Anniversary trip to Berlin!

So a couple of weeks ago (two weeks ago exactly, actually!) me and my lovely chap headed off to Berlin to celebrate our two year anniversary. Well, our anniversary was actually while ago but the holiday was to celebrate it. Not that that's at all relevant but it's nice to be factually correct, isn't it?

We went to Berlin when we first got together so it's always going to be a special place for us. It's such a lovely city so I really recommend it if you haven't been before. There's so much to do, lovely places to eat, the people are great and the public transport system is a wonder to behold, seriously.

At Vapiano, the world's most confusing restaurant chain that makes awesome, awesome pasta

There were bears all over the city. Naturally, I gravitated towards them.

This time we headed to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, which I'd been to before the first time I visited Berlin. Tom's a bit of a history fan and hadn't been so we decided to go with a tour group, Insider Tours, who were absolutely brilliant. I learned so much about the politics surrounding WW2 that I hadn't known (despite the fact I studied the Third Reich for my history A-level...) and it was fascinating and awe-inspiring and very sad in equal measure. Last time I went to Sachsenhausen everything was covered in snow so it was interesting visiting again during the summer. Well, sort of summer; it wasn't raining, at least. After Sachsenhausen we had a quick walk along the East Side Gallery, which had been completely repainted since I visited it last. We then narrowly avoided having our organs trafficked in a Hostel style beach bar but that is definitely a story for another day.

'Work will set you free', at the entry gates to Sachsenhausen

The memorial at Station Z in Sachsenhausen

We also stopped by Wannsee, which is probably my favourite thing to do when we visit Berlin. I love it there; it's such a beautiful place but there's an air of quiet tragedy that always makes me feel like I shouldn't speak above a whisper. It's a bit overwhelming, really, that such a terrible, horrible thing happened in such a lovely location. Again, last time I was at Wannsee it was thick snow and I think the sunshine made it even more beautiful this time around.

Wannsee House

Wannsee gardens. I was really pleased they left this tree in the middle of the path rather than cutting it down.

The room where the Final Solution was signed. Impossible to be in here and not feel a bit emotional.

After Wannsee we decided to go to the Pergamon museum. It wasn't my highlight of the trip, let's leave it at that. Although Tom did spend most of our two hour visit laughing and how much I was hating the whole experience so at least he enjoyed himself. For dinner that night I tried both kangaroo (actually quite nice, if a little strong) and crocodile (quite a nice flavour but the texture put me off), as well as having a bad ass mojito and super spicy currywurst.

Bloody Pergamon museum

On our last day we went to the zoo, which was a lot of fun. Me and Tom seem to have a thing about zoos. Our first date was to a nature park, we've been to Berlin zoo twice and spend our first anniversary at a zoo. Anyway, being charged by baby goats demanding to be fed was pretty awesome. I do love a petting zoo!

He nearly fell. It was tense.

Being harrassed by baby goats

Two wolves being awesome

Super sad brown bear

Wild African dogs

ZOO PANDA

I was sad to come home but it was lovely to be reunited with the dog and soak my feet, which were in serious amounts of pain from the 9+ hours of walking a day. I need to get cracking with the Couch to 5K programme, that's for sure.

It was a brilliant time, as always, and so nice to get to spend some time away with my lovely chap, who proved once again that he always, always outdoes me when it comes to presents. I think I'm kicking ass by buying him a sodding bonsai tree and what does he do? Whisks me off to Berlin for a week! What a guy.