When we previously came to Berlin for the Christmas Markets, we stayed in what used to be EAST Berlin.
When I visited on my own I stayed in the Agon Alexander which was a very substantial hotel using a huge block of flats and my "room" had been a family appartment. When I took Carole on our wedding anniversary, we stayed in The Westin Grand, a really beautiful hotel built on the old Kranzler site at the North end of Friedrichstrasse. Then I tried the NH Mitte on Liepziger Strasse when I went to commemorate the end of WW2.
Since then, we persuaded son Simon to come with us, his first visit since 1984 when we all actually stayed in Schmockvitz just south of East Berlin. In 2007 we all stayed in the Hilton and Simon took no persuading to come with us again in 2008.
After a lot of computer research we have chosen Hotel Berlin, Berlin, simulating a hotel featured in a book and a film, called "Hotel Berlin" by Vicki Baum and this year we stay for the first time in what was WEST Berlin, only just a stones throw from the Kurfurstendamm.
In 2008 we have six aims: 1/ To see the major Xmas Markets. 2/ To see the final stages of demolition of the Palast der Republik. 3/ To visit the Hard Rock Cafe. 4/ To visit the Ka De We and see Santa Claus. 5/ To re-visit our favourite restaurants 6/ To go to Sachsenhausen....
We pre-book flights and hotel via internet and again fly from Heathrow to Tegel and use taxis at both ends.
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