Glockenspiel Munich, also known as the Clock Tower in Munich is one of the major attractions in Munich. Much like the Astronomical Clock in Prague, it is one of the top 10 must-visit tower clocks in the world! We visited the clock for the 11am performance…
Glockenspiel Munich – Top 10 Clock Towers in the World!
Rathaus Glockenspiel @ Marienplatz MunichRathaus and the statue in the middle of Marienplatz
The clock tower is part of the city hall or Rathaus. Hence its name of Rathaus Glockenspiel (City Hall Clock Tower).
There are 2 stories being told by the clock. The first part of the story (top portion) tells of a marriage which ends with a jousting match. The second part of the story (bottom portion) is a legend that depicts a dance that was suppose to ward off a plague.
The entire performance lasts about 15 minutes. It is actually quite tiring to hold the camera up for such a long time (thanks Kate!). Hence, here’s a shortened version of the performance for you!
How to get to Glockenspiel Munich
Map of Rathaus Glockenspiel Clock Tower in Munich
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Berlin Hof Hotel is a great starting point to explore Berlin. Located near to Berlin Hof Hotel are attractions such as the Gedachtniskirche, KaDeWe (Kaufhof Des Westerns – Shopping Mall of the West, biggest shopping mall in Europe) and the Berlin Zoo!
Gadachtniskirche – A symbol of the West Berlin during Cold WarAnother view of the Gedachtniskirche – Today it is a museum & anti-war monument
It was initially a challenge to locate the Berliner Hof. We walked up and down Tauentzienstrasse (Tauentzien Street) asking several passers-by and was still not able to find it. Finally, we asked the lady at the newspaper stand. She spoke to us in German but pointed in a general direction. We followed her direction and finally found it! Yup the Berliner Hof was undergoing renovation.
Hence the iconic Berliner Hof Bear also stayed indoorsReception of the Berliner Hof at the 2nd level
As we were there early that morning, we left our luggage with the reception and visited the Berlin Zoo! We only checked in after the zoo and we were completely surprised by the size of the room!
Large Room at the Berliner Hof Berlin Hotel
Berliner Hof Huge room with beds and living area!Living area with a sofa Berliner Hof HotelView of the main street from the living area from Berliner Hof Hotel
The room is REALLY HUGE! There is even an additional living space with a long work desk as well as a sofa. The TV is movable, allowing you to choose between watching at the living room or just laze in bed. We watched Big Bang Theory in German! 🙂
Toilet separated from the bath tubBathtub at the Berliner Hof Berlin Hotel
Although the room has a oldish look to it. The room was clean and kept in good condition. Because of the location of the hotel, you can overlook the shopping street right from the living room area. Did we also mention that the room was huge?
KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westerns) – Shopping Mall of the West
KaDeWe is a short walk from the Berliner Hof. It is not only the largest shopping mall in Europe but also the 5th largest shopping mall in the world! With 60,000sqm of shopping space and more than 2000 employees, you’ll be spoilt for choice here! We also got our nespresso machine here which was on additional offer. If you’re a nespresso lover, check out the Nespresso outlets in Europe as they offer better prices for both the machine and capsules!
Map of the Berliner Hof Hotel
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There are 2 things that you must see when you go to Mittenwald and Oberammergau in Germany. Wait…at this point you must be thinking, “Where the @$#%#@$$ is Mittenwald and Oberammergau?!”
For those of you who are travel show enthusiasts (or simply Lord of the Remote Controls), you may have seen Oberammergau featured several times on several travel shows. In this post, we will tell you the 2 main reasons :
1. The Bavarian Alps
2. Mural Art
(Yes, I understand. Mural art is defined as a large painting usually done on walls)
Our journey to Mittenwald and Oberammergau in Germany!
After completing our trip from Berlin to Munich via a stopover at Dresden, we decided to do a day trip to visit attractions around Munich. Originally, we wanted to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle. However, we googled and found out that it was the renovation period and visitors were informed that parts of the castle would be obscured due to the restoration work.
Hence, the next option was to embark on the Mittenwald, Oberammergau journey!
The catch is that this day trip would really take the entire day. This is because the journey from Munich to Mittenwald would take about 2 hours and Mittenwald to Oberammergau via Murnau would take another 2 hours. So 2 hours here and 2 hours there PLUS the return trip. That doesn’t leave much time for a day trip.
Hence, we would really advice for you to stay a night in Oberammergau (there are excellent views of the Alps from some of the lodges – imagine waking up to the Alps…) and try to avoid this itinerary. That is unless you think “been there done that”…
The trip started with a train ride first to Mittenwald. To get our properly geared up, we had croissant with a cookie crumble top, apple strudel with real slices of apple and our morning coffee.
