With finding a super awesome host for Oktoberfest opening weekend in Munich (Sept 21), my time in Berlin was cut short (or else taking the bus the day it begins - I'd probably not make it at all) so I ended up leaving a day early... plus its a 6-7 hr bus ride too. But I sped through as much as I could with my tired eyes wide open anyhow. There are the obvious places like Alexanderplatz, with all your touristy needs and trams on trams on trams and armycaps, and Friedrichstrasse aka shopping boulevard - moreso your highend brands, department boxes of shops, and well not my cup of tea, but a nice walk anyhow until it started raining.
Hamburg ZOB waiting for Meinfernbus
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Off Potsdamerplatz is a good handful of places to check in a day- pieces of the Berlin Wall (then larger memorial is just north of it, and more painted pieces off Ostbahnhof). Then continuing down the way about mmm 10 minutes is the Holocaust Memorial (Field of Stelae). Getting there around 11am, and you'll just possibly beat the school rush of giggling, skipping teenage hormones. And another lesser 10 minutes down is the Brandenburger Tor.
Brandenburger Tor
Hackeschermarkt had... yes, a market of currywurst stands, art, jewelry, bags, pastries etc and some thrift stores / independent brands further down inbetween the streets. Further on you'll come upon Kunstaus Tacheles, an abandoned shopping mall turned art center; oozing street art, street scribbles, and mannequins comin out the window up top.
Made in Berlin Vintage Store
Kunstaus Tacheles
Remember Zoe, the Super Aussie? Well, she apparently looked into my soul when we met and sent a nice lil list of more abandoned places to check in Berlin, like an abandoned train station complex called Suicide Circus just near Warschaeur Strass, grips of bars, street art, and skate park inside this bombed out train station... Teufelsberg, an old WWII spy tower on the other side of the city... and when you look close enough you can see the patched up bullet holes on some walls... AAAGGGGHHHHH it breaks my heart to not have been able to see them all and talk about it, so I'm stopping there. The one and a half days were a tease, but if I ever make it back out to Euro - Berlin is without a doubt going to be the first stop. A rough city with some serious hidden gems... it's like a dream that's over too quick yah?
KL
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