Berlin insider blog detailing the appeal of this European holiday and vacation city.

Exploring and art holidays in Berlin from Berlin Exploring

Berlin Exploring

Culture. Adventure. History.

Berlinsider's Blog
October 3rd 2007. Today it’s Wednesday, Tag der Deutschen Einheit, German re-unification day, so Berlin is enjoying a mid-week day off. The wall came down back in 1989. Two East German (so-called “Ossie”) friends remember experiences from that autumn day 18 years ago. B said it was all very odd and eerie, but they had heard the West Germans (“Wessies”) were handing out a hundred marks each to Ossie who travelled west to Schlesiches Tor in the district of Kreuzberg. B didn’t really believe the change would be permanent, but if there was a hundred marks being given away it would be stupid not to go. So reluctantly they went....more	The Berlin Wall on Bernauer Strasse
December 6th 2007. If you want to get around Christmas markets faster than Santa delivers the presents, follow in Berlinsider’s footsteps and try this. Take a stroll down Ku’damm to the first market at the Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedaechtniskirche (Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church) at around 3 pm in the afternoon. Then breathe in deeply. The sights and sounds aren’t the first thing you notice - it’s the rich, sweet smell of caramalized almonds that tells you that you’ve arrived. Look around at the chalet-style huts and you’ll realize you’re going to have a great time eating everything from sausages to nougat and buying everything from wood carvings to silk scarves. ....more	The Christmas Market at the Gendarmenmarkt
January 8th 2008. Generally speaking, Berlin is a place with proper winters and proper winter things to do, like ice-skating, going out for winter walks and in this case with young Berliners as companions, taking a winter trip to the zoo....more	Berlin Zoo
February 15th 2008. Stumbling blocks. In German, they are called Stolpersteine, and on the streets of Berlin you are quite likely to find them every now and again. At first you might not notice what they are and you will only see a brass square embedded into the traditional cobbles. But then if you look closely you will see a name, a date of birth and the place where this particular Berliner was murdered ...more	Stumble Stones
March 10th 2008. It is, according to the newspapers, true. Spring is a whole four weeks early this year. Heron have been spotted fishing, hedgehogs are out of hibernation and ladybirds have been seen out and about, all unseasonably early. Berlinsider refused to believe any of it until, that is, the first sight of pussywillow one bright, sunny February winter – no, spring - morning. One swallow might not make a summer, but a glimpse of pussywillow surely makes a spring...more	Pussywillow at Kollwitz Platz Market
April 27th 2008. It’s April, twenty degrees and sunny. So this month Berlinsider becomes Berlinoutsider. Time to get outside of the city for a walk in the countryside. But first, a little question to which you have to guess the answer: How long does it take Berlinsider to get from inside one of Europe’s capital cities out into the surrounding green with no bike, no car, and just public transport? A good couple of hours? At least an hour? Less? Can’t be! In 35 minutes it’s possible to be out of the front door and starting a walk in Grunewald forest... more	Spring Blossom Near Krumme Lanke
May 11th 2008. The things they say about Germany are true. It’s organized, it’s clean, it’s well-run. Public transport is frequent, cheap and punctual. Beer and sausages are frequent, cheap and delicious. But Berlin, being Berlin, will let you escape from all of that. Twice weekly, to be exact, and the place to head for is the Maybachufer. “Ufer” is German for “bank”, and the market is held on the bank of the Landwehr canal. The nearest U-Bahn station is Kottbusser Tor and the area is known affectionately to Berliners as “little Istanbul”... more	Market Stall