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The taxi collected us at 4.30 am and we arrived at Terminal 5 at Heathrow to check in and have some food. There was a 25 minute delay on take-off but we were soon at 39000 feet over Holland and Germany, landing on time at 9.50 am local time at Tegel. We cleared customs and grabbed the first taxi which took us to our hotel, Hotel Berlin, Berlin.  We stored the cases and went out to go to Alexanderplatz from Nollendorfplatz by U-Bahn.  We had our first of many Gluhweins, with either Rum or Amorretto         One of the main reasons for our visit in 2008 was to see the open area left after the demolition of the Palast de Republik which had stood since 1975 on the Schlosspalast site opposite the Dom.  The Palast was constructed from 1973 to 1976 in the prevailing architectural style for East German buildings, with bronze mirrored windows.  The grand opening ceremony was held on 23 April 1976, and the building was opened to the public on 25 April 1976. It was built on the site of the old Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace), which was damaged during World War II but finally demolished by the GDR authorities in 1950, as they regarded it a symbol of Prussian imperialism. It was sometimes nicknamed "Ballast der Republik" ("Ballast of the Republic"), "Erichs Lampenladen" ("Erich's Lamp Shop", referring to Erich Honecker and the 1001 lamps hanging in the foyer), or "Palazzo Prozzo."   The Stadtschloss as it was in 1910 and how it may look when it is eventually rebuilt.   The Berlin Christmas Markets bring the smell of Glühwein, heart-shaped gingerbread biscuits and roasted almonds to public squares and venues around the city. Don't fight the urge to fill that Christmas stocking. Go with it! The Christmas market on Alexanderplatz offers merry-go-rounds and fair rides in addition to the traditional Christmas stalls (24 November to 23 December).  The centre of eastern Berlin, the square is dominated by the high TV tower affectionately referred to as "Alex" - you can nip up into the revolving restaurant at the top for a great view of the city.  
A new market (above) has appeared this year, sited round the Neptune Fountain next to the Marienkirke opposite the Dom.  This Market has a large Ferris Wheel which is the one you can see on the webcam.  Among the most traditional of Berlin's markets is the Nostalgic Christmas Market around the Opernpalais on the grand, embassy-lined Unter den Linden. Open from 24 November to 28 December, it sells jewellery, glassware and ceramics. In the market opposite the Lustgarten, the Nostalgic Christmas Market around the Opernpalais, we had Gluhwein and sausage-in-a-bun and then continued our walking tour.  Only one euro for entrance, the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market is framed by the lit-up German and French cathedrals and Berlin Concert House (24 November to 31 December).  We stopped at the Hilton for a coffee then returned to the hotel to claim our rooms. In the evening we went to  Maximilians one of our favourite restaurants for our evening meal. We ate Bavarian food (see menu) and had some Weissbeer. It was quite late when we arrived back at the hotel---it had been a long but enjoyable day. |