My last day in Berlin. I went to the book store today and purchased a book about the Fuggers - the banking family that financed Europe fro centuries. I then took the u-bahn to Zoologische Garten to take a walk up and down Kurfurstendamm. But little did I know that today was the Christopher-Street-Day parade. I knew the minute I saw all the rainbow flags and lesbians. It was a good, yet orderly time. I was suprised to see so many people there. I have been to gay pride parades in New York, Amsterdam, Munchen and ,believe it or not, Weimar. But this was the largest crowd I have seen. There was a lot of music and I am sure the festivities continued later, now in fact, but I had to return and get a little sleep because tomorrow I leave for Weimar!
I don't think that I mentioned the 2 special exhibits that I went to in Berlin. First was at the Bode Museum. It was called "Ein Gott" and attmpted to show ancient links between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It was ok. It did not cost extra, I used my three day card to get in to it.
The second was at the National Gallery, next to Neues Museem, and the exhibit was called "Impressionismus und Expressioinismus" - "Impressionism and Expressionism". They had a lot of art collected there and it was arranged to show the two different perspectives. They place pictures of similar scenes, i.e. landscapes or cityscapes in the two different styles side-by-side. I enjoyed it. It cost 12e extra. I was there maybe two hours.
There was also a second exhibition at the Bode Museum called "Verschwundenes Museem". It showed photos of art that was somehow lost before/during/after WWII. It was interesting and sad.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Berlin 2015 - 22/06/15
The Eurostars Hotel is OK. The people in the bar are nice and the prices there are reasonable. I went to the New Stadt Schloss "Cube" today and the admission was free. They have made great progress on the building. This interests me so much! I can remember the first time I came to Berlin and the Palast der Republik was still there. I saw the building come down and a green space take its place. I also remember when the group advocating for the rebuilding of the Schloss had their Headquarters on Unter-den-Linden and then Gendarmarkt dahinter. I have been watching this for years so to actually see the building take shape is, for me , very exciting. I guess I will have to continue to come back to Berlin every year until it is done.!
I ate at Lowenbrau tonight and enjoyed it as much as ever. I had 2 dark beers and the "pulled Beef"' as they called it. I also ordered a side salad and a large water and paid 35e including a small tip. Then I walked to Augustinier Brau but there were no seat a the bar so I went to Standgige Vetretung, where I ate lunch yesterday and have been to before but never in the evening for drinks. Well that will change. It is the nearest place to this hotel where you can sit outside, riverside, and have reasonably priced beers. I had 4 Kolsch beers for 7,60e! I will be back during this trip.
I ate at Lowenbrau tonight and enjoyed it as much as ever. I had 2 dark beers and the "pulled Beef"' as they called it. I also ordered a side salad and a large water and paid 35e including a small tip. Then I walked to Augustinier Brau but there were no seat a the bar so I went to Standgige Vetretung, where I ate lunch yesterday and have been to before but never in the evening for drinks. Well that will change. It is the nearest place to this hotel where you can sit outside, riverside, and have reasonably priced beers. I had 4 Kolsch beers for 7,60e! I will be back during this trip.
Berlin June 2015
Well it is night 5 here and I am very happy. I ate at Dolcini tonight in der Jagrstrasse. I have mentioned this place before and I love it. I first went here years ago when I saw a sign on the corner on Freidrich Strasse that said " Big Mo's" and so I went. It was a restaurant and that night I went back. I have been going every summer ever since. Now , of course, it is called Dolcini's. I had the fish soup, then the Caprese salad and the a special, Gnocci with a truffle oil filling in a gorganzola sauce. I also had a Weisse beer and 2 glasses of Sangiovese. They gave me a grappa after. All for 37 euro. If you are in Berlin you should go there. It is delicious and the service is friendly and good. You definitely know that the food is cooked for you when you order it and that the people talking to you are the people who run the place.
After I walked up Friedrich Strasse and over the bridge to the Vertretigung. I had 4 Kolsch there and shared my table for 4 with 2 different couples. Whenever I think that my days of traveling to Berlin must be over, I have an evening like tonight or last night and I know that I will come back just so I can experience this again.
After I walked up Friedrich Strasse and over the bridge to the Vertretigung. I had 4 Kolsch there and shared my table for 4 with 2 different couples. Whenever I think that my days of traveling to Berlin must be over, I have an evening like tonight or last night and I know that I will come back just so I can experience this again.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Berlin 2015
My flight here was horrendous! We were delayed 3.5 hours. I was exhausted by the time I got to the hotel at noon Berlin time. Then I had to wait till 3:30 to get a room which made it worse.
For the first time in years I am not staying at the Berlin Hilton. I am at the Berlin Eurostars and the long wait for a room that I booked at least 2 months ago did not make a good impression. After I slept a while I walked around and ended up having a bowl of penne bolonese at pizza peccorino(?). It is a little place off Orienionburg strasse and the man cooked it fresh and gave me my second glass of wine free! It was very good. He also makes the pizza to order. If you just want a quick pizza or pasta it is great. It is on Tucholsky Strasse. I have used the interactive map on TripAdvisor to find possible restaurants in this area for the rest of the week, since I have never stayed up here.
For the first time in years I am not staying at the Berlin Hilton. I am at the Berlin Eurostars and the long wait for a room that I booked at least 2 months ago did not make a good impression. After I slept a while I walked around and ended up having a bowl of penne bolonese at pizza peccorino(?). It is a little place off Orienionburg strasse and the man cooked it fresh and gave me my second glass of wine free! It was very good. He also makes the pizza to order. If you just want a quick pizza or pasta it is great. It is on Tucholsky Strasse. I have used the interactive map on TripAdvisor to find possible restaurants in this area for the rest of the week, since I have never stayed up here.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Europe June 19, 2015
Tomorrow is the big day! The car comes to get me at 2:00 pm. My flight is at 5:50. Hopefully I will take off on time and everything will go smoothly. I am packed and as far as I can tell I am ready to go. All the arrangements have been made so I just need to get on the plane. Sunday morning I should be in Berlin!
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Germany 2015
Well everything is in place and I leave for Deutschland next Saturday. I think that I have gotten everything necessary done. I arranged for the car to the airport today. So next Saturday I fly out at 5:50 and should arrive in Berlin at 9:00 am German time. I think I will take the u-bahn to Friedrich Strasse station and then walk over to the hotel. I should be there and in bed napping by 10:30 am. From there we will see.
With only a week to go I am starting to get excited. I think I have it all under control. Of course after all these years of traveling there I know what I am doing. Once I get there I can start to chronicle what I do.
With only a week to go I am starting to get excited. I think I have it all under control. Of course after all these years of traveling there I know what I am doing. Once I get there I can start to chronicle what I do.
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