Croissant with cookie crumble at the topApple Strudel with real apple slices!
We had some trouble at first trying to confirm that we were on the right train. Eventhough we were informed by the receptionist at the counter that we were on the right train, the sign board did not mention Mittenwald. So we asked some passengers on the train just to confirm. In addition, many seniors with hiking sticks confirmed that we should be headed in the right direction (hiking in the Alps right?)
Bus from Tutzing to Welheim
Unfortunately, due to construction on the tracks, we had to alight at Tutzing for a bus transfer to Welheim. The good thing about travelling in Germany is that if such diversions occur, there would be many people directing you and many buses awaiting to bring to the next available station for you to continue your journey.
The following video shows our departure from one of the smaller stations, shows our readers a glimpse of the countryside in Europe…
Departing a station in the countryside of Europe
Before long, the first view of the Bavarian Alps was in sight and we arrived at Mittenwald after several scenic stops…
First view of the Bavarian AlpsAnother view of the Alps from Ohlstadt StationMittenwald Train Station
Due to our low quality camera (any sponsors out there?), slow reaction and fast moving pace of the train, we were not able to capture some spectacular views of the views overlooking the fields and villages. However, we did capture a close up view of the Alps at Mittenwald station…
Close up view of the Bavarian Alps from Mittenwald
Fantastic Views at Mittenwald Germany
Here are some of the fantastic views of Mittenwald. To think that we actually contemplated to skip it to go to Oberammergau only!
Main street of Mittenwald – Cool thing about Mittenwald is that it winds between the alps and it built close to it, REALLY CLOSE!Church in the background and Mural building in the foregroundRestaurant Street at MittenwaldStreet with Alps in the background – Artistically taken by Kate!Restaurant with Mural art – Check out the crowd dining here!Street with view of the Church in the middleStory of the Spaghetti (ice cream) at Mittenwald…
A small little incident occurred when we ordered our spaghetti at this particular restaurant. After ordering our spaghetti and having waited for about 5 minutes for it, we were served with…wait for it…ICE CREAM!! IN THE FORM OF SPAGHETTI!!!
Of course it was not what we ordered. But we later realised that the waitress must have said “Spaghetti Eis (pronounced as ice)” which meant spaghetti ice cream! And we must have nodded! The waitress’ face went black for a moment but she was kind enough to finally deliver us our spaghetti. Judging from the half-filled beer, you can guess that we waited for quite a bit. Even had to rush the spaghetti down so that we would not miss our next train to Oberammergau…
Train leaving Mittenwald to Murnau, change of trains to Oberammergau
Arriving at Oberammergau
After another 2 hours ride (maybe slightly less), we finally arrived at Oberammergau!
View of the alps while leaving MittenwaldAlps and fieldsMini train taking us from Murnau to OberammergauBavarian Alps and crystal clear waters of the rivers at Oberammergau (Kofel Oberammergau Matterhorn in the background)City Map of Oberammergau
After stepping out of the station, there was a huge crowd of people that turned right (facing the main street). However, Kate and I analysed the map and decided to turn left instead. And it was the right direction! Turning left took us to the heart of the city!
So remember to turn left when you leave the train station, facing the main street!!
Here are some of our memorable moments at Oberammergau!
Alps (The Kofel : Oberammergau Matterhorn) and the ice cream shopRealistic Mural Art – 3D effect!Motorcycle or planes for kids to ride on!House with mural art and a nice gardenMore Mural Buildings!
Oberammergau City Centre – Murals Galore!
A Catholic Church OberammergauChurch and the iconic alps (Kofel aka Oberammergau Matterhorn)Another shot of the Bavarian Alps from Oberammergau Matterhorn (The Kofel)
Oberammergau Restaurants and Mural Art!
We had dinner at one of the restaurants in the city centre and it was actually quite tasty. The dinner costs 25Euros inclusive of taxes and tips. The pork sausage with onion rings and pickles was a good starter that worked up our appetite. The roasted pork with dumpling was quite good. The taste was flavourful. Eventhough it was a little bit salty, taken together with the dumpling, the taste was perfect.
Food and Drinks MenuRoasted pork with drumpling and krautPork sausage salad with onion rings and picklesRathaus or City Hall of OberammergauCuckoo Clock Shop Oberammergau
Although we couldnt afford the cuckoo clocks, we did learn a thing or two from the shop assistant. Turns out that the price of the cuckoo clocks depends on
1. Whether it is an actual one (that has mechanisms built in) or an imitation
2. Size (Hence, the longer it can go without winding)
3. Music / Intricacy
So these factors come together to determine prices of the cuckoo clocks that can go as high as 2000 euros! 😮
Souvenir shop in OberammergauPassion Playhouse Oberammergau
We hope that you have enjoyed this post (one of our longest EVER!) about our day trip from Munich to Mittenwald and Oberammergau! Do leave us your comments below!
