Pre Tour - a few days early into Berlin
The BIG TIP: read the guide books and watch Rick Steves' Europe (RSE) episodes. Then do it again.
Guess I'm a seasoned tour member, this was my 6th tour, my 7th will be March 2015. Smaller tip: If you can, go early, at least a day, maybe two or three. Helps to be retired, but you might need to wait for that.
When going on a Tour, you got to get there first. So, I flew from Reno to San Francisco to Frankfurt to Berlin. Hey, am I there YET? En route, always happy to have time at the Frankfurt Airport for the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, they got Beer, they got Wine, they even got pretzels and frankfurters.
Just provided a clue to why I love travel - Food and & Drink. Make eating an adventure, and wash it down with a local beer or a fine appropriate wine.
Guess I'm a seasoned tour member, this was my 6th tour, my 7th will be March 2015. Smaller tip: If you can, go early, at least a day, maybe two or three. Helps to be retired, but you might need to wait for that.
When going on a Tour, you got to get there first. So, I flew from Reno to San Francisco to Frankfurt to Berlin. Hey, am I there YET? En route, always happy to have time at the Frankfurt Airport for the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, they got Beer, they got Wine, they even got pretzels and frankfurters.
Just provided a clue to why I love travel - Food and & Drink. Make eating an adventure, and wash it down with a local beer or a fine appropriate wine.
The RSE Tour hotel in Berlin was in the Prenzlauer Berg area of Eastern Berlin. Thus, arriving early, I chose to stay my couple nights prior to the tour in Western Berlin near Savignyplatz and Ku' Damm areas.
I use my iPad with a rather expensive International data plan, but before running around Berlin, I got a paper map, just in case my iPad decided not to play nice. Also, made a quick run to the BIG STORE for some Wine, German of course.
I use my iPad with a rather expensive International data plan, but before running around Berlin, I got a paper map, just in case my iPad decided not to play nice. Also, made a quick run to the BIG STORE for some Wine, German of course.
Since, I was planning to bounce around town pre-tour, on my quest of beer - a Day Pass for the public transit was the best plan. Remember: Validate. No reason to gamble, despite the fact over three days of riding the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Tram, and buses... I was asked to show my ticket only once, be sure to Validate first.
A challenge is to visit places which will not be covered during the actual group tour days. Then again, some things should be seen more than once. For instance, the Brandenburg Gate and strolling the Unter den Linden towards Alexanderplatz. How many different beer gardens can I visit?
A challenge is to visit places which will not be covered during the actual group tour days. Then again, some things should be seen more than once. For instance, the Brandenburg Gate and strolling the Unter den Linden towards Alexanderplatz. How many different beer gardens can I visit?
Of course, based on the overview and suggestions in the RSE guidebooks, I was prepared to wander and be flexible. Some day, I will take better notes and maybe a journal to recall why I did what I did and went where I went. But, first let's have some pork and beer.
After lunch, the search for something different. However, the Undergound Tour had cancelled the English language tour. Thus, instead the quest for more beer begins. Yeah, like I need more beer. But, when in Berlin, do as a Beliner.
After lunch, the search for something different. However, the Undergound Tour had cancelled the English language tour. Thus, instead the quest for more beer begins. Yeah, like I need more beer. But, when in Berlin, do as a Beliner.
First Day of the Tour has arrived, moving day. Checked out, but left bags at Western hotel, and off to wander some more. First I find some odd bears, one for each country in the Soccer World Cup. Brief visit to Checkpoint Charlie and then off to the Tour Hotel using the Tower as a landmark to head North East.
Pre Tour, I've seen more of Berlin than I thought possible. Three different Beer Gardens, plus the Berlin Apple Store, how might it get better? Time has now come to head over to the Eastern part of town to check-in to Hotel Kastanienhof.