On the morning of June 13th boarded the train in Kassel for the 3 hour trip to Berlin. Managed to finish "World Without End" by Ken Follett and would highly recommend this book.
Arrived at the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof (main train station) just after 1:00 in the afternoon. It is Europe's largest and is massive with four levels, mostly underground, that handles international, regional and local trains. It also has a shopping mall with over 80 shops, including two grocery stores. Our hotel (Home Suite Home Hotel) was a 15 minute walk from the station and so we picked up some groceries (breakfast items, snacks and wine) and headed to our home for the next four days. We are not in the downtown core, but very central to many of the main areas we want to visit during our time in Berlin.
Rita and I have been to Berlin many times in the past to attend the ITB trade show that is held here in early March. We have never had the opportunity to see the city as we had spent most of our time at the trade show or at evening events. We are really looking forward to seeing all the many intersting sights that this truly remarkable city has to offer.
After unpacking and putting on our walking shoes, Rita and I headed out to explore Berlin for a few hours. Our first stop was lunch at the Hackescher Market which houses many shops and cafes within a large plaza and S-Bahn station. The architecture of the brick station is Neo Gothic and the archways are filled with Turkish, Bavarian and Italian restaurants. After lunch we headed for the Spree River and the Nickolaiviertel (viertel means quarter), the centre of medieval Berlin that was destroyed during WW11 but restored by the East German Government is now a trendy restaurant and bar area. Following the Spree River walkway we went past Museum Island which houses five major museums, the first one being built n 1871. Also on the Island is the Century old Berlin Cathedral. It was getting late and so we headed back home. The plan for the next three days is a bus tour, river Spree tour, Charlottenburg Palace tour and Potsdam tour. The weather is supposed to hold at its present 20 - 22c with sun and clouds. Perfect for touring.
Rita at the Berlin Train Station looking at the map to find our Hotel
Hackescher Market with its many outdoor restaurants, cafes and bars
Nikoli Quarter from the Spree River with one of the many sightseeing boats
16th Century Berlin Cathedral along the Spree River and a sightseeing boat
No comments:
Post a Comment