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Guest blogger Alvina Labsvirs attended one of The Quirky Traveller Blogging Workshops.  As a result she is now pursuing her love of writing and travel on ‘Reasons To Go North‘ site.  In her very first guest post, she shares her enjoyment of one of Europe’s most vibrant and exciting cities.
Where would you choose to meet up with a Texan, a New Yorker, two from the UK and a Berliner?  On a weekend in Berlin is you might – we did! With our friend and guide Linda in charge, we had a weekend packed with interesting history, fantastic entertainment and wonderful food.  Seeing everything in three days was to prove impossible but with little sleep and Linda’s help we packed in a lot of the main tourist attractions and sampled some slightly off the beaten track.
The Wall is high on the agenda for any tourist.  But little remains, with only a line of bricks snaking through the city at ground level. The East side gallery is a stretch of 1.3k along Muhlenstrasse, decorated by artists from around the world.  The images resonate with the message that the division of East and West should never reoccur.
East – West history is abundant and being of partial Eastern European descent, this was something I was keen to see.  The Topogrphie Des Terrors was the site of the former headquarters of the Secret State Police, now a harrowing information centre on the persecution and terror of the ‘Third Reich’.  The grey sarcophagi of the Holocaust Memorial are a perfect representation of coffins of those who had had their dignity stolen, even in death.
At the Brandenburg Gate, the symbolic end to the cold war when the wall came down, Linda recounted was how scared she was on that day. Two days after the crossing was opened she ventured to the west, but was terrified.  In her world no one had left the East and returned.
So from the sobriety of the SS, Check Point Charlie, an altogether lighter experience.  No longer manned by armed guards willing to shoot at the slightest misdemeanour, actors man the post in somewhat questionable, period uniforms and will invite you to pose with them, for a fee, of course.
Berlin is a melting pot of cultures and so eating can be as diverse.  If you don’t mind queuing for your supper and enjoy the company of others, the long wooden tables at the Cafe am Neuen See, in the Tiergarten, are a good place to relax and meet other travellers.   After a sobering glimpse into all too recent history of the city, the option of beer and pizza can be a perfect antidote.   Alternatively Oraienburger Strasse is an area of restored communists’ residential blocks.  Previously run down and dilapidated inner city housing; now expensive apartments, with wonderful gardens and seductive restaurants.  We ate in a Turkish cafe, Hasir, which did delicious lamb and not so delicious chardonnay.
Less known are the ‘beach bars’ along the Spree, complete with sand and deckchairs.  A place to linger over a beer on a hot summer’s afternoon, or sample the bohemian nightlife.
A trip out to The Potsdam palaces and gardens, left by the Kissers of Germany, and now the summer playground of Berliners, is worth a day.  Try a bike trip with Fat Bike Tours.  A bike on trains and escalators has its challenges but the charm and beauty of the gardens will overcome that problem, and the hunky guides are adept and carrying a couple of bikes at a time up and down stairs.
Insider knowledge produced an unexpected last night.  The Berlin Summer Music Festival builds a temporary concert hall between the two cathedrals and this was the last night with the London Philharmonic playing.  By a stroke of luck, for us, the wind blew the rain off a canopy and caused a table’s occupants to flee and we secured a restaurant table.  A somewhat expensive meal, but with the opera thrown in who could complain?  Even for an uneducated non-opera listener this was an exquisite treat.
A weekend in Berlin is one of juxtapositions.  Glass bridges across the Spree sit uneasily with communist blocks and magnificent museums.  Outside a brightly lit synagogue you will find hookers legally plying their trade, and on the next street eat the best ice cream in town.  You can dance to live music most of the night on riverside dance floors and drink cocktails till dawn.  Don’t worry too much about your hotel.  You won’t be there for long …
Alvina Labsvirs says, “With my photographs and blog site Reasons to go North developed from my love of The Lakes, walking and travel,  I hope to  inspire visitor and residents to enjoy the Lakes, to get out and appreciate all that it has to offer.”  You can also find Alvina on Face Book
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Zoë Dawes February 18, 2012 at 1:39 pm
What a great insight into this fascinating city Alvina. And your writing style brings it alive in a very real way.
Karen Quach February 20, 2012 at 7:48 pm
This is a great summary of our trip to Berlin. I could also recommend Museum Island
Alvina February 20, 2012 at 7:51 pm
My international group really enjoyed this city. I would recommend a visit soon, while it still retains the unique mix of east and western culture.
Zoë Dawes February 20, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Thanks Karen – fascinated by what Museum Island is!
Zoë Dawes February 20, 2012 at 8:51 pm
You have certainly whetted my appetite Alvina – and thank you so much for your really fascinating insight on Berlin.
Kathy Molan February 21, 2012 at 11:19 am
Never thought of visiting – it looks fab and so near too!
wandering educators February 22, 2012 at 2:31 am
i totally can’t wait to get to berlin. what an amazing place!
Emme Rogers @ Roamancing February 26, 2012 at 8:35 pm
What beautiful pictures and a wonderful way to spend a weekend with friends.
Zoe Dawes March 3, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Looks great doesn’t it Jessie – seems to have something for everyone.
Zoe Dawes March 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Thanks Emme – and I love your website – just had a look 🙂
Deb March 7, 2012 at 6:29 am
Great post. I never really thought of going to Berlin. I thought “if it’s on my route one day, I’ll check it out. But you’ve made me want to see more. I just may have to rethink my summer travel plans.
Zoe Dawes March 7, 2012 at 9:50 am
Me too Deb- it seems to be one of the real ‘hot spots’ this year. And Alvina’s picked some really interesting places – a very varied and fascinating city.
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QUIRKY TRAVEL is about seeing the world from a different angle, looking at things from all sides, finding the unusual, the interesting, the fascinating. It’s about quality combined with classiness, it’s about being curious about everything and wanting to know more…
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