Hot and dry holiday destination.

[Michael L]

Berlin's a wonderful city and remarkably comfortable for a capital. Because of it's relatively recent history there's a lot to see, on top of the usual capital city sights. Public transport is very good though so it's quite easy to get about. But if you're there for just a day you'll have to be selective.

Berlin has an historical division based on east and west, even though it's been all one for 3 decades the clues are still there. I like the Reichstag, the seat of parliament, where the last of Hitler's most loyal soldiers made a stand against the Russians at the fall of Berlin. Sir Norman Foster designed the glass dome on top and the two cool spiral ramps that climb to the top. It's free but you need to book a few days in advance as entrance is limited.

https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBun ... ion/245686

From there its a short walk to the Brandenberg Gate. The wall was built just in front; there are some evocative photos of a different time.

https://www.berlin.de/en/attractions-an ... te.en.html

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=brand ... 24&bih=714

The main avenue looks down through Tiergarten, with the Soviet war memorial just down the way.

Just around the corner is the outdoor Jewish Memorial which has a fascinating museum below ground.

http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/memor ... -of-europe

And then it's a short stroll to the site of Hitler's bunker. All that's there now is a residential car park and a sign, but it's still somehow powerfully evocative. (Downfall is a great film BTW.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BChrerbunker

There's probably a busy morning's worth there if you crack on and don't study the reading materials too much.

I guess Checkpoint Charlie museum is worth a visit too, though it's 15 years since I've been so don't know what it's like now. But I found just walking down streets that were once partitioned fascinating.

https://www.berlinpass.com/berlin-attra ... useum.html

In the middle of the centre is Museum Island with 5 world class museums. I haven't been to any of them yet, as I've not managed to squeeze them in during visits to Berlin.

http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/museum-island

Not far away is the DDR museum which portrays life in the former East Germany. Which I thought was okay.

https://www.ddr-museum.de/en

We really enjoyed the Stasi museum though, but it might not be for everyone. It's a short journey further in to the old east, and is in what was the Stasi headquarters. If you watched Deutschland 1983 a year or so ago the Stasi scenes were filmed here. I found it quite surreal sauntering through what was once Erich Mielke's office, somewhere once so secretive.

http://www.stasimuseum.de/en/enindex.htm

There are still bits of the wall left, though most has come down. There is a Berlin Wall Memorial:

http://www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en/

And there's the East Side Gallery, ~1200m of wall that remains and is the largest outdoor art exhibition space, or something like that. 15 years ago I thought it was quite moving - the original panels of the wall were still obvious and the artwork was closer to graffiti and expressed some raw emotions. Now it's somewhat more sanitised, I guess it's not unreasonable to want some of the more unpleasant memories to be diminished; the panels have been rendered to form a smooth canvas and some of the murals are protected with Heras fencing. A lot of the paintings are very good though and it's worth a stroll.

http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/east-side-gallery

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=east+ ... 24&bih=714

If shopping's your thing then Kudamm was the place to go in the West. I'm no shopper but I imagine there are top shops all over Berlin now.

The local drink is Berliner Weisse - a white lager-type beer to which they add flavourings. It comes in red or green! (Raspberry or woodruffe.) I enjoyed them well enough but not sure I'd want a skinful!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_Weisse

There's so much more to do in Berlin, but your challenge will be choosing what to do in your day. (Amsterdam's alright too )

Thanks for these links Simon. So much to see and so little time in Berlin. Oh well we can always get a train from Gdansk on next year's visit to stay longer.
I would like to see the Stasi museum but Mrs L having lived through Communist rule in Poland won't accompany me there.
I wonder if anyone on here has seen The Lives of Others
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_Others
A terrific film about the antics of the Stasi and excellently acted.

[simon]

Also a good film!

[Dave the bass]

Also a good song

[andrew Ivimey]

40 berluddy degrees in Madrid, we're off to Toledo where....its even hotter. Mad dogs have a tradition to maintain!

[Ali Tait]

They used to make swords there didn't they?

[jack]

There is irony in real life...

I was back in the UK last week for the annual European InfoSecurity shindig - the main information security conference outside of the USA.

When I left Dubai, the temperature was pushing 40C during the day (it'll be 50C in a few weeks) - the UK was lovely and cool.

So, on Saturday, the village we live in, Goudhurst in Kent, held the village fete. It was 19C. Pretty much mid-winter for me - we had lunch at a lovely pub at Warehorne called The Woolpack - I was so cold, we moved to an inside table.

The annoying thing is that when we got home, I realised I was sunburnt. Been here for nearly a year, huge temperatures, pretty much on the Tropic of Cancer never been burnt.

Go back to Blightly for a chilly village fete, and get burnt to a crisp.

[Michael L]

40 berluddy degrees in Madrid, we're off to Toledo where....its even hotter. Mad dogs have a tradition to maintain!

Ah Toledo. You need a dip in the river. Beautiful city and wonderful walk alongside the riverside footpath. The narrow streets should afford some shade.

[andrew Ivimey]

Up in the mountings now, little village, Candelaria. There is a little snow on the tops but it is still a relatively chilly 30 degrees. It feels refreshing. 43 was Toledo, Segovia 37, Avila the same. Where's my skis? Sanity? Large snow chilled cervesa?

[Mike H]

43, jeez - was 25 here today, that's bad enough thank you

.

[Dave the bass]

42.5 DegC and 14% humidity in Dartford yesterday.

In the Conservatory.

[jack]

Warming up nicely here - Summer is coming (though still a few weeks away)

Not likely to rain for another 6 to 8 months...

[ed]

Pah piffle 44 degress, pah

My latest time/life consuming project was the installation of a remote weather station at the local flying field. What I don't understand is the humidity is the lowest today for a while but it feels the dampest...go figure.

I do find this stuff fascinating, nerd or what!

[andrew Ivimey]

25 degrees and thrre is just a little snow much higher up.

[andrew Ivimey]

That was at 1200 mrtres. Since then we came thro' the field of Napoleonic Battle of Salamanca where the temperature on the day was mid 30s. -cant begin to imagine that horror. In town it is 38... just no point in going out till the evening so were hugging the air con.

That tiny village we stayed in last night ( Candelaria) is THE official birthplace of chorizo.

[pre65]

Candelaria

Sounds like a STI.

You seem to be enjoying your trip Andrew, good on you.