Exploring Berlin!

 I recently visited the Fotografiska Museum in Berlin, and at 16 Euro for a ticket, I'd say it is one of the better values for an overall experience in Berlin.  The location and exhibit both do an outstanding job of capturing the city's overall feeling, mixing street art and concepts in a way that I found to be exceptional.  I highly recommend visting this location  if you're spending some time in Berlin.  It's easily accessible, close to Oranianberger stop on both U and S Bahn lines in Berlin, so connectivity to the general location (not that far from AlexaderPlatz) is quite good. With that, here are some samples from the exhibit to encourage you to get there and see what all it has to offer.  Nearby the location are plenty of great places to eat, and you end up quite close to Museum Island and Hackescher Markt, making this a great 1-2 hour stop in a larger walking tour of this city center area with so much more to offer than just museums and food. Fo...

 One very nice thing about being based in central Europe, is the number of locations within a 3 hour flight, or a few hours by train.  Taking a trip to Barcelona was relatively inexpensive (at least comparied to similar distance trips in the US), and travel in and out of Berlin (provided there is a flight, it isn't the best connected airport in Europe) is pretty easy.  I would recommend getting familiar with the express train to and from the airport, as one thing that is terribly over priced, is a cab ride out of the Berlin airport.  You can easioy spend the same price as taking ICE to another country, just get get home from the airport.  Luckily, there are some public transportation alternatives, and the express train is within the scope of the Deutchland monthly ticket! If you do visit Barcelona, there is a ton of good things to see (and the food scence in Barcelona is excellent as well), but I personally recommend the Pablo Picaso Museum for a 2-4 hour walk t...

Berlin sunsets can be a little hard to come by in the winter time, so feeling lucky that I got this shot in. It's been a rather mild winter so far in 2024-2025, and with February already here, maybe we're going to miss out on getting a proper snow this year.  I dreaded it my first year here, and now I'll feel cheated if I don't get at least a 10cm or so storm before the year is over!

 The views from here are excellent, and should be part of any trip to Berlin that is going to be more than just a few days!  The real gem here is the artwork, so before going into the history of this location, I'm going to preview with what you can go here to see!  I loved this place, and it reminded me of time I spent in Bombay Beach around the Salton See in California years ago, where an art colony sprung up in the desert. I got there with a combination of U-Bahn and S-Bahn, which includes a substantial uphill hike to get there.  Google Maps did a decent job of keeping us on the trail, but not without a few uncertain moments.  When in doubt, well, go uphill :-)  You can easily get water and other items at the S-Bahn station closes to the location, and once you arrive at Teufelsberg there is food and drink (and even a Bier Garten space) available to keep you going within the location.  Important note, it isn't free to enter, so expect to pay arou...

Whether you attend a rally, just wander the city, are go specifically to check out the landmarks and attractions that Berlin has to offer, you're going to end up here at some point.  I ended up there several times, and deciced to learn a bit more about the history of the location, and give you a brief summary here. The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's most iconic landmarks, rich in history and symbolism. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia in 1788 and completed in 1791. The gate was designed by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans in the neoclassical style, inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. Its purpose was originally to mark the entrance to the city of Berlin and serve as a symbol of peace. Over time, the Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of both German unity and division, as it witnessed several significant historical events: Napoleonic Era (1806): After Napoleon's victory over Prussia, the Brandenburg Gate was taken as a symbol of conquest. Howev...