Plakias Forums

Ostraco's Bar => Gossip => Topic started by: Barny on March 10, 2010, 08:28:37 AM

Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on March 10, 2010, 08:28:37 AM
Well it's still a while until summer so we have just booked a three day break in Berlin, staying at the Altberlin Hotel on the Postdamer Platz. I have never been before but Ruth lived around there many years ago. Looking forward to a bit of sight seeing and history and of course the beer will need sampling !
Anyone been there?

                         Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Mike from Sussex on March 10, 2010, 10:29:07 AM
Quote from: Barny
Well it's still a while until summer so we have just booked a three day break in Berlin, staying at the Altberlin Hotel on the Postdamer Platz. I have never been before but Ruth lived around there many years ago. Looking forward to a bit of sight seeing and history and of course the beer will need sampling !
Anyone been there?

                         Barny.

Barny,

I visited a good few years back when East Berlin had just opened up, but the wall had not been completely demolished. The difference between East and West was very remarkable then and it would be interesting to see the subsequent changes. I am sure one will be a large reduction in the Trabant population.

I think you will enjoy it, but look out for the trams, since you sometimes don’t hear them approaching, and if you wander into a cycle lane, expect to get roundly abused!

I particularly enjoyed walking around the Tiergarten and there is a very nice café there, overlooking a lake, where you can get a coffee, or something stronger.

Mike
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on March 10, 2010, 01:40:14 PM
Barny,

I am sure you will not see a Trabant because these cars are liquidated.
It is very seldom that we can see such a car on our roads.

Enjoy your stay in Berlin.

Kerstin
Title: Berlin
Post by: Steve Jones on March 10, 2010, 09:32:56 PM
We are also going to Berlin in the third week of March. We have booked at the Circus Hotel in the Barn Quarter of the city which looks fantastic.

I had the pleasure of staying for a few nights in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Potsdamer Platz nearly three years ago. This hotel was by far and away the best hotel that i have ever been too, the service was sensational.

We hope that you enjoy your stay. We understand that Berlin is still good value for money compared to other major European Cities.

Steve
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on March 11, 2010, 08:17:32 AM
Thanks for your comments. We are arriving on 30th March and looking forward to it. we land at Schoenefeld airport   How far is this from the centre?

                         Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Mike from Sussex on March 11, 2010, 09:36:41 AM
Quote from: Barny
Thanks for your comments. We are arriving on 30th March and looking forward to it. we land at Schoenefeld airport   How far is this from the centre?

                         Barny.

The airport is about 10 miles from the centre and there is a train which takes you into Berlin.

Your hotel looks to be on Potsdamer Strasse, not Platz. Check their website Altberlin-hotel.de

Mike
Title: Berlin
Post by: harribobs on March 11, 2010, 10:43:38 AM
Sounds good Barny!

(we're off to NYC next week   )
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on March 11, 2010, 10:47:26 AM
Thank for that.


HOTEL ALTBERLIN am Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Strasse 67
D-10785 Berlin-Mitte

I am sure the taxi driver will know it.

                  Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 04, 2010, 06:34:38 PM
Berlin is wonderful, no hassle no noise I could go on forever ! On the subject of the Trabbant, they have a Trabbant safari tour I have a photo i will upload later. Kerstin you live in a lovely place.

                         Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Steve Jones on April 05, 2010, 03:26:35 PM
Quote from: Barny
Berlin is wonderful, no hassle no noise I could go on forever ! On the subject of the Trabbant, they have a Trabbant safari tour I have a photo i will upload later. Kerstin you live in a lovely place.

                         Barny.

Loved most things about Berlin, it certainly has some great things going for it. Great value.

The only real drawback for us was a visual one; the sheer amount of graffiti, which was a real shame!
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 05, 2010, 09:25:42 PM
Barny, it is good to hear that you enjoyed Berlin.
Until now, I have never heard about a Trabant safari tour. I believe it would be in an interesting thing.  
I was 20 years old as I have driven my first and the last Trabant. Really, it is difficult to handle such a car.
When I go to Berlin than it tooks me around 2 hours. At the end of the last year I went to Berlin/Schönefeld
because I had got a lovely Christmas present from my husband... flights to Nottingham and back with Ryanair.
I had a wonderful stay in England.  

Steve, I agree with you. The amount of graffiti is a shame. Unfortunately, you will find it everywhere.
And mostly the police cannot find the graffiti sprayer.

