I arrive at Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof train station the largest crossing station in Europe, in plenty of time for my train journey from Berlin to Prague. The trip takes just over four hours and it gives me a chance to write another blog entry. The old, portly German gentleman rolled his eyes and his wife smiled as I arrive in the first class carriage of the train. It was obvious to him that there was a problem, there was no space for my larger suitcase, however between him, and the three other passengers in the cabin we managed to make room. Every [View Full Entry]

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After my roadside conversation with the Armani shirt-selling guy I headed towards the Bendler Block, a memorial to German Resistance during the regime of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Although the exhibition is totally in German it was still a very moving experience. Claus Graf von Stauffenberg, who was the driving force behind the assassination attempt, was executed following the failed attempt. (This assassination plot inspired the making of the film Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise). In total nearly 5 000 people were executed as a result of this failed assassination. In the courty [View Full Entry]

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This morning started normally enough - I had breakfast in the hotel before heading up the Kurfürstendamm and towards Tiergarten in search of the German Resistance Memorial Exhibition. Along the way a man pulled over in a late model black mercedes asking for directions to the autobahn, when I said that I didnt know and I wasnt a local he asked where I was from and I told him Australia. He threw out his hand for a shake and I reciprocated, "...You are Kangaroo Australia!!..." he said most enthusiastically. It is here where the conversation changed tack. He offered me (at [View Full Entry]

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I felt particularly energetic yesterday having enjoyed the buffet breakfast of the Hotel Concorde and so I chose to walk the four kilometres from my hotel to the Brandenberg Gate. Berlin must be one of the flattest cities I have ever visited and it is very popular with cyclists. I wandered through Tiergarten, both the name of the borough and the beautiful park in Berlin but had to be careful not to step into the dedicated cycle ways. Twice I was castigated by rapidly moving cyclists to get out of their lane - I didnt need much encouragement to do so [View Full Entry]

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I arrived in Berlin lunchtime Monday, the weather was hot and sunny and the local smiles were all genuine as I walked through Tegel Airport and grabbed a cab to my Hotel (The Hotel Concorde) which is just off the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's major shopping strip. I think the Hotel Concorde was a great choice. It is probably a touch corporate but a level or two above the Hilton Riverside in London and it does have a substantial mini-bar! After a painless check-in (again assisted by extremely friendly staff) I head upstairs to my room for a [View Full Entry]

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Perhaps I chose the wrong day to eat at Marjellchen, a traditional East Prussian restaurant with old fashioned furniture and jovial hosts in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin (about a 20 minute walk from the hotel). It was a hot day here and it was much warmer inside the restaurant than out in the street. The larger than life owners who obviously enjoy their food, served up a delicious dinner however it was extremely rich and best suited to be eaten during the winter months. I started with some potato and shrimp soup that arrived piping hot and as a main [View Full Entry]

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On Friday I left London and headed out to spend the weekend with my great pals Sally and Michael Allsopp. Mick and Sal have been living in England for more than four years (it could be five) and have spent the last 15 months or so in Maidstone Kent. On Saturday we decided to take a trip out into the Kent countryside and on my brother's recommendation we headed off for Penshurst in search of the famous Spotted Dog Pub The weather was warm as we left Maidstone and within 15 minutes we were surrounded by the beautiful Kent countryside. I [View Full Entry]

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The glitteringly white tables and modern curved chairs are the first things that catch my eye at Ottolenghi in Islington. My friend Mai is a big fan of this Israeli chef and so she booked a table for us at this hugely popular establishment. I have never heard of him but was always keen to try new food. The restaurant, in Upper Street Islington, seats about 50 people and serves small portions of food that are similar in size to tapas however the food is very sophisticated and quite scrumptious. I was happy to let Mai lead the ordering and we [View Full Entry]

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Dear reader, I have called this latest entry 'Preparing for Berlin' more as a mental note in preparation for some preparation rather than the preparation itself. (If that makes sense!) Thankfully my brother knows Berlin really well and has provided me with a list of places to visit, however I usually like to do my own research so that I have some control over my time in a new city. I fear that other committments (friends, family food and drinks) will distract me from my Berlin research. Anyway enough of Berlin, I'm still in London, the final Ashes test will be [View Full Entry]

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With some time on our hands prior to Wednesday night dinner, Paul, Mark and myself undertook some beer tasting. Hall & Woodhouse in Dorset brew traditional bottled ales as well as a number seasonal beers. Mark and Paul's friends James and Ben returned from Dorset with a selection and tonight we put the amber ales through their paces. The first beer we tasted was the light and tasty England Gold - very much a drink to be enjoyed on a hot summer's day. Next was the Badger Original which according to Paul tasted like burnt sugar, or possibly caramel (doesnt burnt [View Full Entry]

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