 

We nearly polished our plates (no dessert) before strolling back to our hotel. Lots of little shops still open. One sold antique sewing machines, a whole window full on display.

Back in our room, Mike read and I watched a little TV. Even though it was in German I got the gist of the old American reruns (and the Shopping Network!).

An aside:
A big reason Berlin was on our itinerary was that our niece, Teshia, was living here now. But wouldn't you know it. As we were arriving, she was back in Ann Arbor, Michigan, giving a lecture at University of Michigan and then home to visit her folks in Kalamazoo!!! We hoped to meet up with her significant other though for dinner.