Day Three - Friday 10 October 2014 - Berlin Germany

 Slept very well last night -- in fact Phil called the room from downstairs waking me with a start at 8:00 am.   I scrambled to make  breakfast and by 9:00 am the bus leaves with us on it for our tour of Berlin.

Pat by the Brandenburg Gate!

 Luka, our guide, begins by telling us about Gendarmenmarkt Square -- just opposite our hotel.  On this plaza are three huge structures:  the Konzerthaus Berlin completed in 1821 ---it's usage changed from a theatre to a concert hall after World War II.   On either side like bookends are two cathedrals -- one German and one French.   The German Cathedral, built in 1708, was completely destroyed by fire in 1945 but was rebuilt in the 1990's and is now a museum of German history.  The French Cathedral was built by the Huguenot community in 1705 -- and is now a Huguenot museum and still holds services.   This is a wonderful plaza to stroll around or stop for a coffee at one of the many cafes.

Luka continues to educate the group about Germany and Berlin in particular.  One surprising fact -- at least to me -- is  that in Berlin 50 % of the inhabitants have no religion at all --- 35 % Protestant, 10% Catholic, 4% Muslim and 1% Jewish.  It might have something to do with the church tax imposed on members of a church to which they belong.   This tax is taken out of one's wages -- it could be up to 10%.

Pat & Phil by a Gate in the Berlin Wall

 We continue touring -- to Museum Island where you will find five significant art and history museums --- passing by Humboldt University, founded in 1810 -- we tip our hats to Albert Einstein who lectured there before coming to America.   We next find ourselves in West Berlin and stop at a portion of the Berlin Wall looking from West to the East.   It is difficult to imagine how painful it must have been for the people who lived on either side of this barrier but they did for 25 + years.  

Construction Pipes transporting Ground Water!

Back on the bus we stop at the Brandenburg Gate and walk around the area.  I had been told to go to the DZ Bank nearby to see the Frank Geary Sculpture.  Would you believe when we arrived the bank was being cleaned and we could not go in.  Just as we were leaving they would reopen.  So we peaked in the windows -- it looked  impressive.  Back on the bus we head down Unter den Linden, Berlin's main shopping street and by KaDeWe, Berlin's famous department store,  as well as through some East and West Berlin neighborhoods ending back at the Hilton in East Berlin by 1:00pm.  We notice as we are driving a lot of different colored pipes all over Berlin.  Luka enlightens us -- Berlin has a high water table so when constructions needs to be done these pipes are installed at the site and water is drained so the workers have a dry worksite.    He added that Berlin water is wonderful and we should feel free to drink it from the tap.   Luka is a good guide -- at the end of the tour we feel we have had a  good overview of this wonderful city of 3.4 million people.

Not all Berlin Neighborhoods are Pretty

Now -- what about lunch?  It has been decided that lunch will be at the food hall at KaDeWe -- and there is a flea market near by.  We successfully take the subway.   This department store is as big as Harrods in London.   Several of us had goulash soup which was the best.  After eating Dave and Phil opt to tour the food hall while Beth, Jack, Patte and I walk a few blocks to see the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.   This structure was opened in 1893 -- was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943 and had a new church built next door in 1956.   The first floor of the old church is open to visitors and houses a shop -- the new church is very different but quite lovely.  There is a concert going on as we arrive in the new church -- a nice treat for us to enjoy. 

Lunch at KaDeWe -- Jack, Dave, Beth, Pat, Patte

After this full day of activities --- we get ourselves back to the Hilton on the subway -- even changing from one line to another. 

Phil discovered a restaurant that intrigued us so we have reservations tonight  at Zur letzten Instanz -- the oldest restaurant in Berlin.  In 1621 a former servant opened a gin mill on this site.  The current name which means "in the last instance" came to be when guests mainly from the  nearby courts came to drink away their experiences. 

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Ten of us gather in the lobby at 6:30 for our 7:00 pm reservations.  Onto the subway we go -- get off in four stops --  up the stairs -- and this is where it gets tricky.   We cannot figure out where the restaurant is located.  The concierage told Phil "It's right there when you come out of the underground" --- not exactly.   After a bit of wandering around and asking for directions -- we find it.  Tonight the fare is German, delicious and reasonable --

A great day in Berlin --- we love this city -- there is a lot to see and it is easy to get around.

Thanks for Reading.

Pat

 

After our Traditional German Dinner at the Oldest Restaurant in Berlin!

Day Two - Thursday 09 October 2014 - Berlin, Germany

This is a first visit to Berlin for all of us --  we arrive about 8:30 am after flying Lufthansa from Boston via Frankfurt  -- both flights are uneventful.  Our luggage arrived in good order which I always consider a miracle.

At the Hilton -- located in East Berlin -- we meet Stephanie, our Viking Guide for the next 12 days.   After a 45 minute wait in the hotel lobby -- our rooms are ready and quite nice.  We get settled and agree to meet at Noon to tour the area and have lunch.

It is off to see "Checkpoint Charlie" -- something I would guess every American does when visiting Berlin --- even though it is so very, very touristy.   Surrounding the "Checkpoint Charlie Booth" is a busy street so one must take care when photographing the area as Berlin drivers do not seem pedestrian friendly.  At the booth there are two "guys" dressed as American soldiers and for a fee will allow interested parties to have their photos taken with them -- we pass on that one.  There are plenty of people here and in the facility across the street which includes an outdoor area with a large chunk of the Berlin Wall -- tourist shops -- and a museum. 

Checkpoint Charlie (I don't think McDonalds was there in "the day".

 Once we have seen enough -- it's off to find a lunch place.  The four of us are pretty much in a jet lag fog wandering around but not finding anything acceptable to all of us -- we end up back at the hotel for a snack.    Ultimately -- we realize we need to rest until Stephanie's walking tour of the immediate area at 5:30 pm.

Phil with Patte & Dave at a Piece of the Berlin Wall.

 Stephanie gives us a good look at our new neighborhood for the next three days pointing out -- restaurants, cafes, shops, a grocery store, a pharmacy and a fabulous candy shop called "Fassbender & Rausch" - even their name sounds decadent.   She also takes us into the subway station and explains exactly how the Berlin system works from purchasing tickets and validating them -- to figuring out which train to take.

Phil, Pat, Patte, Beth, Dave, Jack at Lutter & Wegner!

 As Patte and I emerge from the underground -- Phil and Dave are on the sidewalk talking to Beth and Jack who have just arrived.    We all walk to Lutter & Wegner for our 6:30 dinner reservations.  What a treat this is -- traditional German food with excellent service and pretty reasonable prices for Berlin -- and it's two blocks from our Hotel.   

After dinner we take a much-needed stroll around the area -- stopping into Rewe,  the new  grocery store and of course we have to show Beth and Jack our new favorite candy shop.    A good first day in Berlin -- we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat

October 6 - Preview of Elegant Elbe

Phil and I are off to Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland for fifteen days.  We arrive in Berlin Thursday morning - October 9th.   On Sunday  -- it is Pottsdam and the port of Magdeburg to board the Viking Schumann for a seven day cruise on the Elbe River .   Stops in Germany on the cruise include:   Dessau, Wittenberg, Torgau, Meissen, overnight in Dresden, and Bad Schandau, stops in Czech Republic include: Litomerice and Melnik where we leave the ship.   After spending one night in Prague -- we travel to Krakow, Poland for three days -- with a side trip to Auschwitz.

This trip we are traveling with five couples -- Patte and Dave, Beth and Jack, Joyce and Frank and two couples we have yet to meet.    It should be fun -- and as always I hope you'll come along with us.