Aah, Berlin, a truly amazing city.
I went three times last winter. Before I went I really didn't "undertand" Berlin at all. I had vague memories of the Wall, but even that was something I didn't understand. A strange "island" of Western Europe marooned and completely surrounded by a communistic state, I just didn't "get it". First impressions of the city are that it's a somewhat run down dump.
I went on the Sandemans free walking tour and followed that up the following day by going on the paid tour of Sachsenhausen. Extremely moving.
Berlin has Potsdam, Brandenburg Gate, The Bridge of Spies, the Luftwaffe HQ, Hitler's Bunker, The Berlin Wall, nightlife, Street art, graffiti, alternative cultures, cheap food, bratwursts, legendary doner kebabs which people regularly queue for two hours to buy, (Mustafa's Gemuse Kebap on Mehringdamm) the Olympic stadium, cheap beer, cheap hotels, relatively quiet roads and relatively easy parking, did I mention the cheap beer?
Oh, and there's a lot of British ex-pats living out there.
And there's even an approved naturist area in the park right in view of the Parliament buildings
Cheap, easy public transport on buses and trams.... the daily "rover" tickets are valid until about 3am the following morning!
Berlin is the place where Wacko Jacko famously dangled his baby over the hotel balcony.
There's enough to see and do in Berlin to stay there for a fortnight.
Yes, during winter it tends to be colder than back here, but that's why you should test out the Gluhwein which warms the cockles of your heart! |