Tags
Alexanderplatz, aunt, Berlin, family, fernsehturm, neptune fountain, photography, photos, rotes rathaus, travel, worldclock
Berlin decided to turn up the heat this weekend and has become a boiling oven. Not the perfect time to be wandering the streets with two teenagers but I did what I could, sweating like a dripping tap and trying to imagine the north-pole, ice-cream and snowman-hugs.
Our first stop of the day was the Alexanderplatz, I wanted to show them all the sights around the former Eastern German hub. Unplanned, as it was still meant to be closed for cleaning, we stood in line for tickets to go up to the visitors platform in the Fernsehturm. But since there was a long waiting-list for the lift we walked around the Alexanderplatz, went down to the Neptune Fountain, walked over to the Nikolaiviertel and passed by the Rotes Rathaus to while away the time.
After some cool drinks and ice-cream it was finally time to view Berlin from the top, after all the Fernsehturm is the highest building in Germany and the fourth highest in Europe. We really did get quiet a spectacular view even if it was an expensive treat.
After that we took the S-bahn to the Ostbahnhof and took a walk along the East Side Gallery for two reasons: 1) to show my niece and nephew some part of their countries past 2) but more importantly because me niece wanted to take a photo in the exact same spot where Harry Styles from the boy-band One Direction had his photo taken while touring Germany … GIRLS!
After that I took them to Friedrichshain where we had food opposite the RAW Temple,once the Reichsbahn-Ausbesserungs-Werk = RAW, now a cultural workspace and quite alternative. My niece and nephew sadly weren’t that impressed with the area, I think they don’t have my liking for the wacky, weird and unconventional. nevertheless they enjoyed their food and by the time we got home all the wanted to do was play a few rounds of memory and go to bed.
Luckily for me they told me they enjoyed their stay in Berlin when I dropped them off at the Train Station, two tired, hot teenagers who got a small taste of a big city. And as I waved them good-bye I have to say I felt more than a little relieved that my aunt duties were done and was delighted that I hadn’t broken, burnt or lost either of them.