Hauptbahnhof

The Berliner Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is an impressive Bladerunner-esque cityscape that just makes you stop and stare in wonder as trains pull in and out on at least 5 or 6 levels while people are transported in all directions by foot, rolltreppe (escalators), and Aufzuge (lifts) gliding through transparent tubes. The Berlin transit system is a beautiful example of mass transit done with extreme planning and design. Trains are frequent, smooth, clean and quiet. The open ticketing system (no fare gates) allows people to move easily and freely from one line or system to the next. Ticket checking is only done on a random basis (40€ fine if you get caught without). We got checked twice within a week of riding, and even saw a plain clothes cop (very inconspicuous in jeans and t shirt) haul a ticketless rider off the train. And what ever fares they lose to freeloaders seems totally worth it when you consider the elimination of all the hassle and annoyance of ticket taking machines, or worse, bus drivers having to deal with fares. Furthermore, there are the daily, weekly or monthly passes that let you ride all busses, trains, subways and trams on one ticket. Oh, and it goes everywhere. Why the hell can't they figure out how to do that in the Bay Area?