With the weather forecast predicting that snow would fall throughout South Wales overnight, it was no surprise that when I awoke from my slumber and looked from my window not a flake had fallen. Rain and wind had instead decided to grace us with its presence.
We had been planning to go out for the day with our faithful hound Jack, so we were not going to let a bit of rain stop us in our tracks.
Jack at Barafundle Bay
West Wales was to be our destination, and after a bacon and egg roll (a sausage for the dog) from a lay-by en-route, we arrived at Carew Castle.
Carew Castle dates back approximately 2,000 years and is beautifully located adjacent to a large pond. We opted to walk along the one mile path which circles the castle and going past an 11th century Celtic cross and a restored tidal mill. There are also excellent views of the castle.
It was then onto Barafundle Bay. The bay is part of the Stackpole Estate that is located between the villages of Stackpole and Bosherston, both of which are not far from Pembroke.
After parking the car we followed the coastal path to the bay. The views of the bay from the cliffs are excellent and you can see why many film makers have used it as a location.
Barafundle Bay
Jack seemed to entertain himself on the deserted beach by either sprinting around in random directions, or by digging. But I think we seemingly own the only dog in the world that is frightened of waves.
With the wind and rain now getting worse, we decided to call it a day and head back home, where the first thing on the agenda (after a cup of tea) was to bath a dog.
Unfortunately the final day of our Berlin trip had arrived.
The good news though was that it wasn’t raining for a change.
After having our last German breakfast of cold meats and cheese it was off to make the most of our last remaining hours in the German capital.
Our first stop of the day was Schloss Charlottenburg in the west of the city.
The road leading to the palace from Sophie-Charlotte-Platz is very scenic with distinguished houses built on each side.
Schloss Charlottenburg
Halfway up this avenue a small dog, I think it was a chihuahua, tried to pick a fight with a German Wolfhound.
Even though the canines did not come to pawicuffs, the smaller one successfully chased the giant wolfhound away.
Charlottenburg Palace is a charming building and I managed to get a few photos.
Behind the palace is a large park with lakes and smaller outbuildings of the palace. It was a very relaxing place to visit and seemed popular with not only tourists but locals too. Obviously construction work was taking place here too.
Berlin Zoo
It was then back to the hotel to check out. With our bags left in the locked luggage room, we then made our way to Berlin Zoo.
The zoo which opened in the 19th Century, is said to be one of the most diverse in the world with approximately 1500 differing species living there.
Among the notable guests is the famous polar bear called Knut and Bao Bao a giant panda.
We still had a little bit of spare time after finishing in the zoo so we walked down to KaDeWe, adepartment store that is the equivalent to Harrods.
Berlin Zoo
We made our way to the 6th floor to view the legendary food hall. They sell a selection of everything including German sausages, cheeses, chocolates, beer, spirits and a lot more we didn’t get to see.
I probably don’t have to tell you what item of food my girlfriend decided to buy.
As I write this we are waiting for a taxi to take us back to the airport. I thoroughly enjoyed Berlin and the surrounding area.
I would certainly agree with the claim it’s one of the best cities in Europe.
To view my photos from day eight of my Berlin trip visit my Flickr photostream.
Once we met our tour guide at Zoo Station we made our way to the town of Oranienburg, just to the north of Berlin.
I have never been apprehensive about visiting a museum before today.
Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
Sachsenhausen was one of the first concentration camps that was set up in 1936 by the Nazis.
Just nine years later, over 200,000 people had been imprisoned here and around 100,000 brutally murdered.
I had a horrible feeling when we passed through the gates with a sign reading ‘Arbeit Macht Frei‘ which translates as ‘work sets you free’.
The most chilling section of the memorial was Station Z. It was absolutely horrific to think of the innocent souls murdered within it’s walls.
Unfortunately once Germany was liberated the horror here did not end there. Instead the Soviets took over the camp in order to deal with anyone who didn’t fit into their regime.
Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
It’s hard to put into words how I felt about this visit to Sachsenhausen, but maybe it was best summed up by the some words spoken by our tour guide.