Kerstin
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 06, 2010, 02:03:38 PM
There were about six Trabbants and they all toured round the city. It was a strange sight to see!  not like the jeep safari in Crete. Can't get the picture to upload but I will keep trying. We thought the Brandenburg Gate was spoiled by all the tourist stuff, "have your photo taken with an American" "buy a souvenir Russian hat" ETC.
We did a walking tour which took about four hours but covered all the main sites. the guide was brilliant and had so much knowledge.
I definitely want to go back to Germany soon.
Plakias still will be priority !

                             Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 06, 2010, 06:07:09 PM
Quote from: Barny
There were about six Trabbants and they all toured round the city. It was a strange sight to see!  not like the jeep safari in Crete. Can't get the picture to upload but I will keep trying. We thought the Brandenburg Gate was spoiled by all the tourist stuff, "have your photo taken with an American" "buy a souvenir Russian hat" ETC.
We did a walking tour which took about four hours but covered all the main sites. the guide was brilliant and had so much knowledge.
I definitely want to go back to Germany soon.
Plakias still will be priority !

                             Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 06, 2010, 06:19:08 PM
Barny,

I found a website and I believe it could be the "safari tour": http://cms.trabi-safari.de/opencms/opencms...home/index.html (http://cms.trabi-safari.de/opencms/opencms/trabi-safari/en/_main/home/index.html)

I am sure you have seen the most main sites of Berlin, but Berlin is very different to the most cities of Germany and very special to the
cities of East Germany. I live in Saxonia and I would recommend Dresden and our town Leipzig for your next travel to Germany
and of course it depends on your interests.

Kerstin



Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 06, 2010, 07:28:18 PM
[attachment=716:berlin_041.jpg]


Safari!!
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 06, 2010, 07:31:41 PM
[attachment=717:berlin_036.jpg][attachment=718:berlin_121.jpg]


Prost!
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 06, 2010, 08:15:53 PM
Quote from: Barny
[attachment=717:berlin_036.jpg][attachment=718:berlin_121.jpg]


Prost!

Barny,
during the last years I have not seen so many Trabi's on the same place.
These pictures are very good but I would not recommend to drive such a car.
The gear change is very difficult.
Kerstin
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 11, 2010, 08:34:15 PM
Kerstin,
If we wanted to visit your area, what would be the nearest airport and are there many good hotels at a good price?

                   Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 11, 2010, 09:43:30 PM
Barny,

the nearest airport would be Leipzig/Halle.
http://www.leipzig-halle-airport.de/en/ind...?newLanguage=en (http://www.leipzig-halle-airport.de/en/index.html?newLanguage=en)
Unfortunately, it is impossible to travel with Ryanair to Leipzig.

We have an other airport which is very small.
http://www.leipzig-altenburg-airport.de/indexen.shtml (http://www.leipzig-altenburg-airport.de/indexen.shtml)
When I remember you can fly from London/Stansted to Altenburg with Ryanair.

Both airports are very close to Leipzig.


Barny, please be sure, you can find many good hotels in our town and the prices are very different.
At first you can have look on: http://www.leipzig.de (http://www.leipzig.de)
This website is also available in English. The direct link does not work at the moment.  

If you need further information of course I want to help you. At the moment it is very difficult
to recommend a special hotel. We have so many hotels and it depends on your demands.

By the way: May I be your guide in Leipzig? Or better it would be a good opportunity to meet you
and your wife.
 

Byebye for now,
Kerstin
Title: Berlin
Post by: Barny on April 22, 2010, 12:08:37 PM
Kerstin,
Thank you for the information. I will take up your offer as a guide when we come over, don;t know when but Ruth also wants to re visit Guttesloh and that area as she used to live there. I could do with your e mail address, can you text it to me? 07521740385 ?

                  Barny.
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 22, 2010, 05:54:53 PM
Quote from: Barny
Kerstin,
Thank you for the information. I will take up your offer as a guide when we come over, don;t know when but Ruth also wants to re visit Guttesloh and that area as she used to live there. I could do with your e mail address, can you text it to me? 07521740385 ?

                  Barny.

Barny, I will get my email address.
Have a look on your mobile phone.
Kerstin
Title: Berlin
Post by: Kerstin on April 22, 2010, 05:55:36 PM
Quote from: Kerstin
Quote from: Barny
Kerstin,
Thank you for the information. I will take up your offer as a guide when we come over, don;t know when but Ruth also wants to re visit Guttesloh and that area as she used to live there. I could do with your e mail address, can you text it to me? 07521740385 ?

                  Barny.

Barny, you will get my email address.
Have a look on your mobile phone.
Kerstin