Berlin 30 July

      Well this is my 5th night in Berlin and I am very happy.  The Berlin Hilton is as wonderful as ever.  I have been to the Stadt Schloss Museum,  the Gemalde Gallerie and the Egyptian Museum.  I also saw a special exhibit on the etchings of Albrecht Durer.  All on my 3-day card which, if you are a museum visiter, is the way to go.  I have eaten in 4 familiar places and 1 new place.  The new  place was Sagrantino which is an Italian restaurant.  I had a buffolo mozzarella salad, lasagna, a Negroni, and 2 glasses of wine. It cost me 56.60 euro.  You decide.  But everything else has been wonderful.  The weather has left a little to be desired.  It is much cooler than it is in USA and also much rainier. 

      I have already purchased my train ticket to Weimar and told my landlord when I am arriving.  I leave in 3 days.

Berlin 27 July 2023

      I arrived in Berlin yesterday.  It was about 3 am USA time and about 9 am German time.  The flight was quicker than ususal, about7 hours, and I got out of the airport easily and quickly.  I took a taxi to the hotel and was checked in right away.  All I did was shower and nap and go for an early dinner.  I ate at Block House, a steak house I have been to many times.  After, I came back and was asleep by 9 pm.

     Of course today I was up earlier than ususal so I went for breakfast in the "regular" room and took my time.  Since it was early, there was really no one there.  At about 9:30 I left and walked up Unter den Linden to the Stadt Schloss.  The museums/exhibits don't open until 10:30 so I got a cup of coffee and wrote a postcard.  I went into the Sculpturen Salle, the History-of-the-Site panorama and through most of the permanent exhibit.  It is very interesting with so much to see.

     At about 12:30 pm I walked to Gendarmarkt.  The platz in front of the 3 buildings there is closed because the whole area is being "re-paved" so the Erdingen bar is not there.  I had to sit at there regular restaurant across the street.  Had a Weiss beer and a water.  Then I walked to Augustinier and had a beer and pretzel.  Then it was back to the room for a nap.  At about 4 pm I got up and was in the bathroom when there was a knock on the door.  It was house-cleaning!  I told the man I needed an hour.  After a shower and a shave I dressed and walked to Friedrich Strasse German restaurant for dinner.  Rinderroulade, red cabbage and a large salad.  Also a beer and a water.

      It was about 70 degrees all day today and at the end of dinner it was rainimg so I walked back and made a video call to  Ernest in London.  While we were on the phone someone knocked on the door and it was housekeeping!  at 7 pm!  So far the weather has been a little cold, which is suprising considering the rest of the world is having a heat wave.  But I am not complaining.

    I think tomorrow I will go to the Hauptbahnhof to buy my train ticket to Weimar and also to thye Gemalde Gallery. 

      

Departure Day 2023

      Well its here!  I am packed and ready to go, I just need to be picked-up to go to the airport.  Of course, I have 2 1/2 hours to go!  I am checked-in for my flight and have my hotel reservation confirmation for Berlin.  This always a very exciting yet stressful day.  No matter what I always feel excited, nervous and anxious.  But once I get on the plane it will be fine.

     Once I land and get my luggage, I will get a taxi to the Berlin Hilton.  I have stayed there many times.  Usually my room is ready and I can get right in, so I am hoping the same happens today, actually tomorrow.  Then I usually take a nice shower, put on the robe they give in the room, and take a nice nap.  Dinner on the first night is always at Block House.  This is a steak house on Friedrich Strasse and I will be there early so sitting will be no problem.  It is a standard steak house with really nice steaks and good beer to go with them.

     I really have not made any other plans for the week I am there.  I know I want to go to the Stadt Palais museum and , of course, to the Gemalde Gallerie.  Other than that....