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!