Blogs from Berlin, Germany, Europe - page 3

Vor vier Jahren war ich zuletzt in Berlin und da es nun einige neue Attraktionen gibt, nutzte ich dieses verlängerte Wochenende zu einem Kurztrip in unsere Hauptstadt. Dabei bekam ich gute Qualität zu einem ordentlichen Preis: mein 5 Sterne-Hotel liegt in der Nähe des Bahnhofs Friedrichstraße und kostet nicht allzu viel. An allen drei Abenden gehe ich in ein bekanntes Restaurant in der Nähe und auch das ist nicht so teuer. Für die Hinfahrt mit der Bahn nutzte ich den Sparpreis und die Rückfahrt ist bis auf die Reservierung kostenlos, da ich mit Punkten zahle. Und den Nahverkehr nutze ich mit dem 9 Euro Ticket. Das Programm besteht aus neuen Attraktionen: am Tag 1 nutzte ich die neue U5, deren Stationen zwischen Hauptbahnhof und Alexanderplatz wirklich modern sind. Am Tag 2 pilgere ich mal wieder zu ... read more

Interesting thoughts: Champs Elysses-I would say very overrated, but nice. Bourbon Street-not what it was in the last century, but still fun. Abbey Road-the ghost of John and George may appear. Beale Street (Memphis)-lots of fun, good music too! Times Square-at least once in your life! Lombard Street (The City)-once is enough! Nathan Road (Hong Kong)-capitalism at its best, interesting, but just once! Steiner Street (The City)-love the painted ladies! Khao San Road (Bangkok)-backpacker heaven, hawker stalls, old hippies. Las Vegas Boulevard-the thrill is gone Boulevard Saint Laurent (Montreal)-I saw Johnny Bench here Shibuya (Tokyo)- busiest intersection in the world, and best of all, plus Hachiko Fifth Avenue-shop until you drop, at least prior to pandemic. Oxford Street (London)-what a big disappointment, so was Carnaby Street. Avenue Istiklal (Istanbul)-perhaps the most fun I have had... read more

As is usual for me, I set off early some pre-dawn and dawn photographs. I walked to the Brandenburg Gate, which is fantastic to see, although the sky was not what I had hoped for. I got some photos nonetheless. One advantage of going out to anywhere at that time in the morning is that there are so few people around and I can get some uninterrupted views. There were just a few cyclists (if fact there are one hell of a lot of cyclists in Berlin) and they were moving fast enough to not show up in my photographs, except for some light-trails, which sometimes can actual add to the photographs. I walked up to the vast and imposing German federal parliament building. There were barriers and police outside it, but everyone else was just ... read more

By this, I mean, have you been to a place that no longer exists? The most likely, for Vietnam vets, would be North and South Vietnam, now a united Vietnam. Other common places, that no longer exist would be Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the USSR, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia and Czech Republic), Yugoslavia (now Slovenia and Croatia), and East and West Germany (now Germany). Contrast this to places whose names have changed from their colonial names. These are places like Myanmar (formerly Burma), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Belgian Congo), Thailand (Siam), Bolivia (Charcas), Burkina Faso (Republic of Upper Volta), or Armenia (Hayastan). The border is essentially the same, but the names have been changed. Here is some background (from Exploring) information: Yugoslavia ('Land of Southern Slavs') came into being in 1918 following the collapse of Austria-Hungary. ... read more

25th November 2020 Berlin David Bowie spent one of the most fruitful periods of his career 1976-1979 living in Berlin with fellow musician Iggy Pop. During this time, he kept himself separated from drugs and alcohol in a city divided. Bowie knew a different Berlin than that which exists today. We started our tour with Martin at Potsdamer Platz for many years the location of a ghost station. When the Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961, it divided the city as well as the transportation system but two subway lines and one commuter rail line with departure and destination stations in West Berlin continued to run through the eastern sector. The trains would slow down, but they did not stop at these deserted stations in East Berlin. Blocked off and patrolled by GDR armed ... read more