Berlin

[maggiebee]

Off to Berlin tomorrow for a few days. Any places I should not miss when I'm there? Want to soak in the atmosphere.

[Prudie]

Only been once for a long weekend and you will get far better answers than mine but Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate are obvious plus I was in an area (forget the name) but there is an amzing bombed church that has been left as it is in the centre of a very interesting area with loads of restaurants, bars etc. Very atmospheric. Also a huge clock that fills a shopping mall that functions entirely on liquid in tubes. Sorry I can't be more precise, sure someone else will put me right. The aquarium was worth a visit too.

[EcclesCake]

It's been a while since I was there but I enjoyed Charlottenburg, Olympic Stadium, a beer at dusk in the rotating restaurant in the TV tower, KDV for shopping, and I agree with Prudie the restored bombed church is pretty amazing.

[retrocop]

The church is the Kaiser Wilhelm church which has been twinned with the original Coventry cathedral(Also bombed).An unbelievable Dept store.The food halls are bigger than our M&S on their own.A massive cold war civilian nuclear bunker built under a supermarket complete with fittings and hundreds of bunk beds.Guided tours provided.Battle for Berlin museum.A type of Euro tower for panoramic views of entire city.The reichstag(New parliament building built and designed by Brit architect).Checkpoint Charlie and museum.I believe the Large dept store I mentioned earlier is KWDe or something like that(pronounced Karvee).I loved Berlin's atmosphere.Only went for a weekend myself but managed to pack a lot in plus enjoy the local beers.Must go again.Will be getting a bit chilly now but I hope you enjoy what Berlin has to offer.

[EcclesCake]

I remember a bar/club that was really industrial with enormous circular saw blades for table tops and tractor seats for bar stools. It was adjacent to a half buried bus that had ended up nose down in the ground after a bombing.

Get a a kebab from a hole in the wall, awesome kebabs!

[Prudie]

Thanks for the name of the church, that's it. Looks amazing at night. The clock is a water clock and is inside the Europa Center, a shopping mall right by the bombed church.

[Prudie]

Did you buy a piece of the wall? I did

[AB Editor]

Don't know if you are arty or into culture stuff but the last bit of the Berlin Wall has been turned into a graffitii art gallery called the Eastside Gallery

http://www.eastsidegallery.com/

Poignant and cool at the same time.

[Captain Spod]

I know it was quite big, but there is an AWFUL LOT of err.. 'wall' for sale. Don't spend too much if you buy a bit. Schloss Charlottenburg is stunning and the Berlinische Gallerie (modern art) is worth a trip. The U-Bahn (underground) is utterly reliable and clean; feels safe most of the time but perhaps be careful late at night away from the centre.

[Zacs-Master]

The Fernsehturm (TV tower) is worth going up to get your bearings. Berlin has a very 'provincial' atmosphere. No real centre but very stylish in it's own way. Have a relax on Unterlinden and watch the world go by.