Guten Tag, Berlin

Mr. U finally got to cash in on some vacation time and for the first time in a while, we escaped Moscow for a vacation together.  It isn’t that Moscow is not fantastic in the summer but sometimes you just have to “get out of Dodge” so out of Dodge we went.

Mr. U booked our flights to Berlin to leave from Vnukovo airport which makes things so much easier.  There is an Aeroexpress station direct to Vnukovo about 700m from our apartment and thus it couldn’t be more convenient to travel to and from the airport in comfort.  The airport seems smaller and quieter than either Domodedovo or Sheremetyovo and it was much less hassle going through passport control and security checkpoints.  It is too bad that KLM doesn’t fly out of there!

An easy afternoon flight saw us arrive in Berlin just before 6PM and checking in to our hotel by 6:30PM.  Our taxi driver drove by the major sights on the way to the hotel.  I suspect this was the deluxe tour and not necessarily the most direct route.  Still, it was less than 20€ and we did drive by the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Tower and we were given a clear view of Checkpoint Charlie down the street.  Mr. U commented on how he has pretty much seen everything he planned on seeing and is satisfied.  I snorted at this and thought to myself how this quick glimpse only made me want to see these sights even more. 

A quick settling in and relaxing time gave us the energy we needed to walk around and explore our neighbourhood for the next week.  We walked towards Checkpoint Charlie and back around through the streets of the former East Berlin district known as the Mitte.  We came across a remaining section of the wall, what looked to be a Trabi convention and a few signs that made us giggle like schoolchildren.

This building detail caught my eye.  I had to laugh when I saw that it was ... of course ... Starbucks!

A berry shack?  I'll have to remember that for tomorrow morning.

I wonder if they have them in my size?

sections of "The Wall"

Checkpoint Charlie

Section of the wall next to the Topography of Terror

Trabi Safari

 Better Aus than Ein?

 

It was time for some sustenance so we pulled up a couple of chairs at Quchnia and enjoyed some delicious and healthy food al fresco.  A delicious way to end a long day.

What is tomorrow going to bring?  Mr. U will get to sleep in while I head out in search of some early morning scenery and bring back breakfast treats.

Stay tuned for more adventures in Berlin!