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David and Julie Browning's Travels
Boxing Day. Brand new day, and a brand new plan. We were intending to
leave Amsterdam and head for Cologne in Germany. But we have now decided
to head for Berlin instead. About a 650km trip. Why the change? Why
not. Besides, its Berlin, one of the must see cities of Europe. Trip
promises to be uneventful, freeway all the way. According to the GPS in
the car should take about 6 hours. Still dark when we left, and
drizzling rain. Hopefully weather won't turn too nasty on the way across
(BBC weather hasn't forecast anything too drastic).
Arrived in Berlin about 2pm. Initial impressions aren't too flattering. But
then, whenever we have arrived at a large city, initial impressions have
never been promising). As we traveled further into the city, the charm
of the city began to emerge. Tree line boulevards lined with large
historic buildings soon became the order of the day - impressions are on
the up. We dropped Sam and Callan off at the hostel they have booked (I
think they were well and truly done with being with us oldies), and
then went off in search of our hotel. Found it, booked in, luggage
stowed, now it's time for a coffee and some relaxation.
Decided to go for a walk. By now, 4pm, it's starting to get dark, so we thought
we'd just have a quick stroll to get our bearings for the area around
us. So, with map in hand off we went. Day just got better. Came across
some Xmas markets which were still operating. Seemed to be filled with
hundreds of people so thought "This must be good". After parting with 2
euro for entry, we spent the next hour or so meandering through the maze
of stalls. Sampled some German sausage and saurkraut (absolutely
delicious), stopped to listen to a German quartet play a mixture of
jazz, folk, and Xmas carols, bought a couple of items from craft stalls,
and generally had a great time.
Consulting the map, we realized we were a stones throw from Checkpoint Charlie, probably the
most well known, and infamous, border crossing in all of Germany. It
was well worth the walk. Even though the actual checkpoint is now a
tourist trap, there is a memorial display which sets out in chronological order how the wall came to be built, what it meant to Berliners, and how it came to be torn down.
It was at this point, when we consulted the map to make our way back to the
hotel, that we realized that the hotel is right on the East-West border. In fact, we are in what was East Berlin. Talk about a sense of history.
Really glad we decided to come across to Berlin. Promises to be a really enjoyable couple of days.
Berlin, day two. Cold, overcast, but otherwise a good day for a walking tour of Berlin. We decided to head for the TV Tower in Alexanderplatz. The view is supposed to be quite something. And it is. You can see almost all of Berlin spread out before you. Picking out the landmarks can be a bit challenging though. They can be right beneath you, or in
the distance somewhere. Maybe on a clearer day it would be easier.
After the tower we went in search of a bit of lunch. Found a great little
place at the base of the tower. It was decorated like you wouldn't
believe (see picture #15 ). The food was great though, creamed potato
soup with chunks of German sausage. Very filling, just the thing for
these cold wintry days.
This is where we thought we were being clever - catch the tram from the TV Tower down to the Brandenburg Gate. Wrong. Caught the tram at Alexaderplatz, traveled for two stops, did a
right hand turn, the stopped - end of the line, still 2km from the Gate.
So, we just sat there and waited. Doors didn't open, tram didn't move.
Hmmmm, could be here for a while. Luckily, it moved off after about 5
minutes - back in the direction it came from. Decided to cut our losses
and get off the first time it stopped and walked down to the Gate (about
1.5km).
The walk was excellent. Wide street with plenty to stop at and investigate along the way. The Brandenburg Gate itself is an impressive structure, straddling the wide street forming an
entrance to the city. When the wall went up in Berlin, these Gates were
actually in East Berlin.
Tomorrow we might try the metro underground and investigate the "West Berlin" part of the city.
More exploring today. Decided to decipher the train system today and
head for the western part of Berlin for a look. Proved to be fairly easy
(good old German efficiency), and looked to be a quick train ride to
Kurfurstendamm, reputed to be the Champs Elysees of Berlin. When we got
off though we saw a sign pointing to the Berlin Zoo and thought "Why
not?". So that's where we headed. As far as zoos go, we've seen better
(although the zoo I went to in Kathmandou was probably the worse I've
ever seen). All the requisite animals were there - lions elephants,
great apes, bears, rhinos, hippos etc. But the enclosures they had them
in left a bit to be desired. In fact some of the animals looked
downright depressed. Maybe its the time of year. Still, it was a
pleasant few hours spent looking around.
After the zoo we headed for Ku'damm shopping area. All the high end fashion shops
are here. Nothing any other big city doesn't have. Found a great
Berliner Beerhouse to have a few drinks and a bite to eat. It was a real
treat.
Tonight we're meeting Sam and Callan for dinner. It will be good to catch up with them and swap a few tales.
