Berlin Weekend

It was a weekend away, just a weekend, but a change of view is always refreshing.  And there's lots on view in Berlin.

Ulli and Ilsemarie set it up and drove us there.  I don't think I've ever driven with Ulli before ... he's a bit like me: rather impatient with traffic, and drives a bit fast.  But even faster than me!  I kept my nose in my book most of the way.

We stayed at the guest house of the Bremen delegation to the capital.  It's not as fancy as it sounds, but certainly nice - a little apartment, no cooking capabilities, but room to relax.  And if it's not otherwise being used by officials, it's available to any Bremen citizen and on the weekend, only €45 a night - that is a DEAL.  And location:  in the quarter where all the embassies are.  Nice.

After we settled in, we headed to the Gemäldegalerie - the museum that houses the state collection of paintings.  Specifically, we wanted to see the current show of Spanish paintings - Velázquez and El Greco among others.  Since we'd just been in Spain, it was a nice follow-up to what we'd seen there.

Food!  Ilsemarie has a childhood friend who's lived in Berlin for 35+ years so she chose our restaurants.  Good job, Rosie!  Friday night was food from the Schwäbish region of Germany - Spätzle, Maultaschen (ravioli on steroids), sauerkraut one hundred ways.  It was a warm and breezy evening and we sat outside a long time enjoying the weather, the company and the wine.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the food - sparrows everywhere, and they are not shy.

That evening back at the Guest House, we went up to the roof to enjoy the night skyline.

Saturday we did the tourist thing - a ride in one of the tourist boats along the Spree, the river that meanders through the city.  It's not Paris (what is?), but it is nice. 

Since part of the Spree was used as the border between the former East and West Germany, there are some amazing new buildings along the way.

 And some amazing old ones - here the Berlin Cathedral.

Back on land, we engage the helpful police.  We ask directions a lot.

Then out to the Gardens of the World near the edge of the city in the former East.  Getting there was easier by car, so we did.  Driving we got to see what we wouldn't have in the subway - one after another of block-style apartment buildings, 10 stories high, no personality, so uniform that I was getting a bit depressed just looking at them.  I couldn't imagine living in one.  The buildings have all been upgraded since reunification, but you can't change the architecture. 

But the gardens were a vast expanse of green and nice plantings - certainly a draw for all those apartment dwellers nearby!  Specialty gardens were there too, but not the showy flowers that Ilsemarie remembered from an earlier visit.  She was a bit disappointed.

Getting back was a challenge!  Ulli dropped us off at Habitat and he was supposed to go back to the rooms.  But he couldn't get there - blocked streets all over the place because of the Christopher Street Day Parade!  What a mess!!  We were lucky to meet up with him and then had to negotiate with various police blocks to get back.

Which of course made us a bit late for dinner with Rosie, but she patiently read the paper and waited for us.  This little sidewalk part is not particularly impressive, but the food was amazing.

Ah, last day, Sunday, we packed up and drove to the center of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate, the Monument to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and a stroll down Unter den Linden to breakfast at Einstein's.  How perfect. Delicious food, delightful surroundings, excellent service.

 

So, so long Berlin.  Catch you next time.

On the way back to Bremen and home, we had an early dinner with Ilsemarie's sister. She caters, so she really knows how to cook!  We had an interesting veggie lasagne and a lovely fresh salad - all the ingredients from local gardens.

A nice, nice weekend, packed full.