When someone comes into the Czech Republic, they are only allowed to stay for 90 days without getting a visa. My 90 days was up last Wednesday, April 22nd (Also my sister's birthday!). When we were doing our orientation in Kiev, someone told us that they were working on getting us visas so we didn't need to worry about it. So, we didn't. Then as the time inched closer to our 90th day here and still no visa, I started getting worried. So, I asked some of the IMB staff here and nobody knew anything about it. Slipped through the cracks I guess. So, we made a couple calls and get some people working on it. Steve Warren came to our rescue by calling his contact at the Czech Embassy, Petra, and having her send us some visa applications that we promptly filled out and sent back. So, then we got a call saying that on Friday morning at 5:30am, Petra's driver would pick us up and take us to Berlin, Germany where we would get our visas. Berlin? Sounds good! I have always wanted to go to Berlin! It would only be a day trip, but I didn't care because we would have a few hours to take in the sights.
Friday morning came earlier then I would have liked(4:30am). I got up and took a quick shower and got ready. Shortly before 5:30am, Petra called and said that her driver was outside in the silver Mercedes van. So, Daniel and I got our stuff and our passports and headed out. Our driver was a Czech guy that didn't know much English. He was a good driver though. When we got outside, he already had the door open and was waiting on us to get in! So, we got in and then rode to Whitney's house where we picked her up and then headed to another location where we picked up a Mormon guy that was nice, but didn't really talk much. From there we went to one final location, picking up a guy and his mother. Then we were off to Berlin. The ride was pretty uneventful with some chatting and getting to know one another.
When we got to Berlin (which is huge!!!) we got out at the Czech Embassy where we met up with Petra. We went inside where we signed some visa papers and then Petra said that we have 2 1/2 hours to go sight see before we would be heading back to Prague. So, off we went. Steve Warren had told us that the Embassy was near some good tourist spots like Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. We went first to Checkpoint Charlie which was designated as the crossing point for foreigners and Allied Forces from East Berlin to West Berlin during the Cold War.
After that we got lost and separated, or rather I just kind of wondered off. I then wondered around the city for a while eventually finding the Holocaust Memorial which is pretty cool. I know how that sounds, but it's a monument designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere that is what Jews felt during the time. After that, I went to the Brandenburg Gate which is pretty cool and to the German Parliment.
(Holocaust Memorial)
(Brandenburg Gate)
(German Parliment)
By the time I got finished looking at everything it was time to head back. I gave myself some extra time to get back though because I had no idea how to get back to the Embassy. I figured that might take some time because I've never been in Berlin and I don't speak the language.
On the way back though, I heard shouting and saw a big commotion. Instinctivly, I headed in the direction to all the fuse to see what was going on, all the while taking out my camera to capture anything interesting. It turned out to be a demonstration by Sri Lankans to make people aware of the otrosities that are going on in there country by the LTTE. They were marching through the main streets and there was a ton of polizei (police) around them in full riot gear. It was interesting! So, I took some quick pictures and then headed on in the direction that i though the Embassy was in.
I finally stopped and asked a cop who speak some English where the Czech Embassy was. He thought I was talking about Checkpoint Charlie. So, I just thanked him anyways and continued on my way. I somehow found myself at the front of the demonstration by the Sri Lankans again, so I took a few more photos and then asked another cop where the Czech Embassy was. This one understood more English and after a little confusion and radioing some other people, he gave me directions back. It turns out I was a block off. Man, so close! I thought I was going to be late getting back, but it turns out that I was the first one there.
We waited for everyone else to get there and then made another uneventful trip back to Prague. So, even though I only got to stay for a couple of hours, Berlin was awesome!!!
Berlin
Sri Lankan Demonstraion
No comments:
Post a Comment