Last days in Berlin

I have been getting more and more anxious as my time in EU counts down and I sit waiting for my Visa for India. Sunday was a lazy day. Since the visa office was closed anyways I figured I might as well enjoy the lazy day. I slept in late and then spent a couple of hours researching the next few places I'm visiting. I made lists of all I want to see as I don't have much time left and I can't extend any of my trips. I looked up from my computer and outside the snow was swirling and blowing. A truly blustery day. Yuk. A man at the next table noticed my look of horror as I watched the snowflakes dance outside and laughed. 'It's snowing" he said. He laughed when he found out I was from Canada. I HAVE been away all winter so far......and am currently without my usual winter gear. Just saying. He said he was going to the flea market that I had planned on seeing but was avoiding due to the snow. So I went with him. Considering the weather, there were many people out and about. The Germans are a hearty folk and many parents pulled tobaggans and others just huddled in their coats as they went about their day. We weren't gone very long as not much was happening at the market, the goods were piled with snow! I headed back and my new friend went his own way. I stopped for a hot chocolate and German cookie on my way back to the hostel. I decided to go to a movie. There wasn't much to do in the terrible weather. So off I went. In this theatre your seat is assigned, kind of nice so you don't have to rush or worry about missing out. But you do pay a premium for sitting near the back, which I discovered after paying! I bought a popcorn combo....just a medium, I didn't want too much. My jaw hit the floor when the guy plopped my HUGE drink and bag of popcorn on the counter. "THAT's a medium???" It was equivalent to our extra large!

The movie was in English and it was so nice to be warm and cozy and distracted for a couple of hours. Afterwards I wandered through my favourite Berlin Christmas market before coming back to the hostel.

Today was a different story. I had plans! I started by going to the Reichstag building so I could make my reservation for viewing the dome....why not do it nline you ask? Well I tried doing it online but it wouldn't work. I think I was outside in line for almost an hour! It was freezing! I then took the train to the East Side Gallery. It's an old piece of Berlin wall which has been painted. It's beautiful. I walked in the wet blowing snow the whole length of it. I got back on the train and went back to the Brandenburg gate area for my 3:15 appointment to see the dome. A little surprise waited for me. I often wondered if any Jewish people still lived in Berlin. I couldn't imagine how it would feel after all the history. But there in one of the main squares, right beside a Christmas tree was a menorah. And every night they light another "candle", so beautiful. I have never seen that in another city and it was such a wonderful surprise. I noticed looking around though that many people didn't notice or didn't know what it was. But I noticed and I loved it!  I made it to the dome and couldn't wait to warm up.........ya right. For those of you who don't know, the Bundestag is cold! A giant hole in the top lets in the weather......brrrrrrrr. I walked along the ramp leading to the top and listened to an audio guide that told me about the city and the building. It was really cool but needless to say I wasn't there very long! Next stop! To pick up my passport and visa! I had tried to check my status online but apparently my file number didn't exist so I figured I'd just go in and hope for the best! After a long walk from the station I found a line up! No worry, I was 10th in line but only waited a few minutes! And it was ready! Yahoo....I can go to India legally! Lol I headed to the main bus station next to buy my ticket for the next morning but I took the long way after getting lost. Then she told me it was cheaper to buy it tomorrow, so here's hoping! I stopped on the way back at my favorite Christmas Market. I bought some semi healthy snacks for the bus trip (nuts and dried fruit) and ate my last German Bratwurst. :,(

I am now at the hostel and have booked all my accommodations until Christmas! I'll be in Budapest until the 25th. Vienna for my birthday and Prague and Krakow before that! I have loved Berlin and even though I'm pretty sure my visa was ready Friday I don't have any regrets about my time here. I truly can't wait to come back to Germany. However, I am also really excited to be on my way and am ready for new adventures and experiences! Here I go!