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