Germany

[Campestral]

you're a proper travel agent cause i want to go there now, the tourist bus sounds like a good idea just to get a feel of the place before a night out. what's cool about cafe zapata, does that have live music?

[Rhöna of the Rhein]

Cafe Zapata's just cool. It's essentially a derelict building which I think used to be a squat but has since been transformed into a seriously good venue.

Every square inch of wall has been covered in grafiti by local artists and inside the building, there are a few bars, cafes and artist studios (you can go in and have a look round.)

In the courtyard outside, they've got bars inside old scooby doo vans and various makeshift beach huts. Also, sometimes they project a movie onto the side of the next building so it becomes an open air cinema. It's just a really cool place.

Kirsten - take me with you. I want to go back now

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by Posh

Be prepared for carbs. Lots of carbs.

Sounds good to me. You do know how much I eat, right?

But aren't there generally more greasy, meaty adventures to be had, than carby ones? I'm up for either to be honest, but I've always been under that impression!

Originally Posted by Rhöna of the Rhein

'sake, Jzy! You're nicking my tips!

if you want to do the touristy stuff in Berlin, I would recommend the free walking tour which starts daily at either 11 or 1 o'clock from Pariser Platz, where the Brandenburg Gate is (Brandenburger Tor, in German). Keep an eye out for people in red t-shirts outside of the Starbucks on the corner.

The tour will last about 3 and a half hours, which i know seems like a long time, but it's well worth it. You'll see the Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, The Holocaust Memorial, where Hitler's Bunker was, where he was cremated, Victory Tower, Museum Island (a whole bunch of museums in that area), the Townhall, TV Tower, the old Air Force HQ, Stasi HQ, Berlin's Cathedral, the square in which all the books were burned, the University and of course, the Berlin Wall.

I've probably missed something out, but it's a really easy way of seeing the city and getting all those touristy snaps out the way early on.

If you want more information about the tours, have a look at this website.

You can also do canal rides, which costs about 6 euros, depending on which company you go with. They'll last about an hour and will be translated into english. They'll take you along past the parliament buildings and stuff but you can go into the Reichstag for free, pretty impressive building.

There's also the TV Tower, which offers amazing views over the city, costs 8,50 to get up there (euros, not pounds). There's a bar at the top, fairly cheap considering it's in a tourist-trap.

For shopping, go to the Kurfürstendamm, or Ku'damm as it's known the locals. There's plenty of high street places along there, though the further up the street you go, the more expensive it gets. I was in tears at the sight of Valentino, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, but that's coz i'm a materialistic bint.

To keep the sight-seeing part of your trip going, there's a ruined church on the Ku'damm as well (called the Gedächtniskirche), which was bombed during the war and they've just kinda left it as it is as a point of poignancy.

But aye, fun times live at Cafe Zapata and Watergate.

That's great Rhona, cheers for that. I've never been in to tourist-hell-like situations, which often encapsulate themselves in the form of organised tours; but the one you suggested in Berlin actually sounds pretty good to be honest, thanks for suggesting it pal. I'll definately have a geeze.

Originally Posted by Rhöna of the Rhein

Kirsten - take me with you. I want to go back now

Gave my mate Jan, (who I thought still lived in Dusseldorf) a holla', and he's got back to me with braw news - he apparently moved back to Frankfurt a few months ago and says he's taking me ("and whoever you're bringing") out on the town for some "traditional applewine" and we can crash at his for "however long" I need/want while I'm still there, before flight to back to Berlin. How handy!
He's an absolute diamond btw.

So if you can stand some of the gymnastics chat/swatch that'll be going down on a couple of occasions, etc; the outrageous boozing and eating hunners; and the (more than probable) random, spontaneous change of plans and adventures from one city to the next – then you'd be more than welcome to come with

Although I warn you now - we may end up in a different country altogether at some point (it wouldn't be the first time!).
In all seriousness, hahaha.


Good times.

[JZY]

Originally Posted by Rhöna of the Rhein

'sake, Jzy! You're nicking my tips!

haha, sorry. these are all the places you reccomended i go to before i went to berlin and they were ace! I also defo reccomend you do the 3hour walking tour thing rhona mentioned, its totally worth it. I got absolutely mashed on it just from buying beer after beer from street vendors, had some great banter with the girl running it.

[Largest of Als]

No visit to Berlin is complete without a visit to White Trash..


http://new.whitetrashfastfood.com/



Al

[JZY]

it was closed when i went

[Largest of Als]

I told them you were coming...



Al

[ladysavage]

*Bump* any tips for where to stay in Berlin? I'm going on my own so want somewhere un-dodgy and near touristy stuff as opposed to a mahoosive party area (though i would like a bit of night life!), el cheapo as possible too!

[Bunnylingus]

Bar in the tv tower has THE WORST wine I've ever tasted. IMO, skip the tv tower if it's a clear day and go up the tower to the top of the cathedral that's next to the Altes museum, cheaper and you get to walk about the domes. Beautiful view.

ALSO, thursday nights after 6 all the museums are free, go see the Pergamon (Most impressive museum I've ever seen, purely because the exhibits are MASSIVE) and the Altes for loads of kick ass egyptian stuff. There's a really, really kick ass vintage market as well that I can't think where it is, I'll find out for you though if you're interested.

Film and TV museum has a bunch of Harryhausen stuff that, if you're into him, is cool as fuck.

Berlin is my favourite place in the world.

[Largest of Gregs]

german wine is shite

[triggerhappy]

Originally Posted by ladysavage

*Bump* any tips for where to stay in Berlin? I'm going on my own so want somewhere un-dodgy and near touristy stuff as opposed to a mahoosive party area (though i would like a bit of night life!), el cheapo as possible too!

For cheapness (and if you want to avoid a hostel) you could try my friends and family rate:

http://www.ihgfriendsandfamily.com/devp7r

[Rhöna of the Rhein]

Originally Posted by ladysavage

*Bump* any tips for where to stay in Berlin? I'm going on my own so want somewhere un-dodgy and near touristy stuff as opposed to a mahoosive party area (though i would like a bit of night life!), el cheapo as possible too!

Friedrichshain was pretty cool. We stayed in a hostel, which was imaginatively called Hostel am Friedrichshain on Hufelandstraße, which is about 10 minutes away from the city centre by tram.

Could've passed for a 2 star hotel. Cheap as chips.

[Witch]

Originally Posted by triggerhappy

For cheapness (and if you want to avoid a hostel) you could try my friends and family rate:

http://www.ihgfriendsandfamily.com/devp7r

fuck sake laura, thats CHEAP! week in berlin 96 quid

[I'm Your God Now]

I want to go back to Germany

That needs to be a plan of mine.

[Campestral]

how much is a carry out? having some beers by the beach or the river is always a good time to meet locals and understand the scene. most pubs and clubs these days are the same the world over