We went to Berlin during our 1st weekend back to Russia after the New Year holidays. In our defense, Pat was traveling & wasn't going to make it back home, so a trip somewhere in Europe ("in the middle") was the only way to spend time together.
I didn't take many pictures while in Berlin. I've started the year off slow, in a funk about winter and returning to Russia for our 5th Winter (hard to believe!).
To get started, we stayed at the Hotel am Steinplatz, in the Charlottenburg neighborhood on the west side of Berlin. This hotel was amazing! It's an older historic hotel, that was purchased by Marriot and rebranded under their Autograph Collection. Great design, cool bar & restaurant, nice spa, and perfect location near the University and lots of restaurants/bars.
When we met up, the 1st order of business was a cocktail..... I loved the vintage glasses
And then we were off to dinner.... one of our favorites, which just happened to be a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Dicke Wirtin's. If you want some classic German specialties in a fun lively place, you've got to try it out.
Beer time!
I'm embarrassed to admit that both Pat & I cleaned our plates. Here's mine, which was a Berliner's Special. Currywurst, meatballs, pork roast, beats, red cabbage, potatoes........
And Pat's - Blood and liver sausage, pork belly, sauerkraut, potatoes......
I'm full just looking at those pictures....... Next day, we took a walk. It was cold, but sunny.
Brandenburg Gate
Ronny!
The Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarden. It was built by the Soviet Union in 1945, to honor the 80,000 Soviet forces who died in the Battle of Berlin in April & May of that year (after the war, Berlin was section into 4 quarters and administered by the US, UK, France, and Soviet Union).
The Berlin Victory Column or Siegessause. Built in 1873 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian War. It was moved to it's current location at the roundabout in Tiergarden in 1938 by the Nazis. It survived the war without much damage, and was considered for destruction by the French and Soviets. Luckily, the British & US vetoed the idea, and it still stands today
The statue of Victoria on top (Roman goddess of war) is called Goldese by the Germans, or "Golden Lizzy"
Lunch time!
Flammkuchen, which is a Alsatian flatbread Crème fraiche, bacon, green onions. Really tasty.
A Sunday walk through Tiergarden. Very peaceful and it's was nice getting some fresh air
It was a few weeks after the Paris/Charlie Hebdo attacks.
A piece of the Berlin Wall
Sunday lunch! This, my friends, is a Berlin Sausage Salad with pickles & onions. And fried potatoes on the side. I'm pretty sure Poppa Reiser would have loved it
And Pat has pea soup with sausage. Not what he expected, but he said it was good.
Auf wiedersehen!
Your grandfather would have loved it, I need to get their soon.
ReplyDeleteYour Dad would have loved all of the food you photographed ! What a surprise to see a Great Blue Heron in Berlin....or am I mistaken ?
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