We’ll now leave you with a video of the sunset at Oberammergau!
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Bavarian Alps Oberammergau Mittenwald
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Munich, Mittenwald and Berlin right here!
As we travelled about in Berlin, we came across many MANY currywurst shops and again MANY say that they’re the ORIGINAL Berliner Currywurst. So to put all this hype to rest, Kate and I investigated the Berliner Currywurst…
Everyone also say they have the Original Berliner Curry Wurst
So we took out our 1.5euros and ordered the currywurst at this particular shop. It took all of 1 minute before the owner came out from his kitchen and served us this piping hot wurst…
Our first Berliner Currywurst
The thing is, there’s really nothing to shout about here. The reddish sauce is really a tomato based sauce poured over the wurst. The yellowish curry powder sprinkled on the top was the only thing “curry” about the wurst.
What salvaged this dish was that it was cold (about 10 degrees in the morning) and that the wurst was piping hot. Taste though, was quite normal really.
So. To put all the hype about Berlin Curry Wurst to rest, there is really nothing to shout about here. Just good old wurst in the cover of another mildly flavoured sauce.
A blessing in disguise? You decide!
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Dresden was our chosen stopover as we travelled from Berlin to Munich to join the Oktoberfest. We did not know much about Dresden (not that we do now) but it was one of the more prominent cities on the map and we thought it would be good to make a stopover, breaking the 7 hours train ride into well…a more “bear”able journey! 🙂
We woke up early that morning and had breakfast at Le Crosbag for 7euros…
Breakfast of croissant & coffee at Le Crosbag
We even got to see the sunrise at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)!
Sunrise at Berlin HBF
We caught the train to Cottbus @ 7:35am (don’t worry, if you are not sure of the timings, the friendly staff of Bahn will print out the itinerary and guide you on where exactly to catch the trains) and transferred to platform 10 for the train to Dresden. It was a bit of a rush since we only had minutes to catch the next train – a little bit like the Amazing Race…de de de…
Train from Berlin HBF to Cottbus at 735amTrain to Dresden at 915am
If you’re wondering why we’re changing trains here and there, the reasons are
1. Happy Weekend (Schones Wochende) Tickets are ALOT cheaper. For 42euros, you can travel in a group of 5 (YES! 5 PEOPLE!!) within a slightly more than 24 hours window ANYWHERE in the country. The catch is that you cannot take the fast trains like ICE. Hence, our journey was lengthened to about 9 hours instead of 6.5 hours with ICE. Well, ICE costs 120euros per person…that’s 240euros for both Kate and I. Compared to 240euros, 42euros seemed like a good choice…
2. Stopovers / Day trips. The longer journey allowed us to enjoy the countryside and make a stop over at Dresden. So that we can bring you this post about Dresden right?
Whats there to do at Dresden?
Dresden Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)
The old city (or Alte Stadt) of Dresden is just a short 10 minutes walk from the Dresden HBF. Once out of the train station, look for directions to Prager Strasse (or Prager Street). This is a row of shops, mall and arcades along the way to the old city. Modern before the classics. Nice.
Prager Street – Shopping galore!
One of the things that caught our attention was a lady instead of a man on the traffic lights…
There are many other interesting historical architectures that caught our attention…
Semperoper Opera House – Experience Opera at its best!
Watch this video of Theatreplatz in Dresden!
Statue of King Johann in front of the SemperoperKathedrale @ Old City of DresdenZwinger Palace Dresden
Take a 360 view of Zwinger Palace in Dresden!
View from the Augustus Bridge (River Elbe)View of the River Elbe DresdenFürstenzug aka Procession of Princes – A 102 metres long mural!Frauenkirche with Statue of Martin Luther – Possibly the most famous building in Dresden
Neumarkt and Frauenkirche
On the way back to the train station, we decided to stop by the Herbstmarkt (or Autumn Market) for lunch…
Entrance of Herbstmarkt Dresden
Feel the vibe at the Dresden Herbstmarkt!
One of the many food stalls at Dresden Herbstmarkt
There were many stalls at the Herbstmarkt. There were stalls that sells food (of course), souvenirs, snacks (like nuts that we snacked on) and open air seating areas. If you’ve seen the video, you would have heard the loud music in the background as well!
We finally settled on this stall – that many people visited (you wont go wrong with crowds)
Stall where we bought our lunch
So here’s what we had – champignons (mushrooms), pork patty, potatoes and beer. All for 10euros! The mushrooms was really flavourful. The yoghurt topping really blended well with all that flavour. The pork was chunky and meaty and the potatoes were well “marinated” on that big giant flat pan that they use in the tents.
