January 31, 2009

Top 5 events in Berlin 2009

Here you will find the top ten highlights of the Cultural Capital for 2009.

Event 1

Star photos in Berlin Postfuhramt

Event 2

Tina Turner

Event 3

MTV Europe Music Award 2009

Event 4

Tanztage Berlin 2009

Event 5

Berlinale brings stars in the German capital

December 5, 2008

Flea Market @Mauerpark – always on Sundays

Location

Right next to the MauerPark! If you get to Bernauer Street and stand in front of the park, you can find the flea market on the left. Only separated by a fence, there is a path parallel to the park. So this flea market is basically only one, but very long corridor. You can use both the Bernauer Street as well as the park itself to enter the flea market.

The Kick-off

Everytime there are many beautiful booths, but it`s still not overcrowded. Not yet. The action starts relatively late. The set-up won`t happen before 8 o`clock, usually iniciated by the professional jewelry and tech bargain hunters, but in general it only gets truly filled at 11 a.m. (For sellers obviously something silly). But for me very appealing is: Those who exhibit here are primarily private people, and not professionals! They have a lot of fun doing this!

Stuff & finish

Whether books, CD’s, lights or clothes, mainly cheap things can be expected. And in the end, many things are given away – because private people dislike to fill up their cellar again. The total sellout is around 5/6 p.m., because they cannot get back with their cars close to the stands before that time.

Extras

Something pleasant: there’s a cafe on the premises, das “Schönwetter” (the nice weather), where you can chill in the shade in lawn chairs, listen to DJ vibes and have some original sausages, if you like. You can also use the park next door to recover the strains of seeking. There always play a few small artists surprinsingly real good music, which gives the whole thing a pretty relaxing athmosphere.

November 14, 2008

The Berlin Wall – a summary

Important facts about the former Iron Curtain

Since we had a huge amount of traffic through questions regarding the berlin wall, we would like to take the opportunity and answer the most important ones of them:

Why was the Berlin Wall built / why was the Berlin Wall put up?

After the 2nd world war, Germany was seperated into an eastern (GDR) and a western (BRD) country, which also included a separation of Berlin according to the divisions (West Berlin as british, french and american – East Berlin as the russian sector). So the socialistic regime in the east wanted to “protect” its national border from the capitalistic influence from West Berlin by building this Wall as an “anti-fascistic barricade”.

The Berlin Wall between East and West - by siyublog

The former Berlin Wall between East and West - by siyublog

When was the Berlin Wall built?

The construction started on 13th of august in 1961 and took a couple of months to be finished.

Who ordered the Berlin Wall?

Walter Ulbricht, president of the GDR at this time, ordered (subsidiary for the interests of the socialistic regime and those of Russia) the build-up of the Berlin Wall.

How long was the Berlin Wall?

The longitude between West Berlin and East Berlin (inter-city border) was 43,1 km.

When was the berlin wall knocked down?

The “knock-down” started in the night between Thursday, November 9th and Friday November 10th in 1989, after over 28 years of existence.

Why was the berlin wall torn down?

Because it was time for a change! The opening of the Berlin Wall was drivin by numerous manifestations and the demand for “travel freedom” in the former GDR. There was a continous so-called “escape of the Republic” – where large parts of the population of the GDR flew into the Federal Republic of Germany on international territories, through embassies in several Eastern European capitals (among others Prague and Warsaw) and partly in Hungary since it opened its border with Austria on September 11th in 1989.

October 31, 2008

Madame Tussauds in Berlin

The most beautiful wax museum now established in Berlin

Its been a while that the Madame Tussauds in Berlin opened its doors, but expect a detailed review of Berlins latest big time attraction for tomorrow!


August 7, 2008

Flea Markets in Berlin – Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg

Flea markets are en vogue and are facing an increasing popularity in Berlin. If you will be strolling around the districts Friedrichshain or Kreuzberg, the following summary might help you were to go.

Private weekly markets

Kino Kosmos, Karl – Marx – Allee 131 a

Fr, 10:00 – 17:00

Boxhagener Platz

Sa, 08:00 – 13:30

Koppenstraße / Ecke Karl-Marx-Allee

Tue and Thu, 10:00 – 17:00

At Kaufhof Ostbahnhof (Koppenstraße)

Mo to Fr, 09:00 – 18:00

Sa, 09:00 – 16:00

Schönleinstraße at Hohenstaufenplatz

Tue, 12:00 – 18:00

Sa, 09:00 – 15:00

Eco – Market at Chamissoplatz

Sa, 08:00 – 14:00

Eco – Market at Lausitzer Platz

Fr, 12:00 – 18:00

Flea market in Berlin, colourful impressions by meaduva

Flea market in Berlin, colourful impressions by meaduva

Special flea markets

Big Antique market at the Ostbahnhof

Su, 09:00 – 17:00

Flea market Bergmannstraße (Chamissoplatz/Marheinekeplatz)

Sa and Su, (Su only from April – October), 10:00 – 16:00

August 3, 2008

The Berlin Wall – At Mauerpark

The Mauerpark in general

The Mauerpark is a park in Berlin. His name goes back to 1961 when the Berlin Wall was built, which was the border between the former Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding. Today, it is the border between the districts of Prenzlauer Berg (Pankow) and Gesundbrunnen (district centre). The areas around the Mauerpark are westbound the Brunnenviertel belonging to Gesundbrunnen, and in the east the Gleimviertel belonging to Prenzlauer Berg.

