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Berlin 2019
  • Chris Tomes

Berlin 2019

A short but fine adventure by Chris Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 5, 2019
    Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Brussels overnight stop

    November 5, 2019 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Train 1, Saltaire to Leeds. Cancelled, but we managed to squeeze onto the one before that was running late.
    Train 2, Leeds to London. Cancelled, but we managed to get onto the one before that was running late and got seats (quite chocker).
    Train 3, Eurostar to Brussels. On time. The rolling stock seemed rather dated and it was about a quarter full. Still, it left on time and arrived on time. Compared to air or road travel it was all very undramatic.
    Train 4. Brussels south to Brussels north. All ticket machines at the station were out of action so there were long queues at the ticket office. The train left four minutes earlier than advertised.

    The walk from the station to the hotel was an interesting introduction to Brussels: past lots of brothels and sex shops. Our hotel thankfully is of a more exclusive cut. We had to decline the upgrade to a suite as the bedroom was on a different level to the bathroom, with a twisty wooden staircase in between. Too inconvenient for night time visits.    Read more

  • Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Let the train take the strain...

    November 6, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Two trains required to reach Berlin, taking all day. Our journey had been “modified” by Deutsche Bahn due to engineering works, but thankfully the alternative route we picked via Frankfurt was compatible with our super saver tickets (€39 each) and other passengers in our compartment were also victims of the change.

    Train speeds of up to 300km/h were indicated - 187mph in old money - which is faster than the speed needed to get a Boeing 737 off the ground.

    Raining in Berlin on arrival. Thankfully the bus journey to the flat we had booked was straightforward and the accommodation clean and comfortable.    Read more

  • Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Berlin day 1

    November 7, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Mornings entertainment was a “free” walking tour of central Berlin sights - excellent. What we saw included the holocaust memorial, a section of the wall, the former Luftwaffe headquarters, some interesting churches and the site of the book burning of 1933. The commentary was entertaining and largely accurate.

    Visited a Pick ‘n Weigh shop which sells quality secondhand clothing by garment weight. Lots of choice for cool people.

    The afternoon was spent at the Stasi museum, based in the former headquarters in east Berlin. We had a free tour in English from a very young but knowledgeable guide (has a masters degree based on the Stasi).

    While we were there the sun set on some old buildings that were then a colourful backdrop to the brutalist architecture of the Stasi buildings.

    Buses, trains and underground to get around.    Read more

  • Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Berlin Day 2

    November 8, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Self-guided today.

    A trip out to the Bernauer Strasse area to inspect an area of remaining wall that divided east from west through a number of residential buildings and a church. It was in this area that many attempts were made to get over or under the wall. Many were successful, but some lost their lives or their liberty.

    Some dignitaries were attending to sign a book of remembrance, resulting in a rolling security detail to keep the public at bay.

    Lunch and afternoon food shopping in the Turkish market.    Read more

  • Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Berlin - Day 3

    November 9, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Berlin parkrun in Hasenheide park to the south (I.e. a decent underground ride and walk to the start). 120 runners of which half were English speaking, and dual language intro by the organisers.

    Afternoon trip to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe museum, followed by the Terror museum - all about the rise of Nazism until the end of WWII. All well explained and pitched about right. Special photo exhibition about the German occupation of the Netherlands. See photo of a Dutch couple in the hiding place.

    Crowds gathered in the drizzle for the 30th anniversary of the fall of the wall concert, big police presence and getting around the centre was becoming more difficult. Trendy steel bicycle coffee shop followed by lovely pizzas and beer in the suburbs.    Read more

  • Chris TomesBerlin 2019Traveler

    Final day

    November 10, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Lovely farewell to Berlin, taking a walk to Tiergarten, and getting waylaid by a huge Sunday market, full of antiques.

    Planned final food shop stymied by no shops being open: “we are here for you 7-10pm everyday”, except Sunday, it seems.

    The journey home was bumpy initially due to Stay Grounded protesters at Tegan airport and a massive police presence. The bus journey and subsequent queuing through security was nail biting. Then the plane was delayed for 30 minutes when two passengers didn’t show up, and their luggage had to be removed.

    Smooth from Manchester onwards, when we took an earlier train than scheduled thanks to the guard.    Read more

    Trip end
    November 10, 2019
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