Lunch of mushrooms, pork patty, potatoes and beer for 10euros
Do note that at some pubs, there is a deposit (called Pfand) for beer mugs. Could be like 2euros. Once you finished drinking and return the mugs, you’ll get your deposit back.
On the way back, we stopped by the old city and got ourselves a cookies and cream ice cream. A large one for 1.70euros.
One for the road – Cookies and Cream Ice Cream!
All in all, it was a great day trip that Kate planned (Thanks!) and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves revelling in the history of Dresden as well as taking part in the festivities at the Herbstmarkt. The meal there was particularly enjoyable. Picture the cool weather with the sun shining brightly, lively music in the background and great food.
All the perfect ingredients to a great meal and a great stopover at Dresden!
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Hofbrauhaus or Hof brew house (Brewery) is one of the must-visit attractions in Munich! On every Munich tourist brochure we received, the iconic HB (Hof Brau) will definitely be mentioned and we’re gonna tell you why…
Why visit Hofbrauhaus Munich?
Hofbrauhaus am Platzl in Munich
If you are visiting Munich but happen to miss the Oktoberfest, no worries. The Hofbrauhaus is a restaurant in the heart of Munich where the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest happens every night!
There are 2 portions to Hofbrauhaus, namely the restaurant area…
Inside the restaurant area of Hofbrauhaus
as well as the “happening fest” area / open air area
View from the restaurant into the open air area
There is a performance area where live Oktoberfest music is played nightly at the fest area. Hence, if you missed the Oktoberfest proper, Hofbrauhaus is definitely one of the places you must go to catch up on the atmosphere of the festivals.
What to eat & drink at Hofbrauhaus am Platzl Munich
Drinks and Food Menu at Hofbrauhaus
For drinks, you can choose from the usual wheat beers (at about 4euros for 0.5litres) such as light, dark or the Oktoberfest brew (only during Oktoberfest period) specially brewed for the Oktoberfests.
But the highlight of the menu has got to be pork knuckle (or Schwein Haxe)!
Best pork knuckle ever @ Hofbrauhaus Munchen
First and foremost, the skin was crispy yet not the overly crispy type where you feel it is almost burnt. The fatty bits was not too fatty but just nice, allowing you to bite off. There are some versions where the fatty bits are not well done and you will find it very hard to chew off.
The meat itself was flavourful and juicy, infused with the herb taste. If you take 1 mouth of the crispy skin, fatty bit and flavourful meat, it would just be “Ah….”
One word for the pork knuckle – Yummilicious! (That’s when you need to combine yummy and delicious into one word)
And it really was…
The ambience inside the restaurant was also fantastic. We were seated at one corner of the restaurant with views out to the pathway outside the restaurant…
Window seats at Hofbrauhaus Munich
In addition, the tables we were seated at were traditional, made out of wood and even had supports for our feet. The service was also great. The waiter took care to speak to us in good English and was meticulous in his service. Eventhough we only ordered one portion of the pork knuckle to share, he automatically got an extra plate for us and often checked back with us from time to time to ensure that we were really well taken care of.
All in all, our experience at Hofbrauhaus was nothing short of excellent. And you would think that the bill would run sky high? Nope. We only spent 20.20Euros that evening and enjoyed a wonderful meal with excellent service at that!
Total bill at Hofbrauhaus – Well worth every cent!
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Actually, Kate and I sort of stumbled upon the East Side Gallery. We were kind of searching for it in a general direction but did not know exactly where we were going. So we walked 2 long streets and were thinking to ourselves “Are we in the right direction?”. Just then, we saw a long stretch of wall and we knew we had arrived at the East Side Gallery!
Berlin Wall East Side Gallery Information
The East Side Gallery is actually a collection of art work from artists all over the world. It was started in 1990 and now consists of 105 pieces of art at this open air gallery.
