Too many people! Crowds and crowds and crowds of people always walking across the bridge, blocking…read morethe sidewalks, jamming the flow of traffic, and making it nearly impossible to make transfers in a timely manner, particularly on the weekends. I like to avoid this route, but it's unavoidable when transferring between the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. All other times, however, I prefer the other side of the bridge, just because there are less people. Also, the view out over the train tracks is kind of desolate and sad, but sometimes you can catch the perfect sunset, and that makes it worthwhile.

Ich bin dieser Brücke gegenüber zwigespalten. Meist komme ich direkt von der Oberbaumbrücke…read more(Berlins schönste Brücke) deshalb ist diese Brücke meist nur Stress. Die Aussicht ist zwar gut, jedoch schieben sich hier oft massen an Roboter an einem vorbei. Das schlimmste ist die direkt an die Brücke und wahnwitzige Anbindung an die S-bahn, wo man aus unerfindlichen Gründen ewig bis zum Gleis laufen muss, statt den Bahnsteig weiter an die Brücke ran zu bauen. Der Teil welcher zur O2 Arena geht und eine paralell Brücke eröffnet wirkt auch wie ein Steuergeld grab.

Die Hackeschen Höfe is a building complex with eight courtyards located in the Scheunenviertel…read more(Barn Quarter*) between Rosenthaler Straße and Sophienstraße in the Mitte area of Berlin. The building was opened in 1906, with an Art Nouveau facade, and mixed use commercial and residential spaces. After a period of disuse and damage following WWII, a revitalization started in 1993 which included extensive restoration. Today about 40 businesses call this location home--with a similar blend of vendors, including cafes, a theater, residential apartments, and a variety of retailers (apparel, shoes and accessories, home goods and furniture, art galleries, toys, stationery and a salon). For food there are a few restaurants, a couple bakeries and confectioneries, a gourmet food store and a coffee shop. Although the hours on g-maps show 9-10am, opening times for individual stores varies, so check prior to arriving. Especially on weekends when some opening times start closer to noon. When I arrived at 9am on a Sunday morning most places were closed, with the exception of Maison de Souvenirs, which although geared towards tourists, I enjoyed perusing because of the local and regionally made souvenirs they carried. Around 9:30am a couple of other shops started stirring, including a cafe, apparel store and gallery though only the cafe had opened by 9:45am. The courtyards are worth wandering around for 10 minutes to appreciate their unique architecture, though I didn't stay longer since most stores opened later. No parking available close by, they recommend arriving via public transit as it's a very busy area. Hackesche Markt S+U-bahn station is a couple minutes by foot, and a number of trams and buses stop nearby too. No public restrooms unless patronizing the couple of restaurants (and maybe the cinema) in this complex. *apparently in the 17th century this used to be the part of town outside of Berlin city walls that stored hay for animals, kept separate from the rest of the city due to fire concerns.

The store is beautifully appointed. The quality of the product is clear. Alice was exceptional when…read moresharing information and answering questions. Highly recommend stopping in if you are out shopping.

I like to put my energy in things that matter. It includes people as well. So I have learned from…read moremy second time in Europe. I got to reflect and needed it. That's what I did, here. The old school style of Berlin, Germany, can be found here in this neighborhood. Tucked away from the Main Street and filled with local restaurants, cafes, and so forth, it was pleasant to be in the mode of what I call, "peace in mind." It was a good pace to simply be.

If you want to get away from the busy wasteland of consumerism and tourism that is Alexanderplatz,…read morethe Nikolaiviertel is a refreshing piece of Berlin history. Founded in 1200, this is the original old Berlin (Alt-Berlin, if you will). And though it's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Alex, the architecture and the overall ambiance are totally different. Granted, this is also a popular destination for visitors, but it manages to still retain a bit of charm. Truth be told, Nikolaiviertel is best experienced on a weekday afternoon in the spring. Stroll around the cobblestone streets, admire the buildings, peek into shops, or grab a beer and sit alongside the river. While it's never a destination, whenever I find myself here, I can't help but enjoy it.