Berlin

Ejo #34 – TEEC: Day 8 (Training It From Berlin To Amsterdam)

September 11, 2012Amsterdam, Berlin, Photographs, TravelAmsterdam, Berlin, train, Travelmisschryss Leave a comment

We could very easily have caught a one hour flight from Berlin to Amsterdam. But we always do that: fly! We have very rarely (and never together) caught a train to get from one destination to another. So we decided to travel the old fashioned way. It was a six hour train ride through some fairly unexciting, though (to a desert-dweller like me) still gorgeous, countryside. Very green countryside. That’s actually one of the things I miss the most living in Dubai, so when I visit a more fertile country, I try to drink it all in.

Waiting for the train at Hauptbanhof Station

Choo choo!!!

Enjoying the countryside.

Approaching Amsterdam I started to feel the way I always do coming to this city. Happy!!! I love this place and would live here in a heartbeat, if I could. People often ask me what it is about Amsterdam that I love so much. It’s hard to put into words, but perhaps I’ll be able to show you over the next ten days.

A typically steep Dutch staircase from our third floor canal-side apartment.

Ejo #34 – TEEC: Day 7 (A Picnic In The Park On Our Last Day In Berlin)

September 10, 2012Berlin, Food, TravelBerlin, Food, photographs, picnic, Travel, viktoriaparkmisschryss Leave a comment

After all the strenuous activity of yesterday’s exertions checking out the sights of Berlin (I calculate we walked somewhere between 15-20km all up and my knees are feeling it today) we figured we’d spend the day chilling out. What better way to start it than breakfast on the balcony of our lovely apartment.

Breakfast on the balcony

Later on in the day we went for a walk past a local general store where we stocked up on cheese, fresh bread, dip, salami and a few other tidbits. We kept walking a bit further to the park at the end of the street, found a spot, cracked open the bottle of rosé we’d brought with us and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon under the shade of a huge oak tree. Bliss. Berlin is a truly beautiful city and we look forward to exploring a different part of it (Mitte, north of the river) in a couple of weeks.

Picnic in Viktoriapark.

Ejo #34 – TEEC: Day 6 (Berlin Tourists For A Day)

September 10, 2012Berlin, Photographs, TravelBerlin, berlin wall, checkpoint charlie, photographs, Travelmisschryss Leave a comment

Today was Tourist Day. We heard more French, Spanish, English and Italian in four hours today than we have the entire six days of our holiday so far. But when you stray away from the hidden gem of a neighbourhood we’re staying in and strike out towards the popular sites of Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate, that’s what you’re gonna get. Plus: lots and lots of tourists.

As little as we like sightseeing though, some things must be seen. And the remnants of the Berlin Wall, whilst somewhat disappointing in terms of stature, still managed to be imposing as a symbol of historical strife. What the wall represents could take up several ejo’s worth of discussion. Suffice to say, we were suitably humbled by it.

The Berlin Wall