Cute Watch Tower @ Berlin Wall East Side GalleryDepiction at Checkpoint Charlie
The above 2 pictures are the most iconic drawings at the East Side Gallery. We often see it on the postcards in Berlin. There are also many other cute, interesting and though-provoking artworks at the East Side Gallery…
Murals on the Berlin WallEast Side Gallery as we walked from Warschauer Street
Chill by the river at the East Side Gallery
As we continued to stroll along the East Side Gallery, we noticed a boat that resembled a floating hostel…
Eastern Comfort Hostel – East Side Gallery
Turns out that the Eastern Comfort Hostel was a vessel that has been refurbished to become a floating hostel. So Kate and I decided to have a drink at the Floating Lounge…
Floating Lounge of Eastern Comfort Hostel
The prices at the floating lounge was quite reasonable. We had a cider and one of the beers on tap. The cool thing about drinks in Germany is that the drinks are usually served in the glasses of the same name! (Yes, we drank Bulmers cider and Rothaus beer)
Bulmers Cider and Rothaus Beer at Eastern Comfort Hostel Floating Lounge
The atmosphere was relaxed, unpretentious and chill. There were others seated around us, catching up with one another and enjoying jokes among themselves. Coupled with the view of the river, that was really a simple, lazy yet unforgettable afternoon…
View of the river from the floating lounge @ East Side Gallery
Map of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery
Map of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery
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Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin was the only point for foreigners to do border crossing into East Berlin during the Cold War. The most infamous incident that took place at Checkpoint Charlie was in October 1961 where there was a stand-off between 10 tanks from both American and Soviet troops. Today, Checkpoint Charlie is a major tourist attraction when visitors come to Berlin.
The name “Charlie” came from the letter “C” used in the military where “A” stands for “Alpha”, “B” for “Bravo” & “C” for “Charlie” etc.
You would recognise Checkpoint Charlie easily because of the checkpoint itself, sandbags, guards as well as a large poster of a soldier (American or Soviet depending on which side you are at)
If you are on the Soviet side entering into the Allies (American) sector, you would see a picture of the American soldier at Checkpoint Charlie…
Checkpoint Charlie : American soldier as you enter the Allies American Sector
Conversely, if you are on the American sector, entering into the Soviet side, you would see a picture of the Soviet soldier as well as the famous words “YOU ARE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR“…
Checkpoint Charlie : Soviet Soldier as you enter the Soviet SectorAerial view of Checkpoint Charle : West Berlin at the top and East Berlin at the bottom
This picture shows the aerial view of Checkpoint Charlie during the Cold War era. Notice the many lanes after crossing Checkpoint Charlie and even an area set aside for checking of cars entering into East Berlin.
Today, Checkpoint Charlie is a huge tourist attraction where you can learn more about the Berlin Wall through the museums, have a bite at the nearby cafes or even take a photo with uniform guards and have your passport chopped by the Soviet and American border controls!
Exhibition about the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint CharlieThurmann Bakery @ Checkpoint Charlie : Coffee, Sandwich and CakeUniformed Soldier guarding the CheckpointGetting your passport stamped for a small price of $5Euros
Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is always accessible but the uniformed guards will be there during normal working hours. If you would like to take a picture with the guards or have your passport stamped, a nominal fee of $5euros would apply.
How to get to Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin
Map of Checkpoint Charlie Berlin
Checkpoint Charlie is located at the intersection of Friedrichstrasse (Friedrich Street) and Niederkirchnerstrasse (Niederkirchner Street) and is just a short walk from the nearest U-Bahn – Koch Strasse Station.
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Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe is actually a Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. The 2711 (two thousand seven hundred and eleven) grey concrete slabs which resembles coffins are a stark reminder of the pain and suffering that the Jews gone through during the world war period.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe : A Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
The memorial is a short walk south of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, along Behren and Eber Strasse (Street). It is a solemn sight looking at the memorial. It creates a backdrop before visitors enter into the information centre.
Opening Hours of the Information Centre of Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe
The opening hours of the information centre is 10am to 7 or 8pm (depending on the time of the year). Inside, accounts of the victims will be depicted and you will get to understand the pain and sufferings of the Jews during this dark period. The memorial also recalled our visit to Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, which depicts the time when Anne Frank and her family were similarly persecuted during World War 2.
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Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Admission is free. However, they will be a need to queue and also carry out a quick check of your belongings before entering.
The memorial is open daily from 10am to 7 or 8pm depending on the time of the year.
How to get to Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin
It is relatively easy to get to the memorial. Once you are at Brandenburg gate, look for Eber Strasse (Eber Street) and walk along it. It is located at the corner of Eber and Behren Strasse.
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A word of advice, do not walk on the top of the concrete slabs. They vary in height and some may be a few metres in height. Do take care of this especially for young children. Falling from this great height may be catastrophic.
Enjoy this solemn but richly educational visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe, right here in Berlin!
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin has got to be one of the must-visit attractions when you visit the capital of Germany – Berlin!
Brandenburg Gate Berlin Germany
Brandenburg Gate was constructed in the 18th century and is synonymous with Germany because of the major events that it has seen. Napoleon passed through it, while more recently (although not so recent) East and West Germany were separated by it. Today, it is a major tourist attraction not only because of its significance to the history of Germany but also because of its location.
If you take a walk along Unter den Linden towards the Brandenburg Gate, you will find that it is home to many Embassies such as the Russian and British Embassy. Many famous architectures are also located in the vicinity of Unter den Linden which includes the Adlon Hotel, Berlin State Opera, Crown Prince’s Palace, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral as well as the Historical Museum.