The Mauerpark - Berlin history close to Prenzlauer Berg

The Mauerpark - Berlin history close to Prenzlauer Berg

Worth a visit

Highly recommended is the wall close to the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark. Here you can discover really nice artwork such as the Rolling Stones Theme – I liked that pretty much. if you`re interested in spraying, you will find many young sprayers over here – hobby artists and pros.

The Mauerpark - Impressive part of the Berlin Wall

The Mauerpark - Impressive part of the Berlin Wall

July 25, 2008

Obama visits Berlin

For at least ten minutes, Barack Obama kept the crowd waiting – then he appeared at the Victory Column. Around 200,000 spectators celebrated the speech of the U.S. presidential candidates as a pop music concert.

Obama visits Berlin - Speech at the Siegessäule

Obama visits Berlin - Speech at the Siegessäule, by hibiotech

Not a long time ago, Dr. Motte fired up the masses of love addicts at the Love Parade from here. But on Thursday evening, Barack Obama spoke at Berlin’s Victory Column in front of around 200,000 people about his message of political change in the world. Obama’s team had done all the work. By far in the direction of the Brandenburg Gate, tourists celebrated in peaceful festival atmosphere.

July 3, 2008

A weekend in Berlin – Berlin travel tips

Have you ever been on a weekend trip to Berlin?

No?
Well then it is really time for this!

My own personal Berlin travel tips for you.
And I don`t know where to start first …

brandenburger tor - berlin travel tip

Saturday:

We stay at the Hotel Henriette. In a big city like Berlin is a true jewel of comfort.

New Hotel Henriette, Roßstraße 13
10179 Berlin

The Jewish Museum has given me a pretty strong impression. It takes at least 3 hours to get everything without beeing in a rush.
Extra Tip: On the 30th of August 2008 the “Long Night of Museums” will take place.
On the 13th of September, the museum will turn seven years. Therefore, on this day: Free admission for everyone!

The new Holocaust memorial.

The credit card is a great to use it in the Hackeschen Höfe, or KaDeWe to shop until you drop!

Cafe latte in Einstein – the time has stood still here, a little bit alternative, but the service is first class. Kurfürstenstraße 58, U Nollendorfplatz.

To have a feast go to La Pignata in the evening! Spielhagen 2, U Bismarckstraße.

And in the “Bar jeder Vernunft“: Typical Berlin cabaret scene in an old mirror tent with super nice, slightly crazy atmosphere.
Schaper 24, U Uhlandstraße

Happy and tired I am already looking forward to tomorrow!

spree berln - travel tip

Sunday:

Who wants to get up early, should necessarily go to the flea market in the street of the 17th June.
Strasse des 17. Juni, all year round Sat and Sun.

When the weather is brilliant, a trip on the Spree river is a must! Iyou can recover from long “strolling” through the city and after all its wonderful to see the sights of the city from a completely different perspective!

Then check out the exhibitions in the Old National Gallery.
Ice cream at “Australian” on the Friedrichstr. (at the U-Bahn station).

Definitly a pity to go back home. I would have liked to have stayed longer ….

June 30, 2008

Spain defeats Germany in 2008 Euro Final

Germany vs. Spain: 0-1

The tournament’s best team is European champion. Period. The Spanish, never famous for beeing a good team in tournaments, have finally been rewarded for their exciting soccer. They were the strongest of all teams in the field. They offered fast and modern offensive soccer at the highest technical level. This was shown par excellence in the 33rd minute, as Fernando Torres scored the game-winner after a brilliant pass by Xavi.

euro final @ Berlin Fanmeile

A promising future as a comfort

Germany’s reaching the final should not cover up the fact that the German team is able to do much more than it showed during Euro 2008. The team should focus on strengths that have been developed in recent years: to base attacks with quick combination moves on a sound defense and close the deal decisively.

Today`s celebration at the Fanmeile Berlin

After all, the German soccer team received a stunning welcome in Berlin by hundrets of thousands of fans today around 2 p.m. Coach Joachim Löw and his players were welcomed by Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, before the players walked on stage to applause at the huge “fan mile” at the city’s Brandenburg Gate.

Thank you guys, and c u again in South Africa 2010!

June 27, 2008

Euro Final 2008 – Have a guess!

Spain vs. Germany – the Final!

Got a bet?

So guess what, submit your tip for this exciting match and win the latest Edition of Lonely Planets “Germany”!

german fans @ berlin, euro 2008

Pic by: SpreePIX

Rules: You need the correct result to be in the lottery, no matter if its decided after 90 mins or OT!

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