In essence she said that humans are capable of so much evil, and it may take museums such as this to educate people into not repeating history’s mistakes.
Luckily for me and my camera, the gate was lit up in a neon pink colour, it allowed me to get some good photos on an exposure of 30 seconds.
Since it was our last night in Berlin, we opted to walk back to the hotel via Victory Column. It was interesting to see the German Capital functioning after dark.
We have most of tomorrow to spend in the city before we head back to Swansea.
To view more pictures from day seven of my Berlin trip visit my Flickr photostream.
It was a rainy day in Berlin but we decided not to let the weather get the best of us. So we went out to see some of Berlin’s indoor attractions.
In the morning we would try and find out what life was like for East Germans while in the afternoon we would delve into something a little older.
After we saw the small Stasi exhibition a few days ago, we decided to take Lonely Planet’s advice and visit the main Stasi Museum on the eastern side of the city. The travel publication had it third on its list of things to see in Germany.
As most of Berlin seems to be under refurbishment we should have predicted that this museum would be too. However all was not lost because it had moved to a temporary home opposite.
Watering Can Camera
The Stasi or former East German Ministry for State Security were determined to control and manipulate their own people and stop them escaping to the west. So the Stasi, complete with it’s 91,000 employees and 189’000 unofficial employees gathered information on suspects using James Bond style technology.
Cameras and recorders were hidden in such things as watering cans, bird boxes, tree trunks, ties, handbags and pens amongst others. Also body odour was collected from ‘suspects’ groins so specially trained dogs could track them.
Back into Mitte, it was then onto the DDR Museum. This interactive exhibition tells the story of everyday life in East Germany. It turns out East German children were put through group potty training and the government dictated fashion trends and music. We also read that specialist engineers and shop assistants earned approximately the same amount of money.
DDR Museum
My most embarrassing moment of the holiday took place here. I wanted to pose for a photo in a DDR Volvo that was part of the exhibition. But as I went to sit down I missed the seat and ended up on the floor. Ouch!
With my buttocks still slightly aching, it was off to get some lunch. We found a place called Allgretto next to the River Spree and opposite Berliner Dom. I opted for a German pork sausage with beer and gravy sauce, while in a shock move the other half went for a currywurst.
After this feast it was over to Museumsinsel to visit Pergamonmuseum. We queued in the rain for about 30 minutes to gain entry. We opted to buy the ticket for the permanent exhibition only.
Pergamon Alter
The highlight and main purpose of our visit was to see the Pergamon Alter. This giant structure is made from marble and has steep stairs leading to it’s entrance. I have seen ancient ruins before in Cyprus, but it was quite striking to see a monumental landmark such as this reassembled within a building.
In adjacent rooms are exhibitions dedicated to ancient civilisations such as the Greeks, Romans and Babylonians.
In the Ancient Roman room the Market Gate of Miletus has been restored. As you pass through it you enter the Babylonian exhibition through the famous Ishtar Gate.
After leaving the museum, the rain was much heavier so we de decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel.
Hopefully the weather will hold off tomorrow so we can make the most of our last two days in the German capital.
To view more photos from day six of my Berlin trip visit my Flickr photostream.
When the cockerel awoke this morning to emit its early cry, we were probably already awake.
This was to allow for an early breakfast and for my girlfriend to take several hours to do her hair and make-up before we took a trip to Dresden in Saxony.
With breakfast consumed and the hairdryer finally turned off, we made the short walk to Zoo Station to get our bus.
It was a two hour bus trip to Dresden which is the second largest city in Saxony.
Residenschloss
The journey had a few items of interest which were:
- ‘Ikea’ Forests – these are dense areas of trees planted next to the autobahns which only have leaves on the top. The rest of the trunk is shaved balder than the hair on my skull in order for companies to sell them to to furniture manufacturers.
- Service Stations toilets – like those in Berlin, they try to charge you 50c to empty your bladder.
- Contrary to popular belief most of the autobahns do have speed limits. The stretch we travelled on had a 120kph or 130kph limit.
- Wind Turbines – Hundreds of these green energy sources could be seen on the landscape.