Brandenburg Gate – Venue for Major Events in Berlin & Germany
Events are also often held at the Brandenburg Gate today. During our recent visit, we witnessed the Berlin Marathon as well as some panda activists (we think?) doing a video shoot!
Panda Activists at the Brandenburg Gate
Pandas passing through Brandenburg Gate GermanyDirector telling the pandas how the shoot should be doneFinishing Point of the Berlin Marathon at Brandenburg Gate
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How to get to Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
It is relatively easy to get to Brandenburg Gate. Located at Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin Mitte, you can reach there easily via the U or S bahn stopping at “Brandenburger Tor”.
The Berlin Zoo is one of the main attractions and things to do in Berlin! We have heard many things about the Berlin Zoo and its comparison to the Singapore Zoo and since we were staying nearby, we decided to check it out!
Opening Hours of Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoo has different opening hours throughout the year, make sure you check out the following before you visit!
1st, January to 15th, March:
9 am – 5.00 pm 16th, March to 23rd, March:
9 am – 7.30 pm 24th March to 08th September:
9 am – 7.00 pm 09th September to 20th Okctober:
9 am – 6.30 pm 21st, October to 31st, December:
9 am – 5.00 pm 24th December:
9 am – 2 pm 31st December:
9 am – 5 pm
Admission Ticket Prices to the Berlin Zoo
For visitors, admission to the Berlin Zoo costs 13Euros, not exactly cheap. However, if you get the bundle with the aquarium, the price is 20Euros.
Things to do and Attractions in Berlin Zoo
Our first impression of the Berlin Zoo was that it is more of a garden than a Zoo. There are lots of greenery and spaces for people to stroll and just enjoy nature.
Fountain and Garden View in Berlin Zoo
We later found out that the Berlin Zoo is actually huge. 34 hectares huge! It is also one of the oldest zoo around, opened in 1844! 😮 Check out the map of Berlin Zoo!
Map of the Berlin ZooBerlin Zoo Tickets & Brochure
As we ventured deeper into the zoo, we kept hearing these loud animal calls. Turns out to be a species of monkey will throats that bulge as they go about doing their mating calls!
Touch Zoo
Besides the animals, there is also a touch zoo where kids can interact and feeds goats and little ponies.
Goat hanging around the feed machine at the Touch Zoo
This smart goat knows that visitors have to buy their feeds from this machine and it just hangs around the feed machine waiting for visitors to come!
Restaurants & Playground
Children’s play area at the Berlin Zoo
Beside the children’s play area, there’s small cafes/restaurants where you can get your fill and continue to visit the rest of the zoo. Here, at one of the restaurants we had a germknodel for 5euros…
Germknodel – Warm Prune Dumpling with Cold Vanilla Sauce 5Euros
It started out at something that we were not used to. But it turned out to be fairly addictive! The vanilla sauce was slightly sweet which matches the dumpling and the prunes were slightly sour that gives it a tangy feel. Not bad. Not bad at all… 🙂
Inside the germknodel
Animals at the Berlin Zoo
After talking so much about the zoo itself, we shall finally visit the stars of the Berlin Zoo, the animals! Here are the list of animals that we felt were quite interesting…
We called this animal “Chomp Chomp” because it just chows down every fruit in its path! The fruits were distributed all over the sanctuary but it just scans the entire area and chows down all the fruits, leaving next to none for it’s companions!
A pack of wolves running past usA Huge Condor with Large Feet!The Okapi!
Whats a visit to the zoo without see the king of the jungle! The Lion! Here you see it prowling up and down while the Lioness just sleeps in oblivion! The next picture was a rare catch. Kate caught the lion yawning…and the next moment, it just falls asleep!
Lion Yawns…and falls asleep!
But when you’re there, dont stay too close to the cages. This signs warns visitors of the “showers” they may get if they’re too near the lions!
Warns people that lions may pee past the barrier!3 Polar Bears napping in the sun!King Penguins and Penguins with hairy eyebrows like those in Happy Feet!Chimpanzees doing acrobatics on the ropesHabitat of the Giraffes1 month old Anchali with its mother enjoying a strollThe Alkapa at the entrance of the Berlin Zoo!
We’ll leave you now with a video of the sea lion that sits proudly on a rock having its sun tan , while the rest can do nothing but watch and wait for their turn…
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Berlin Zoologischer Garten
How to get to the Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoo is located at Budapester Straße 32 which is actually right beside the Zoologischer Garten station for both U-bahn and S-bahn. Hence, just alight at these stations and the Zoo is just a short walk away.
