June 30, 2011

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (6)

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (5)

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (4)

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (3)

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (2)

Berlin, Along the River Spree between Alexanderplatz & Berliner Dom (1)

Berlin, Bear (4)

Berlin, Kreuzberg, outside Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

Berlin, Day 4

Uhland 4 went to visit the Jewish Museum in the morning. It's quite a big place and there is a lot to see. I had lunch at the kosher restaurant. My British fellows being more frugal than me by the time I finished my meal they had already visited most of the permanent exhibition and had a snack. We then went each our own way. I had suggested we met up in a café in Kreuzberg. I took my time and strolled down taking photos. Kreuzberg is a very "cool" area. Only one of the other 3 turned up, K2. We decided to make our way to the B & B. We stopped over at the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin to take a photo of the plane suspended in mid-air. We had something to eat at the Iranian Restaurant by our place. K1 & G happened to be there too so we shared a huge salad.

June 28, 2011

Berlin : Day 3

We had decided to all meet up at the East Side Gallery at one 0'clock . I did my own things and set off at 12 for one end of the Wall-Gallery. I had lunch in a fafelafel vegetarian café and then started looking for the Gang. Except that I was at the wrong end ! To keep a long story short I texted 2 of them - since then I know I had the wrong phone numbers - I strolled along taking photos when C. bumped into me by chance and then we joined the Gang at a beach café at the other end of the Wall i.e. the official start of the visit. After our refreshments we walked back to the end of the Wall (are you following ?) and crossed over into Kreuzberg. We had lunch at a Vietnamese Restaurant before to split up again. Uhland 4 went on to The Memorial of European Jews Victims of the Wars (Holocaust Mahnmal) and the Reichstag. We had something to eat nearby before to head back for our B & B.

Berlin, Reichstag

Berlin, Landwehr-kanal

Berlin, Holocaust Mahnmal (3)

Berlin, Holocaust Mahnmal (2)

Berlin, Holocaust Mahnmal (1)

Berlin, Traban(s)

Berlin, Kreuzberg (2)

Berlin, Kreuzberg (1)

Beach Café by the East Side Gallery

Berlin, East Side Gallery (7)

Berlin, East Side Gallery (6)

June 27, 2011

Berlin, East Side Gallery (5)

Berlin, East Side Gallery (4)

Berlin, East Side Gallery (3)

Berlin, East Side Gallery (2)

Berlin, East Side Gallery (1)

Berlin : Day 2

The 3 ladies and myself staying at the B & B - or known as "the Uhland 4" - headed off to Bauhaus Archiv Museum. I had lunch there. I learnt a lot about this Bauhaus School which leaded to quite a few every day objects, furniture and architecture. Uhland 4 went on to visit the Filmmuseum Berlin. I started from the upper floor where there was an exhibition on German TV in the 70's. It actually brought me quite a few memories as it made reference to "Chadocks", Jean-Claude Averty programmes, clips of various singers from this era...
We met up with the rest of the group at Operncafé on Unter Den Liden. It's in a former palace with a deco half way between Art Deco & Rococo (quoting Guide du Routard) and has a display of at least 50 different cakes. I had the one dedicated to Mozart.
Uhland 4 for had then to go back to the Persian restaurant next to their B & B to collect their new keys. They were actually quite happy to have an early night.

June 24, 2011

Berlin : Day 1

We are 10 people from Meetup for a 5 days trip in Berlin. We left East Midlands last night. We are in different acomodations but 4 of us are staying in the same B & B. The reception closes at 10 and as we had let them know that we were to be there rather around 11 they agreed to leave the keys by the building door. We couldn't find them so we asked at the café next door. There, very kindly, they reached the landlady on the phone. She came round to open the door and to give us the keys of our bedrooms. Mine is about 25 sq m and has 7 beds ! In fact during the university year it's a residence for students as well.

Stratford On Avon

Nottingham in Blossom Festival (1)

Day out with National Trust (2)

We then went off to Stratford on Avon where we had lunch. We only had 45 minutes to spare so I bought a couple of sandwiches and a banana. The weather was a bit unsettled but nice enough to eat on a bench in the park by the river.
The butterfly farm people were waiting for us for a guided tour. It's open all year round and it's minutes away on foot from the town centre.
I'm not as keen on animals and plants as I am on buildings to be honest. Hence I skipped the visit to take refuge in a nice bar restaurant by the river. I had a cup of tea while reading "The Paris Wife" by Paula Mc Lain. It's a novel-biography through the eyes of Ernest Hemingway's first wife. Fascinating stuff.
Anyway. By the time I was ready to take a stroll the group emerged from the farm and I had a long chat with a new member and then it was time to go back to the coach.

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (8)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (7)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (6)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (5)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (4)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (3)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (2)

Stratford, Butterfly Farm (1)