Blogs from Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe - page 13

Berlin has been the capitol of one empire or another for centuries. As a result, it is laid out like a capitol with lots of broad avenues, plazas, and parks. As Chancellor and later, after the assumption of dictatorial power, Hitler and the National Socialists moved into the old palaces and ministerial buildings and established their terror-based rule over Germany and the conquered lands and peoples. Berlin also has great significance in the post-war era when east and west struggled for ideological and political dominance. Bits and pieces of the Wall are in various places with more or less educational or commercial purposes. Men dressed as Soviet and American soldiers stand on a replica (?) of Checkpoint Charlie waiting to serve as the backdrop for souvenir photos, all overseen by Colonel Sanders and a huge KFC. ... read more

Heute bin ich nach dem Frühstück wieder zum Berliner Hauptbahnhof und mit dem ICE über Fulda nach München zurück gefahren. In Berlin war der Zug noch mit 30 Minuten Verspätung angekündigt aber in Fulda konnte ich planmäßig umsteigen und in München bin ich pünktlich angekommen.... read more

Am Freitag bin ich nach dem Frühstück über den Potsdamer Platz zu meiner alten Universität, der FU Berlin, gepilgert. Dort habe ich den Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften besucht und habe einen Kaffee getrunken. Danach bin ich mit der U-Bahn nach Friedrichshain gefahren und war dort an der East-Side-Gallery. Im Anschluss daran war ich im Ostbahnhof noch in einem Starbucks und bin zurück ins Hotel. Abends habe ich dann noch in Berlin Mitte gut gegessen.... read more

This picture, being quite colourful, is not that typical of our visit to Berlin – we had a wet, cold,grey, dreary couple of days, redeemed on the last day by a blue sky and sun! We were staying at the Ivbergs Premium Hotel, Kleistrass that was about a 5minute walk from the 100 bus stop (The 100 bus is an unofficial tour bus as it stops at all the ‘must see’ highlights and runs about every 10 minutes!). We flew into Berlin -Schonefeld, and visited the Information Centre at the Airport (located 20 metres right as you exit Customs) to buy our 3 day Berlin Welcome ABC Card (29 euros pp), and to check out the best way to the Hotel. One bus, two tubes and a 5 minute walk later we arrived at the Hotel ... read more

Today we got up late after our New Year's Eve crazy night. We got a bite a the cool cafe up the street and then made our way via the S-bahn to the Brandenburg Gate and Jewish Holocaust Memorial. In the evening we met Nemanja, Robyn's friend from the Grasse Perfume Institute. We all got together at this cool perfume bar at the Ritz. Very posh. ... read more