The Berlin Zoo is actually not as good as the Singapore Zoo in terms of educational value and visitor attractions. However, it does have a few animals that are unique to temperate countries. So do enjoy the Berlin Zoo the next time you visit Berlin!
On our trip to Berlin, Kate decided to organise a trip for us to visit the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre. She knew that I was interested to see the Berlin Wall (Die Berliner Mauer) in person, especially after watching a documentary how the wall was erected and “improved” over the span of 30 years and how many people thought of ways to escape from East Germany.
Berlin Wall Documentation Centre – Former “No Man’s Land”3D sculpture of the wall at Bernauer strasse
What was the Berlin Wall
The story behind the Berlin Wall is this : GDR or German Democratic Republic was part of
To cut the long story short, after WW2, Germany was divided into 4 blocs of the Allied forces (US, France, UK, Soviet Union). The German Democratic Republic or GDR controlled the Eastern Bloc and embraced the communist styled thinking while the Western Bloc controlled by Federal Republic of Germany embraced the capitalist model.
Hence West Germany developed economically while East Germany remained stagnant.
This triggered mass migration of people from East Germany to the West in search of a better life. To stop this mass exodus, GDR erected a physical wall to prevent such migration – now known to us as the Berlin Wall.
Latest version of the wall and aerial view of “the strip”
Initially, there were only barbed wires at the borders and this allowed Conrad Schumann , an East German soldier to become the first person to be defected to West Germany during the construction of the Berlin Wall.
The wall then subsequently became more sophisticated. Inner walls were built. A separation zone known as “No Man’s Land” or “the Strip” became heavily guarded with watch towers and armed guards. Taller walls were built and at one point, mines were also planted in “the Death Strip”.
Final version of the wall with rounded pipe at the top
This is the most commonly seen “fourth generation” or final version of the Berlin Wall with the smooth rounded pipe at the top making it difficult for anyone to scale.
The documentary that we watched also showed the ingenuity of Germans. Their creativity was demonstrated in the many ways that was used to cross the wall. Some of the more memorable methods of crossing the walls include
1. Digging tunnels 2. Using a zipline – Flying Fox across the border 3. Using hot air ballon 4. Building a small boat 5. Join the rail network and plan an escape 6. Building a plane! (painting it Soviet colours to avoid being shot down!)
The Berlin Wall was erected in August 1961 and stood for almost 30 years, falling in November 1989. During this period, more than 200 people died in an attempt to cross the Wall.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Fall of the Berlin Wall actually took place because of a mis-informed announcement!
Again, to cut the long story short. In the late 1980s, there have been many defections via Hungary & Czechoslovakia and these defectors or refugees only wanted to return to the West. To make things easy, the decision was made to allow direct transport of these refugees across the border from East to West Germany. The original decision was to make this arrangement available in a couple of day’s time. However, the person who announced this did not know about the details and said that the arrangement of crossing the border was to take place with immediate effect!
And because of this wrong announcement, throngs of people started to gather at the borders and eventually the guards could no longer hold the crowds, allowed them to cross – paving the way for the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin Wall Documentation Centre
Parts of the Wall in the middle of the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre
The Berlin Wall Documentation Centre is definitely a must visit when you are in Berlin. Looking at the Wall and standing beside it, is like actually seeing a piece of history right before your very eyes.
Stretching your hands towards the top of the wall, also gives you an idea of how tall the wall really was.
The documentation centre also has several stops for visitors to learn more about the stories and vantage points of people who lived through those times, from both sides of the wall. These stories paint a vivid picture of how life was like then.
Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Berlin Wall Documentation Centre
The Visitor / Documentation Centre opens from 9:30am to 6 or 7pm daily. The open air exhibition and memorial grounds are available from 8am to 10pm daily.
How to get to Berlin Wall Documentation Centre in Berlin
The Berlin Wall Documentation Centre is located along Bernauer Strasse and the nearest station is Berlin Nordbahnhof – a S bahn. While you’re there, remember to visit the exhibition at the train station of Nordbahnhof. You will read about the “Ghost stations” as well as how a man who worked at the rail company in East Germany (knowing the entire rail network), led his family into West Germany.
Map of the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre
Zoom in on Bernauer Strasse to find “Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer” (Berlin Wall Documentation Centre)
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Der Reichstag, also known as the German Parliament Building was one of the attractions we visited on our recent trip to Berlin. Today, Bundestag or the German Parliament convenes in Der Reichstag.
This REALLY SHORT POST is written to highlight not the building but the glass dome at the top of it…
Der Reichstag – German Parliament Bundestag convenes here
The glass dome offers visitors a paranomic view of Berlin but more importantly, visitors can oversee the parliament seatings through the glass dome to the parliament below.
