30 June 2018 Berlin

   Yesterday I took the ubahn to Kottenbus Tor and walked over to Orenianstrasse in the Kreuzburg district.  I have never been there and just wanted to go down and have a look around.  It is very ethnic but an interesting walk. I sat in a park for a while and then continued up the street until I came to Friedrichstrasse.  So I shopped through the new Lafayette Gallaries   and did not buy anything.  Then I walked down Unter den Linden and over to the Berlin Pavillion where I drank 2 Hefeweissens and wrote in my journal.  Then I walked past the Reichstag building and along the canal to the Berlin Borse.  I have seen this bar on TV on various travel shows and must have walked past it who knows how many times but today I went in.  The Borse does not operate until 17 pm so I paid regular price for 2 dark beers.  Then it was home and dinner at Weihenstephan.  I had pork roast with two klossen and a side salad and it was delicious.
     Today I used the last 2 ubahn tickets I had from the 4-pack I had bought, to go to Kurfurstendamm.  It was slightly different since the car-attack.  There is no more "fair".  All the vendors who were around the Gedanknis Kirche are gone.  But I walked up and down anyway and bought a pack of 2 undershirts at C&W.  I finally made it to KaDeWe!   It is the largest Department store, certainly in Germany and the oldest in Berlin.  They have everything.  The food floor is incredible.  I thought of eating there but did not.  It is very crowded but the prices are not bad.
    Instead I walked down to the Hard Rock.  I had 2 Hefeweissen and a club sandwich with spicey fries.  Good as always.  I always like to have a lunch and a few beers in a Hard Rock.  After I came back and slept.  Tonight, my last in Berlin this year,  I watched Rinaldo get the boot from the World Cup along with the Portuguese team as they lost 1 - 2 to Uruguay.

Berlin 28 June 2018

     Well I have been here 5 days now.  I have visited the Altes Museem, Egyptisches Museem, Gemalde Gallerie, and Markesches Museem.  The first three I have visited many times before.  It is always nice to see Nefertit's head and the collection at the Gemalde Gallerie is always wonderful.  I spent almost 3 hours there!  Today I went to the Markesches Museem for the first time.  I have thought about it in the past and never went until today.  I took the Ubahn there and walked up the street to the museum.  It is very nice, peaceful and well done.  But it is  a "history of Berlin" museum so if you are not REALLY interested in that, don't bother.
    After over 2 hours, I walked across the street and walked along the riverbank.  I came to a cafe and had a large coffee and a big piece of apple streusel cake.  Then I walked over the canal and through a small park and was on what would be Leipziger Strasse but much further up than usual.  So I continued down and crossed by the Nicholai Viertal.  I walked to TJMaxx and bought a package of underpants and a package of socks.  Then I walked through Nicholai Viertal to GeorgeBrau and had a dark beer.  Then I walked all the way to Gendarm Markt and had to more and a pretzel at Augustinier Brau.  Then back and a nap.
     For dinner I was at my favorite - Dolcini.  I do not know how many years I have been eating there.  As always I sat under the poster of Josephine Baker.  The food was great and I went for a long walk after.  Sunday I leave for Weimar.

Berlin Beer

Berlin Schloss 2018

Gendarmmarkt

Altes Gallerie

 

Berlin 23 June 2018

    The flight here was smooth and easy.  I slept in my little cubicle part of the way but found time to eat,(OK), and drink a Stella, some Burgundy and a Port.  Once we landed in Munich, I went to the WC and walked to my gate, about 20 minutes.  Then I waited about an hour and we left pretty much on time.  The flight was under 1 hour.  The passport control was easy and my bag came right out away.  The cab was 28 euro.  My room was ready and I went right up.  I have a junior suite this year.  That means a sitting room with a couch and armchair and coffee table at one end and a dining table with 3 chairs at the other.  There is a separate bedroom with just the bed, widescreen and night tables.  The bathroom is the same as always.  I went to the bank up the street in Freidrichstrasse and then went for a short walk before I came back.  It was around 12:30 pm and I showered and slept.
     I had dinner at Block House, a very good steak house chain here in Germany.  I had the Mr. Rumpsteak that comes with a baked potato and a salad and one Erdinger and a large Pelligrino  38 euro.  After dinner I walked up Friedrichstrasse to Orienienburg Strasse and walked all the way down to Hackershor Markt.  then I came back.  I feel a little sick today, like I'm getting a cold.  So when I finish here I'm going to the room and hopefully getting a good night's sleep.  The weather is of course cold and rainy.

Hotel Eurostars Berlin

Potsdamer Platz

Spree Ufer

Summer 2018 Newark Airport

     Well the summer has officially begun!  My car arrived about half an hour early but I was basically ready and in about 10 minutes we left.  the drive to the airport was easy and check-in was,of course, fast and easy for us Baracalounger passengers.  Now I am in the Polaris lounge enjoying a Stella, or 2. My flight starts boarding at 4:45 and is supposed to leave at 5:30 pm.  Hopefully we will be on time.  I am expecting to land in Munchen and then connect to Berlin.  I should be in my room at about 9:30 am Berlin time. At which time I will take a nice nap.
     Traveling first class is well worth the difference in price and really, to go over in first and home in economy is maybe $1200 more and to me well worth it.  Being able to sit here in peace and have a few beers and then know that I am going to be in a large seat where I can actually sleep on the way over is great. 
What I need now is for Germany to win its World Cup match against Sweden.  At the moment the score is tied.  The summer is always much better when Germany is winning and we get to spend the evenings watching the matches.  If they win for the second time in a row it will be TOO much.