Dresden
Once we arrived at our destination we were given a talk on the history of the city.
Dresden is a city famous for a number of factors.
Firstly for August the Strong, who oversaw the construction of many of Dresden’s buildings. This was after he took power from his brother who died of syphilis.
Secondly for its china. The legend tells that August the Strong wished to find quick ways to make some money. So he tasked his alchemist to make him gold.
The alchemist was given a deadline to find a method or lose his head. Unfortunately he failed to find a way to make gold. Instead he found the formula for china so Dresden’s reputation for China was born.
Thirdly, Dresden is known for the World War II bombing from allied forces which destroyed the city and reduced it to rubble and killed tens of thousands.
Frauenkirche
The first attraction visited was Zwinger. This is one of the most impressive baroque buildings in Germany and used to serve as a meeting place for royals.
Just opposite Zwinger is Residenzschllos where August the Strong’s female acquaintances would stay. Residenzschllos is connected with Hofkirche by an elevated passageway so August could confess his sins quicker.
We then traversed some of Dresden’ s narrow streets before getting to the main square or Neumarkt, which is overlooked by Frauenkirche church.
Frauenkirche is one of the main attractions of Dresden. The original building collapsed two days after the allied bombing in 1945. It’s reconstruction was completed in 2005.
If you’re wondering how it took so long to rebuild, the GDR left the rubble there to serve as a war memorial.
Furstenzug
Thankfully there were no Yogi Bears, Darth Vaders, Chickens or giant pigs to ruin any photos in the main square.
Just off Neumarkt is one of Dresden’s China shops. If anyone is thinking of visiting the city to pick up some china then I suggest you arrange a substantial bank loan or a mortgage first.
The street behind Neumarkt is called Augustusstrasse and is home of the Furstenzug or the Procession of Princes. It’s a 102 metre mural constructed from 24,000 porcelain tiles depicting royalty on horses.
It was then off for a walk along the river to get some better views of the cityscape.
Dresden
All this exploring had generated a substantial thirst so we headed back to Neumarkt to have a pint.
After locating a suitable bar with outdoor seating, I ordered a pint of Krusovice Schwarzbier, it promptly arrived 23 minutes later.
We then had a bit of time to try the local delicacy, a cake called Baumkuchen or ‘tree cake’. This gets it’s name from how it’s prepared and the lines on the interior look like those on a felled tree. I was assured by shop assistant that bark was not an ingredient.
Zwinger
It was then back to the bus and the two hour trip back to the German capital.
I really enjoyed Dresden, it’s a great city with fantastic architecture and character. It’s a shame we only had a few hours to see it.
To view more photos from day five of my Germany tip visit my Flickr photostream.
Based on a weather forecast saying Berlin would remain dry and clear, we changed our plans for the day.
Originally a number of websites dedicated to predicting the weather believed it would rain.
After eventually getting some breakfast it was straight on the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz. The first stop of the day being the 368 metre Fernsehturm or in English, the TV Tower.
After getting our tickets there was a waiting time of 30 minutes. We used the time to go outside and get some photos of the tallest structure in Germany.
The Fernsehturm
When our tickets were eventually called the tower’s lift transported us 203 metres to the observation deck in just 40.2 seconds.
The visibility from the platform was good and it was nice to see the German capital and its landmarks from a new perspective.
After queuing for three centuries to get back down to ground level, I needed a hot drink. Whilst sipping my hot chocolate I noticed some beggars, apparently quite common occurrence in Berlin. They walk around asking members of the public if they speak English or German before showing a card with a story asking for money.
One approached our table and asked if I spoke English or German, to which I shook my hand. She then rattled off a few more languages with me still saying no.
River Spree Boat Trip
Eventually she asked me what language I spoke, I replied with “Cymraeg”. This managed to confuse her and she walked off to hassle another people sitting at another table. Eventually she left when an elderly lady started shouting at her.
A Spree River trip was next on the agenda. With a beer ordered we sat back and had a drink while sites such as Berliner Dom, Museum Island and the Reichstag passed on the banks.