*Do note that Reichstag tours are now only for prior appointments.*
According to our tour guide, there’s apparently a significance to the glass dome (besides raking in the tourist dollars that is). The glass dome ABOVE the parliament is a reminder to all statesmen that whatever they do, it is for the people. We were like “WOW”!
People of the nation above the parliament. Cool.
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Ticket Prices & Opening Hours of Der Reichstag in Germany
Admission to the Reichstag is FREE! However, registration is required. If you have not registered, you can still try out at the visitors services centre. If they have slots remaining (usually no), they would let you have it.
Der Reichstag is open daily from 8am to 12am. Last admission is at 11pm.
How to get to Der Reichstag Building in Berlin
It is relatively easy to get to Der Reichstag. Located at Platz der Republik, 11011 Berlin, you can reach there easily via the U bahn stopping at “Bundestag”. It is also a short walk away from Brandenburg Gate!
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Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany is the largest beer festival in the world! But did you know that besides beer guzzling and more beer guzzling, there are actually alot of festivities and fringe activities all around the festival arena? In this post, we will show you the things to do and attractions at Oktoberfest Germany in Munich!
Interesting facts about Oktoberfest Germany
Did you know…
1.Oktoberfest DOES NOT start in October! Oktoberfest usually starts in the last week of September and ends in the first week of October. If you visit Munich somewhere in mid to end October thinking that you can catch the Oktoberfest, you’ll be in for a huge disappointment!
2. In 2013, Oktoberfest will be celebrating its 180th Beer festival! Although Oktoberfest was first started in 1810, there have been several festivals that were cancelled due to epidemics and war.
3. Oktoberfest is not only the largest beer festival in the world. It is THE LARGEST FESTIVAL in the world (beer left out in this sentence). Besides the 14 large beer tents (including famous brews such as Hofbrau, Lowenbrau and Augustiner), there are also 21 smaller tents selling their specialities such as roasted chicken (and beer of course). But there’s more to the 42 hectares (can you believe the size?!) Theresienwiese Oktoberfest area. There are MANY fringe activities such as games, rides and food that caters to the entire family!
Oktoberfest in Munich Germany
Beer guzzling and more beer guzzling
Oktoberfest gives people an impression that it is a beer festival. It sure is the biggest beer festival in the world. With millions of visitors all over the world drinking and guzzling millions more litres of beer each year, it is no wonder that people only think about beer at Oktoberfest.
Lowenbrau and its moving (and growling) lion (at Oktoberfest)Throngs of people in the Oktoberfest beer tents – in the middle of the day!
Lining the Tummy – Oktoberfest Food!
Many a beer drinker would advise that you line your tummy with fatty foods before you hit the beer tents. There are indeed many variety of food available at Oktoberfest. Here are some of the foods we’ve tried!
Pork Kunckle Sandwich Oktoberfest
One of the fattiest street snack you can find at Oktoberfest has got to be the pork knuckle sandwich! The skin is crispy and flavourful while the fatty bits beneath gives you the lining that you need to survive the beer festival! While you’re trying out the street foods, why not give the crispy schnitzel burger a try as well?
At Oktoberfest, there are many tents selling roasted chicken. Tender, moist and well marinated, the roasted smell of the chicken can really attract its customers!
Do try the desserts at Oktoberfest, the waffle and apple pie were, “oh so good!”. Ask Kate and she’ll tell ya!
Have you seen anything like that? – A full grown pig being roasted at OktoberfestCrispy Pork Schnitzel Burger (Oktoberfest Munich)Moist & tender Roasted Chicken with vege stuffingHuge Pretzels anyone? (Oktoberfest Augustiner Beer Tent)Freshly baked crispy fluffy waffle with sugar icing – Yum! (Oktoberfest Munich Germany)Apple Strudel at Oktoberfest Germany Munich
Fun rides for the entire family!
As we have mentioned, there are many other games and rides at Oktoberfest. Games would include throwing balls or rings to win prizes. Or simply using a huge hammer to see if the indicator hits the bell at the top. Besides the game stalls, there are many other exciting rides at Oktoberfest!
Crazy ride at Oktoberfest – with 3 axis of spinOlympia Loop – A roller coaster ride! at Oktoberfest
Besides the crazy rides for the thrill seekers, there’s also a section of the fair dedicated to kids to have some fun of their own. Train rides for kids and slides are also available at Oktoberfest!
Gnome Train Ride for kids at Oktoberfest Munich
Other things you can do at Oktoberfest
Check out rows of fish being roasted for the patrons – fishy smell at that!
Roasted fish in the open air at Oktoberfest MunichTake pictures with horses and beer barrels at Oktoberfest Germany Munich!How about an Oktoberfest Leb Kuchen for your loved ones – remember to pay with a kiss!
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