It’s December 2015 and we have only one day to catch Christmas mood and explore Berlin, so let’s start! We landed at Schönefeld Airport and used U-Bahn (subway). It’s really very fast way to go to the city center!
Our plan is to see most iconic landmarks and catch the Christmas spirit at Christmas markets!
We start with the Reichstag, the place where the Parliament sits. The entrance to Reichstag Berlin is free but be sure to book your visit in advance. By the way, it has big glass dome, that represents the political transparency of Berlin 🙂
We are heading to Germany’s most recognizable sight -The Brandenburg gate and here is The Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, big park, we go through. The monument commemorate the central role of the Soviet Army soldiers who fought and fell in the last days of the battle for Berlin.
Here you can find T-34 tanks and 45mm artillery, the glory of Red Army Soviet Union tank-building,
Here we are! Probably the most significant Berlin’s landmark. It’s a symbol of separation between East and West Berlin.
The Brandenburg gate was erected in 1791 as the royal city gate, but spent the Cold War years abutting the Berlin Wall. The symbol of the divided nation.
12 Doric columns forming five passageways! Here we are trying to take a photo of chariot pulled by four horses 😉
Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is very powerful memorial to the holocaust. It stimulate you to interact and reflect. Freely walk around it, but please respect it.
It’s getting dark, so it’s time to look at sparkling Christmas lights, taste mulled wine and try famous “curry-wurst” 🙂
You can find a lot of Christmas markets around the city with a variety of stalls, selling traditional German food and festive drink and handcrafted gifts.
We find the first one on Potsdamer Platz!
Musicians playing gigs for visitors, so you’ll feel festive joy and German traditions for 100%!
Artisans selling handcrafted gifts, clothing and art…but my advise is to buy and try lebkuchen. You can find them everywhere 🙂 It’s traditional German baked treat, very similar to gingerbread. They really look so attractive, so colorful, heart shaped, you can’t pass them!
One more thing you can’t skip here is “curry-wurst” ( special sausage 🙂 )! It’s a great meal if you are traveling on a budget and don’t have much time for a proper meal.
The legend says that “curry-wurst” was originally created by an East Berlin woman in 1949 who got ketchup and curry powder from some British soldiers. As she didn’t have much else available, she mixed what she had, added some grilled pork sausage and the “curry-wurst” was born!
Of cause take a hot mug of mulled wine (Glühwein) to warm you up 😉 By the way, you will also be able to pick up this mug with you (by paying some extra money) 🙂 I still have this at home, the one on this photo 🙂
Christmas really is a good time for eating until you can eat:) So it’s time to burn some calories, let’s walk a bit 😉 There is one more historical object on our list to see!
It’s Check Point Charlie! Now it is a tourist spot with the guardhouse and sandbags in the center + very nice Christmas tree during the holidays, but once it was one of the most famous crossing points between West and East Germany.
The name comes from the phonetic alphabet (Charlie meaning C), as Checkpoint Charlie was the third such border crossing set up by the allies in the city.
Here is a free outdoor exhibit chronicles milestones in Cold War history next to the checkpoint.
Plus the visitor center, which chronicles the wall, from when it was first enforced to its final destruction.
One more thing you will find in Berlin for 100% are the Buddy Bears! They are all around the city! Just can’t take a photo with at least one of them 🙂
Local guides would say you can’t miss this most beautiful public square if you are in Berlin! It’s Gendarmenmark! Here is so perfect architectural ensemble, that exude Baroque opulence! You can find here the Berlin concert hall, French and German Churches…
But now we are so deep in this festive atmosphere, that’s is truly magical, so we can’t recognize the full glory of architecture around us.
If you are in Berlin, one more thing you should not miss is Fernsehturm (Television Tower) Berlin. By the way, it is also the highest building in Europe open to the public 😉
We have no opportunity to ride to the viewing platform or enjoy a meal in the a revolving restaurant today, but do it, if you’ll have such a lucky chance! It just does not fit in our schedule.
One more Christmas market, a great Ferris wheel and very good spot for skiing just right next to the Fernsehturm Berlin!
Finally we are on Alexanderplatz! It’s the largest square, the one of the most dynamic and exciting corners of Berlin! The major shopping and entertainment destination! Just come here and enjoy it!
BUT! If you wanna to hide from a bustling Berlin and get some romantic feeling visit Nikolaiviertel. Narrow streets, small and very cute buildings, variety of cosy cafes…
The tree – lined streets are decorated with fairy lights and only the giant Television Tower above the rooftops reminds you that you are in the city center:)
We end our visit to Berlin here, in this charming place! Thank you Berlin see you next time!
The end of this story 🙂
Tomorrow will be new day and new emotions:)
See you tomorrow 🙂
Don’t sit at home. Travel! Travel with me! 🙂 Meaww!
Oh yeahh, I forgot to say, that this time I have a special gift for myself from Berlin 🙂 You know, I have this “strange” love to the drains, I enjoy to find and take a photo of them, so now I have this special T-short!!! with Berlin’s drain print! Yahoo!
go and travel with me 