I first visited Berlin in 1967 at the height of the Cold War and again the following year, when I spent two hours queuing up to get in and out of East Berlin. |
I visit Berlin two or three times every year and the photos below were taken in November 2008. The display will be refreshed at regular intervals. |
This visit was obstensibly to visit their renowned Christmas Markets (like I needed a reason). The weather was cold but dry and it was pleasant enough for lots of seemingly aimless wandering around different areas of the city as well as taking in five Christmas Markets, all of which had their own particular charms. I stayed at the Radisson Blu hotel , which is right in the heart of Mitte, next to the Spree and convenient for lots of fabulous places. Although I continued my tradition of making sure that I used all the possible methods of public transport available, I travelled mostly by trams, found only in the old eastern part of Berlin, and bus, so I was mostly above ground this time. |
Some photos from the visit
As usual, click on a photo for a larger version.
The 'Aquadom' in the centre of the hotel. |
...........Frogmen to do the cleaning! |
The hotel bar and lounge |
Now that's what I call tree decorations! (Taken from the hotel entrance) |
The Market at the Rotes Rathaus, opposite the hotel, as the previous photo shows |
The ice rink and big wheel at the same market |
The merry-go-round |
The big wheel by night |
All the Christmas 'love hearts' each with its own even sweeter message. The Leckereien stalls are on all the markets, this one is at the Gedächtniskirche. |
Another market - this one is at Schloß Charlottenburg |
Potsdamer Platz Arkaden in festive costume |
As is KDW (the Berlin equivalent of Harrods) |
The ubiquitous 'Glühwein' stall |
Willkommen in den Berliner Dom |
Das Rote Rathaus as seen from the top of the Cathedral |
One of the 'minidomes' looking down on the R.Spree |
The tombs of King Frederick the Great and his wife, Queen Sophie Charlotte, in the crypt of the cathedral |
More lights, these in the Passage next to the hotel |