Time to start thinking about home

Things have been a little strange today. Four weeks ago when we set foot in Singapore, I thought our 34 days would go on forever. There have been a few times, particularly in the first two weeks, when we felt a little homesick. Nothing major, but I guess your thoughts are somewhat still located in two places; where your home is and where you are at the present moment. However, as you get more and more into your travel, the experience of being on the road takes over and you start to think more of your next destination than back home. But now the reality that our trip is rapidly drawing to a close has well and truly set in. This is our last full day in Berlin before we head off tomorrow evening to Frankfurt en route to Singapore. Fortunately, we still have two nights left there before our final flight back to cold Melbourne. It's probably best if I don't think about it too much.

Yesterday we went to the memorial to European Jews persecuted during the past 100 years. It is quite a new memorial, with over 2711 concrete blocks. Down beneath the memorial is an information centre where you can read and hear about the systematic persecution of Jews by the Nazis. It was very interesting, and you could easily have spent an entire day reading transcripts and listening to audio. It is also a very poignant place and we felt a little ill at ease there. I've always found it hard to understand the excesses of human nature, the pain and suffering we can inflict on others. It was doubly hard experiencing this in the German capital, and I couldn't help wondering if such a thing could ever be repeated. I just don't know.

Some of the 2711 concrete columns which make up the Holocaust Memorial.

Last night we walked along the river near our apartment, but we did have to walk until 10.00 pm for the sun to set. The city looked lovely at night, and we walked past the Reichstag with it's famous glass dome (we tried booking, but nothing was available for two weeks). Today has been a bit of shopping and mainly strolling around. We think we'll go to the tiergarten this afternoon, as it's very pleasant weather. I guess my next post, which will most likely be our last, will be from Singapore in a few days.

The Reichstag under lights.

This little restaurant, not far from our place, has schnitzel night each Sunday.

At only 13.31 Euro each, a real bargain, washed down with 500 ml of pilsner.

What a strange sight. Not really, these bears are literally everywhere in Berlin, in fact, it is the city's emblem. This very colourful Australian bear is right outside our hotel (it's an Australian-owned hotel chain).