After we disembarked my girlfriend decided she wanted another currywurst, I opted for a bratwurst on this occasion. This long spicy sausage was quite tasty.
Fassbender & Rausch Chocolatiers
On walking to our next port of call, we discovered a chocolatiers called Fassbender & Rausch. Inside were chocolate constructions of the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Titanic. I managed to restrain myself from consuming them and opted to buy a smaller chocolate bar instead.
We then called into a small Stasi exhibition. This is an exhibit of records kept by the Stasi or former East German secret police.
A two minute walk from here, next to the stretch of the Berlin Wall we saw on Thursday, is an exhibition called Topographie des Terrors. This museum tells of the horrific crimes undertaken by the Gastapo and the consequences of their actions. It was quite chilling to read the terrible details.
Topographie des Terrors
On a lighter note, while we walking back to the train station, the giant pig and chicken costume that we saw in Potsdam yesterday had followed us to Berlin.
Our adventures continue tomorrow with a day trip to Saxony to visit the city of Dresden.
To view more photos from day four of my Berlin trip, visit my Flickr photosteam.
Based on our experience with yesterday’s rain we left the decision on what to do today to the last earth minute.
With the Berlin equivalent of Derek Brockway informing us that it would be dry, we got on the train and headed out of the city to Potsdam.
Upon getting out of Potsdam train station my sense of direction had obviously decided to stay in the hotel and we walked for 10 minutes in the wrong direction, ending up on a road in some woods.
After getting back on the right track we eventually got to Potsdam town centre.
Neues Palais
Potsdam is located on the river Havel and is the capital of the state of Brandenburg.
At the end of the main street is the Potsdam version of the Brandenberg Gate. Although smaller than its Berlin relation it is actually older and still quite impressive.
Also like yesterday at the gate in Berlin, where costumed characters such as Yogi bear and Darth Vader strolled around, a girl was dressed as a chicken handing out leaflets with a giant pig behind her.
It was then onto Park Sanssouci for a walk to see some of the attractions Lonely Planet states are essential viewing.
Orangerieschloss
The park is the oldest in Potsdam and is home to landscaped gardens, woodlands and Unesco World Heritage palaces.
We decided visit the building furthest away first which was Neues Palais. Like Berlin the construction and renovation bug has spread down to Potsdam, so a large part of the palace was under scaffolding.
Nonetheless the palace, which was constructed by Frederick the Great and later inhabited by the last German Kaisar, Willhelm II is still very impressive.
After making our way further into the park, which seriously lacks directional signage, we came to Orangerieschloss.
Schloss Sanssouci
Orangerieschloss is a 300m long palace built by Friedrich Wilhelm IV as a base for royal visitors. After avoiding tens of thousands of tourist buses I managed to get a few photos.
Following another signage-less path we came to the main attraction of the day – Schloss Sanssouci. This palace was built by Georg Wenzeslaus van Knobelsdorff in the 18th century.
The 132 stairs leading up to the palace are tiered with each section having hedgerows and grassy space. This was quite nice as (i) it made for some good photos and (ii) allowed for some amusing moaning from my girlfriend. But to be fair we had probably walked about 7miles at this point.
Potsdam
At the rear of the castle some ruins in the distance caught my eye. This turned out to be Ruinenberg, a folly built by Frederick the Great.
With our legs aching it was back to Potsdam to procure a pint of beer. I opted for a Radeberger Pilsner. The chicken at the gate was still going strong.
Walking back through central Potsdam, the German Derek Brockway’s advice failed us and the heavens opened. My other half who was eating a currywurst headed for a nearby tree.
With the rain we decided to make our way back to the subway station to get the S7 back to Zoo Station.
In our rush, and with my sense of direction still firmly packed away in the hotel, we ended up on the wrong train.
Luckily the subway followed the same route for a while, and by the time we realised we were on the wrong train, we only had to go back two stops.
Fortunately there were no more slip ups and we got back to the hotel.
It’s back into Berlin tomorrow to take in some of the museums.
To view more photos from day three of my Berlin trip visit my flickr photostream.
