Few Days in Berlin

Berlin Morning

After a good nights rest, The Sister are up while the parental Minions are still in bed. So we decide to explore our surroundings a little. It’s a bright sunny Berlin morning and a great opportunity to stroll along the water. After enjoying the sunshine we head to a coffee shop near our hotel, have a few treats and meet back up with Mama and Papa Minion before heading off to our day’s activities

Berlin Wall Memorial

Our first stop of the day is the Berlin Wall Memorial. This is a site where the divide between East and West Germany is memorialized. Since the divide isn’t just a single wall, the site also depicts the different elements of the construction. This includes indicators of where there were additional walls, checkpoint buildings and fencing. There is also a memorial area that identifies all the people who lost their lives both guarding and trying to cross the wall. Across the street there is a memorial building with exhibits that speak to the history and events that lead to the building of the wall. There are also exhibits that talk about different people’s lives along with art with expressions of peace and how something like this shouldn’t happen again. 

Aroy

After our Wall memorial visit we head to a nearby Thai restaurant for some lunch called Aroy. We order some deep fried gyozas to share and I get a roasted duck fried noodle. While it might not seem like it on the photos, the portions are quite large and we all find the meal pretty satisfying by the time we’re done with everything.

Berliner Unterwelten

The second major activity we have today is an Underground tour with Berliner Unterwelten. Our tour is the Tour M tour which takes us under the Berlin wall. Tour M tells of different attempts people made to dig under the Berlin Wall. Some attempts are successful but others are not and the tour walks through different points where these attempts are made. We head to the meeting point which is an old building. Once the tour gathers, our guide takes us down into what originally were bomb shelters. Unfortunately, after the first orientation room, we are informed that photography isn’t allowed when underground. There is a huge system of underground tunnels and we navigate through several of them and arrive and different stops. Our guide then proceeds to talk about individual or team attempts at different points to cross under the Berlin Wall. The tour is actually very fascinating and one I would recommend if the subject matter interests you!

Evening in Berlin

After the tour, we make our way back to the hotel to rest a little. When we look to head out again in the evening, the Parental Minions decide to stay in. This leaves The Sister and I on our own. There was always a restaurant we had on the list but didn’t think the Parental Minions would enjoy. So tonight we decide to go visit and try. On the way to the restaurant we are treated to some spectacular sunset views of Berlin. I really enjoyed our walk to the restaurant. There were buskers singing, people on steps just enjoying, and a general feeling of calm. 

The Night Kitchen

After a bit of walking we arrive at The Night Kitchen. It’s a restaurant that is recommended by a lot of different sources so both the Sister and I are excited to check it out. We didn’t have reservations but are happy that there is bar seating available and we happily accept it. One of the things that makes this restaurant popular is their “Dinner with Friends” option. This option is a allows the chef to cook anything they decide for you. What makes it unique is that you can ask for seconds if you like a particular dish at no extra cost. In addition if you get the drink accompaniment, then you will also be able to try a wide variety of drinks and order more if you like.  Overall both the Sister and I really enjoy our dinner at the Night Kitchen and wouldn’t hesitate to revisit again!

Brandenburg Gate

The next morning we are all up bright and early and have breakfast at the coffee shop across the street. It’s become our Berlin starting spot! From there we make our way to the Brandenburg Gate. It’s likely one of Berlin’s most famous tourist landmarks and it’s pretty apparent with the crowds and groups in the area. While its very neat to see, I think at the end of the day its just an iconic landmark. There’s not much more to explore beyond the gate itself. So we spend a bit of time taking photos and checking it out before moving on.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Our next stop is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. There are two elements to this memorial. The first is above ground which is this very visible and eye catching arrangement of different sized concrete slabs across a field. While the original designer didn’t intend for any symbolism, its been pointed out to some that there is some similarities to a graveyard and how each slab could be a plot or a gravestone. 

The second element of the memorial is the information centre which resides underneath the memorial exhibit above. The information centre tells the stories of the holocaust victims and is the home to the names of 3 million Jewish victims. It’s a very well done memorial, and as you can appreciate a very heavy visit.

Reichstag Building

After our visit to the memorial we head to the Reichstag Building. This is the home of the German Parliament but only since 1999. Our main goal for visiting is to actually visit the Dome that sits atop the building. But before entering you do need to book beforehand and submit some information (likely for security reasons). From there you can only enter through one entrance where you go through a physical security check similar to airport security. After that you are guided to one of two elevators that take you to the roof where you can then check out the Dome. 

The Dome

Atop the Reichstag Building is a steel and glass dome structure. It’s a modern design element to an otherwise very historical building. Inside are two spiral walkways that allow you to get to the top and enjoy some amazing views of Berlin. It’s a really cool design element and one that our family enjoy exploring. We spend a fair bit of time at the top of the dome and taking in a 360′ view of the city. 

Westin Grand Berlin

After our visit to the parliament we actually check the Parental Minions out of their room and take them to the Westin Grand Berlin. Since one of the reasons for this trip is their wedding anniversary, The Sister and I surprise them with an evening here. So we drop them off and allow them an evening without their kids to worry about and a promise to pick them up in the morning! For the Sister and I, it’s nice to be able to treat them to things like this. Seeing the smiles on their faces when we reveal our plans is a very happy moment!

Staying In

Meanwhile, the sister and I decide to also have a night in. We pickup some nearby odds and ends from different restaurants, grab some drinks from our hotel bar and settle in for a relaxing evening of different tasty foods and TV. The past few days in Berlin have been pretty hectic and slowing down the pace is just what the doctor ordered!

Soon enough our thoughts turn to sleep. Tomorrow we will be checking out, picking up the Parental Minions and heading to the train station. From there we’ll be heading to Munich where we will continue our German adventure!