Getting around
Sich verlaufen, this seemed to be my constant state in Berlin - lost.
It seems there is nothing easy about finding places in Germany, take note travel guides, an s or u-bahn stop and a street address don't seem to carry too much weight in Berlin. You have to nail which exit you come out of. If you can tell east and west thats also v. helpful, though I am not good with this, hence my having to go everywhere with half an hour extra time to get lost. It would be much more helpful if someone actually said turn left out of the station exit leaning to XX street. Or if you are facing the river, turn right!
Oh and watch out for similar sounding names on those stations. Kurfurstendamm or Kurfurstenstr. just two stations away from each other.
Even big places like Arena Park are not obvious when you get out of the station. There are no handy, dandy signs that say Arena Park with nice friendly arrows, it's more of a follow your nose kind of vibe. For somewhere like Templehof, there are three stations that are adjacent to the Park.
The guidebook says Bearpit Karoke in the ampitheatre of Mauer Park. For me its more useful to say get of the tram at the Flea markets and go the park. There is more than one path, the one to the right will take you to the
karaoke ampitheatre, near the basketball court. If you want markets, go for the one on the left where you'll find stalls, a mixture of really - junk and newer stuff like bags, t-shirts and jewellery.
Good supermarket in Ostbahnof open to 10pm 7 days a week. If you are gluten intolerant or you like a bit of choice, this is a good place to go.
Mauer Park
Yet again, its hard work figuring out where to go to. Nordbahnhof is really nowhere near the Flohmarkt and the Karoke, but we did come across a fun place, Berlin beach and we saw some of the wall and then managed to get ourselves to the Flohmarkt.
Demystifying locations Sammler Hoffman, the 2nd courtyard.
Reservations essential. they have tours in German and English
Sammlung Hoffmann
Sophie-Gips-Höfe, Aufgang C
Sophienstraße 21
10178 Berlin-Mitte
Telefon: +49 30 28 49 91 20
Email:
info@sammlung-hoffmann.deVerkehrsanbindung: U8 Weinmeisterstraße; S-Bahn Hackescher Markt
Neue Heimat, Jazz thing on Friday nights, jam session, but also From the S-Bahn turn right, then right at the yellow building Lots of
music venues in this area/complex
Badeschiff on the Spree, amazing place to have a swim on a hot summer's day.
Food
Kantastrasse for authentic Asian food. There are lots of wannabees around town that don't cut the mustard if you come from somewhere like Sydney.
Saigon Green was yummy food, nice setting, v friendly staff
Kantstrabe 23, 10623 Berlin
Cheap as, I had 3 starters Duck salad, summer roll and satay for 10.50
