Berlin 2

Berlin pt 2

Continuation to this.

From the TV tower we went to check out what was left of the Berlin wall. What in other words is known as the East Side Gallery.

We walked from the beginning of the wall to the end, or actually from the end to the beginning.

Some pretty damn cool art, must say. At least on the East side of the wall.

There are a couple of beach bars on the West side of the wall, by the river. Made me think of the beach bars in Bloemendaal/Zandvoort in Holland.

From the East Side Gallery we headed off to find a late lunch/early dinner.

Came across Treinta y seis in Kreuzberg.

I had peanut chicken house special. REALLY delicious.

The whole restaurant/bar was really cosy and chill. Prices weren't bad either. I think we paid a little less than 25€ for two meals and water?

From 30y6 we went to do some grocery shopping. As I said, the organic shelves in Germany are pretty sweeeet. If my luggage would have let me, I'd probably emptied the shelves of the store. This time I had to settle with some muesli and dried cranberries.

The evening was spent at our hotel's mini gym and spa.

We got an invitation to join for some Berlin electro but the granny and grandpa in us won.

Sunday. Berlin is full of really cool street art. It is also full of not so cool graffitis on the walls of houses that could actually look nice if some maintenance were done.

Brunch day!

We were lucky to meet up with my school friends Katrin and Anne for brunch in Kreuzberg.

Later Thomas, my friend from exchange in Holland, joined us with a couple of his friends.

And even later we got my colleague Miranda to join, too.

As the weather was rainy and museums weren't such a tempting idea either, we turned our brunch into a five hour one. Was lovely to catch up with the guys and girls, hear the latest and just see some good old faces for a change.

As we talked with Katrin, when you move somewhere new, you have to start over again and again. Talk that small talk with everyone you meet. In times like these it is so good to see old friends who you can have a relax discussion with. No need to hear the basics because you already know it.

After brunch we headed back to the hotel. Quick stop to see Checkpoint Charlie.

Now that can also be ticked off from the tourist must do/'been there done that' -list.

Naturally we took a late train to the airport leaving us 40min before our flight was due to depart.

It was 3 July, the day Berlin's new airport was supposed to open, and because they delayed the opening with a year, most flights were transferred to the old airport. Luckily the security check line wasn't too long and we made it on our flight right on time.

Though I have to say the Berlin Schönefeld airport was slightly annoying. Very little space to walk (ok maybe there were just many people inside the waiting halls ;-) and having to walk through a bar which was full of people watching some match on TV was...blaaahh. Why build the walking lane through a bar? Me not understandy.

All in all very nice mini-weekend.

Thank you for everyone who gave tips on what to do! I got some really really cool tips when we got back to Norway but at least there's a lot to experience for next time.

Incl. Mauerpark Sunday market, an abandoned fun park, Tiergarten, a couple of clubs, Oranienstraße, Tacheles...

Love,

Linda

PS. Next stop: Helsinki, Finland.