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.
Alexanderplatz right in the middle of Berlin
The 1970s Eastern German Fountain of International Friendship
the worldclock
even superheros hang out here
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.
70s flair outside the Fernsehturm
yes we want to go up there … 203.78m above the ground
built in 1891 the Neptune Fountain
someone scattered “lucky” butterflies around the fountain
the door to the Rotes Rathaus were locked, after all it was a Saturday
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.
inside the lobby
the lift … the little red light tells you where it is
somewhere way over there is Friedrichshagen
that’s where we went yesterday … how tiny the Brandenburger Tor and the Reichstagskuppel look
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!
as the good aunt that I am I even had a pen so Sarah-Ann could sign her name … *sigh*
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.
some quirky graffiti on the RAW temple
even in the roughest place a rose can bloom
a uninvited feathered guest
even the lighting is a little “dirty”
some table decoration
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.
back in Freidrichshagen on my own … enjoying a little bit of peace after three days of aunty duty