Tomorrow we leave Berlin and head for Prague for a couple of days. The time
spent in Berlin has been great. It's a great place to be in. Lots to see
and do, or do nothing and just be here.
leave Amsterdam and head for Cologne in Germany. But we have now decided
to head for Berlin instead. About a 650km trip. Why the change? Why
not. Besides, its Berlin, one of the must see cities of Europe. Trip
promises to be uneventful, freeway all the way. According to the GPS in
the car should take about 6 hours. Still dark when we left, and
drizzling rain. Hopefully weather won't turn too nasty on the way across
(BBC weather hasn't forecast anything too drastic).
Arrived in Berlin about 2pm. Initial impressions aren't too flattering. But
then, whenever we have arrived at a large city, initial impressions have
never been promising). As we traveled further into the city, the charm
of the city began to emerge. Tree line boulevards lined with large
historic buildings soon became the order of the day - impressions are on
the up. We dropped Sam and Callan off at the hostel they have booked (I
think they were well and truly done with being with us oldies), and
then went off in search of our hotel. Found it, booked in, luggage
stowed, now it's time for a coffee and some relaxation.
Decided to go for a walk. By now, 4pm, it's starting to get dark, so we thought
we'd just have a quick stroll to get our bearings for the area around
us. So, with map in hand off we went. Day just got better. Came across
some Xmas markets which were still operating. Seemed to be filled with
hundreds of people so thought "This must be good". After parting with 2
euro for entry, we spent the next hour or so meandering through the maze
of stalls. Sampled some German sausage and saurkraut (absolutely
delicious), stopped to listen to a German quartet play a mixture of
jazz, folk, and Xmas carols, bought a couple of items from craft stalls,
and generally had a great time.
Consulting the map, we realized we were a stones throw from Checkpoint Charlie, probably the
most well known, and infamous, border crossing in all of Germany. It
was well worth the walk. Even though the actual checkpoint is now a
tourist trap, there is a memorial display which sets out in chronological order how the wall came to be built, what it meant to Berliners, and how it came to be torn down.
It was at this point, when we consulted the map to make our way back to the
hotel, that we realized that the hotel is right on the East-West border. In fact, we are in what was East Berlin. Talk about a sense of history.
Really glad we decided to come across to Berlin. Promises to be a really enjoyable couple of days.
Berlin, day two. Cold, overcast, but otherwise a good day for a walking tour of Berlin. We decided to head for the TV Tower in Alexanderplatz. The view is supposed to be quite something. And it is. You can see almost all of Berlin spread out before you. Picking out the landmarks can be a bit challenging though. They can be right beneath you, or in
the distance somewhere. Maybe on a clearer day it would be easier.
After the tower we went in search of a bit of lunch. Found a great little
place at the base of the tower. It was decorated like you wouldn't
believe (see picture #15 ). The food was great though, creamed potato
soup with chunks of German sausage. Very filling, just the thing for
these cold wintry days.
This is where we thought we were being clever - catch the tram from the TV Tower down to the Brandenburg Gate. Wrong. Caught the tram at Alexaderplatz, traveled for two stops, did a
right hand turn, the stopped - end of the line, still 2km from the Gate.
So, we just sat there and waited. Doors didn't open, tram didn't move.
Hmmmm, could be here for a while. Luckily, it moved off after about 5
minutes - back in the direction it came from. Decided to cut our losses
and get off the first time it stopped and walked down to the Gate (about
1.5km).
The walk was excellent. Wide street with plenty to stop at and investigate along the way. The Brandenburg Gate itself is an impressive structure, straddling the wide street forming an
entrance to the city. When the wall went up in Berlin, these Gates were
actually in East Berlin.
Tomorrow we might try the metro underground and investigate the "West Berlin" part of the city.
More exploring today. Decided to decipher the train system today and
head for the western part of Berlin for a look. Proved to be fairly easy
(good old German efficiency), and looked to be a quick train ride to
Kurfurstendamm, reputed to be the Champs Elysees of Berlin. When we got
off though we saw a sign pointing to the Berlin Zoo and thought "Why
not?". So that's where we headed. As far as zoos go, we've seen better
(although the zoo I went to in Kathmandou was probably the worse I've
ever seen). All the requisite animals were there - lions elephants,
great apes, bears, rhinos, hippos etc. But the enclosures they had them
in left a bit to be desired. In fact some of the animals looked
downright depressed. Maybe its the time of year. Still, it was a
pleasant few hours spent looking around.
After the zoo we headed for Ku'damm shopping area. All the high end fashion shops
are here. Nothing any other big city doesn't have. Found a great
Berliner Beerhouse to have a few drinks and a bite to eat. It was a real
treat.
Tonight we're meeting Sam and Callan for dinner. It will be good to catch up with them and swap a few tales.
Tomorrow we leave Berlin and head for Prague for a couple of days. The time
spent in Berlin has been great. It's a great place to be in. Lots to see
and do, or do nothing and just be here.
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