The Berlin Blogs - Day Three

Before we had even set foot in Berlin, the main thing we wanted to see was Berlin Zoo! So Wednesdays agenda was one we had been looking forward to for a while, Along with the zoo, the Tiergarten and finally the Brandenburg gate. The plan was to get the metro to the zoo which was on the other side of the city across the huge Tiergarten park, after the zoo walk through the gardens that lead to the Brandenburg gate where we would finish the day! So off we went in the morning with a bag full of drinks and hand-made butties for lunch we where off the zoo, after 25 minutes on the metro and a train change we found ourselves at the grand entrance, we paid and rushed in to find a map and scramble to decide what to see first, and we decided to begin at the aquarium. The aquarium was a beautiful old Georgian house restored and turned into the most incredible place! With everything you could ever imagine has a fin, flippers or gills was in housed  in this crazy maze, With the biggest dragon I have ever seen guarding the door! After the meeting some very funny little creatures we went further into the zoo, which boosted of its rare species such as polar birds and large cats. The grounds where magnificent, with various pieces of art an the grand scale of the zoo would blow the mind, for instance the giraffes had there own Indian palace, and some of the exhibits where spectacular like the nocturnal animals. However the state and care for the animals couldn't be ignored, most where rather distressed, with actions of insanity, For example we found ourselves at the polar bear exhibition, I was rather excited as it may be my only chance to ever see one so close, But what we seen was a group of about 5 bears all walking forward around 8 steps and then back on them selves over and over again. Additionally as we went into the large cat house the appearance of the conditions seemed worst and the polar opposite to the state of the art aquarium, the cats of all shapes and sizes where repeatedly running left and right up to the glass back and forth, Black panthers, Cheetahs and Lions held in cages no bigger than a bathroom with tiled walls and just a bench most of the creatures seemed deranged, We left after this as I wouldn't lie but I became rather overwhelmed and emotional.

After leaving we had the long walk through the Tiergarten Park which us humongous! In the centre of the gardens stood the Victory Column it took us just under an hour to get to it as we reached it we realised we could go to the top and have another incredible sky high view of Berlin, like we had seen the day before. Once handing over 6 euros for the two of us to go up thinking there would be a lift straight to the top was the a little to optimistic, 285 steps later via a spiral staircase and nearly dying we reached the top and had the most wonderful 360 degree view of the whole of Berlin! We reached the Brandenburg gate at the other end of the park at 7pm which was perfect timing as the sun was just sitting in between the grand pillars, We took a few snaps and then climbed back up the main high street to our hotel and collapsed into bed ready for our last full day in Berlin!

Love Hannah 

xxxx