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Post by angel97701 on May 26, 2016 4:02:47 GMT
My DH just asked me today if I would like to join him on a business trip to Berlin in June. I said "I would love to go!" He will be in meetings for at least two days, and we are looking at traveling Tuesday to Tuesday to have the weekend to sight-see. I think the two-day hop-on/hop-off tour would be a good bet. I've done similar tours in NYC and San Antonio, TX and they were a good bang for the buck.
Any stamp or scrapbook stores I might want to see? Any place that I might try and take a craft class?
TIA!
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azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
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Post by azredhead on May 26, 2016 5:23:54 GMT
Ohh gosh I would love to go back like that. We did it on a cruise so it was a little different. We stayed in a different city port and then took a 4hr train ride to Berlin. But we did do the parts of the wall , CheckPoint Charley. DH's dad had served at Check Point Charley and this was his first trip back. We were on a tour bus and he didn't get off the tour bus. I felt really bad but he wanted to see the rest but I don't think he was prepared to go back to Berlin. He also was a little upset that it had turned into a bit of a tourist trap. It was tough for us for that reason and then just seeing the memorials and the parts of the Wall. Humboldt Univ. and RedCity Hall It is one of the things that is forever ingrained in my brain. . The tour was helpful because we had a guide for part of it and they gave lots of the history. We already knew most but there was some stuff I'll never forget. And doing with FIL and his reactions. We were also allowed some time on our own. But I want to go back and do it with just Dh. I'm in the processes of doing a digital scrapbook from it. I have a small book I did for Dh's dad before he passed.It would be so cool to go back.
P.S. there is so much more of Berlin and other cities in Germany I would love to see. I could spend a lot more time there.
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sueg
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Posts: 8,179
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on May 26, 2016 5:38:28 GMT
I love Berlin! We spent a week there about 2 years ago, and I have wanted to go back ever since.
We did the Hop-on, Hop-off Bus the day we arrived. We didn't do any 'hopping', but used it to orient ourselves in the city, and to decide on places we might want to come back to. We also did a guided walking tour the next day which I would highly recommend. Again - really good for orientation and for an overview of the city's history.
Berlin can be rather draining to visit, given the history. We found we needed downtime after some museums/locations, just due to the emotions they brought up. I would definitely recommend the Bernauerstrasse Wall Memorial and the Jewish Museum. Topography of Terror documentation centre - on the site of the old SS headquarters was also good, if harrowing. The Museums on Museum Island are also excellent - my favourite was the Pergamon, but the Neues Museum and the Alte Pinakotek were also good. We didn't manage it on our trip, but my son and DiL went to Potsdam, to the old royal residence and loved it. This is one I would pre-book if you want to go, especially as you will be there during summer break.
Scrapbooking is not really big in Germany, and most of what you can buy is American anyway. I don't know if there are any specific scrapstores in Berlin. There are a number of nice yarn stores, if you knit or crochet.
Can't think of much else right now. Have a great trip!
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caangel
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Posts: 5,520
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on May 26, 2016 5:47:01 GMT
Just marking my spot. I actually lived there as a small child (2-5yo) and have always wanted to go back. My dad was in the USAF and we were stationed there in the early 80s.
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Post by Rainy_Day_Woman on May 26, 2016 8:10:35 GMT
I loved Berlin. I used to live in Munich but went to Berlin often. To be honest though- we spent most of our time clubbing and out and about. Berlin loves to party so it was the best place to go on the weekend. In just two days, I would do a bus tour and maybe a bike or walking tour near the older parts of the city. Definitely the Wall and maybe the Holocaust museum- like the pp said, many of the touristy things there are heavy. Pick one or two and don't go overboard. It is too emotionally draining to pack too many in. I haven't been back in 9 years probably, so I can't help with the craft stores and scrapping. They were never a thing there, even when I lived there so I think it unlikely you will find many. There are lots of great squares (platz) to grab food and hang out and people watch. I would often go to Gendarmenmarkt or Pariser Platz. They are flanked by awesome architecture and just a good way to get a flair for the city.
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sueg
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Posts: 8,179
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on May 26, 2016 8:15:53 GMT
Just one thing that is worth pointing out. The Jewish Museum (in Kreuzberg) and the Holocaust Memorial (near the Brandenburg Gate) are two separate places - many people seem to get them confused. There is a small documentation center under the Holocaust Memorial, which is excellent, but the Museum is a larger and more complete history of Judaism in Germany.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 26, 2016 10:08:15 GMT
You're going to be there a week, right? Not just two days?
We went for a week this past Christmas. As mentioned, tourism heavily emphasizes WWII, the Holocaust, and the Cold War.
WAR and WALL: -We thought Checkpoint Charlie was tacky. -Berlin Unterwelten has cool tours of underground Berlin. We did two tours - one focused on WWII bomb shelters and one on escapes under the Berlin Wall. -Berlin Alltag in der DDR is a nice small museum that focuses on what life was like in the DDR. It's set in the Kulturbrauerei, which is nice arts and entertainment center. -Tranenpalast/Palace of Tears is a small museum set in the train station checkpoint between East and West Berlin. We all preferred it to the Berlin Wall Memorial. (Nothing wrong with that one, though.) -Topography of Terror is very grim and involves a LOT of reading. -Walk along the East Side Gallery to see a long remnant of the Berlin Wall that is covered in art.
OTHER: -The Jewish Museum was EXCELLENT - really innovative exhibit set-up. I wish we had allowed more time. -For a completely different vibe, there are beautiful palaces and gardens in nearby Potsdam. -We really enjoyed visiting the Reichstag dome and attending the 45 minute lecture in the visitors gallery of the Budestag (German legislature). Register ahead of time. There's also a restaurant in the dome. -To go full-on tourist, have a revolving lunch or dinner at the top of the TV Tower. -Kreuzberg is a hip, gritty neighborhood.
The public transit system is excellent. There are probably sightseeing boat trips on the river during the nice weather months.
And no, I didn't answer your question at all!
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Post by miominmio on May 26, 2016 11:44:11 GMT
Google "craft shops" or " stamp shops", and you will find some. Even though you will find American brands, there are MANY European brands, but if those stores carry them, is another matter.
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Post by angel97701 on May 27, 2016 3:47:38 GMT
Thank you for the quick response. We are waiting on the client's response as to when they want to hold meetings. We will be there 4-5 days, and DH will have at least 2 days of meetings. I want to go over a weekend so we can sight see together. I will also do some exploring on my own hence the request for suggestions and for possible craft stops. Thanks!
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azredhead
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Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
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Post by azredhead on May 27, 2016 3:56:49 GMT
Ohh I'm glad you decided to go! Take lots of pictures! I hope you do find some stores. You'll have to come back and tell us if you do! I hope you enjoy it. Have a good trip with DH.
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AmeliaBloomer
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Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 27, 2016 4:17:56 GMT
I want to go over a weekend so we can sight see together. Keep in mind that while museums and tourist sites are open on Sundays, many shops and some restaurants are closed - although there are there are periodic scheduled shopping Sundays. The supermarkets in the train stations are allowed to stay open.
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