" A slice of Berlin "

It's official!
i'm slackening with posts and insights to share.
these days, the thought of browsing through photos and in need to sort them is a chore,
it's making me feel lethargic.
My drive seems to be fading and the fuel for words are nothing but a blank stare at my screen.

Thankfully though,
the long weekend last week, had me re-charged and helped unwind my preoccupied mind.

A slice of Berlin was the first stop of our Euro trip last winter.
(still can't believe it's been months already)
To be honest,
I wasn't as ecstatic to visit as I was to see Rome or Madrid.
But boy, was I wrong.




you see, I've already been there (last 2002) and yet have no clear recollection about this trip,
rather than, it was with a bunch of hungry tourists off to see the other side of the world.
I somehow can't picture myself in front of Brandenburg Gate, standing outside of the Reichstag,
or simply walking along Unter den Linden.








In short, everything was a vague.
et alors, I did have doubts as to whether I'd enjoy Berlin pour le deuxième fois.


I have to thank my dear sister Pepperoni, who persuaded me to check it out again.
she said, this time, there would be no pesky tourists,
no need to hurry for the first seat inside the tour bus,
no tour guides waving their hands where to direct us
and no time constraints,
( the thing I detest the most while traveling. )
now we do Berlin at our own pace and in our own time.



so what do we think ?!

Berlin is a city filled with much history and interesting stories both sad and telling.
It used to be divided into two, the west and east side,
although nowadays, you'd hardly notice it.
The weather especially in December is pretty cold, a bit chilly and mostly misty.





Berliners aren't the most friendly or least bit hospitable,
but they're not rude or disobliging either.
It's just the way they are.
Majority of them understands English and would help you in case you're lost and need of directions.
It pays to know a bit or two about their language.
For example, the menu doesn't only consist of Currywurst,



you ought to try something other than that.
Words like ausgang (entrance) and eingang (exit) directs you in and out of the Metro.



and each metro stop surprises you with an unpronounceable name like this one.





read as Haus-Vog-Tei-Platz. (see, I told you it's hard to pronounce. ^0^)
This is the nearest stop to and from our hotel.

The city is divided into areas like the Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, Kreuzberg, Charlottenburg etc.
We chose the Mitte area, we thought it was more convenient at that time,
since it's close to the Museum Island and to almost everything.



The city is huge!
so to get from here to there.
you need to take the local bus, rent a bike, convenient Taxis or simply take the Metro.
they have one of the most comprehensive and accessible transportation btw.






inside the taxi, which is a posh Mercedes-Benz btw.


and the taxi tariff

If you're a museum aficionado or just plain curious about paintings and artifacts.
Do: check out the days where you can get inside for ~Free. (usually during 6 pm onwards)
If you're traveling for the first time however and time is a battle,
you can buy the Berlin Welcome Card ( which includes unlimited Metro ride + 1 Museum Visit ) or an all Museum Pass Card.
Check out this link here, this is one of the most helpful sites so far...
Berlin. De

Inside the museum, photo taking isn't prohibited except for Flash photos.
so you can take all the pictures you want, and i mean A-L-L.


museum's facade

yeah, feast on it!
No one, not even the security will stop you from doing it.
so better have your batteries charged and your camera(s) ready. ^0^








Night time, as in most European countries isn't as lively and cheerful compared to some Asian countries.
But it does have the best Christmas theme street markets every December.










This is the first time I've been to one of these German Markets and
though, It seems to be a bit generic,
I am still fascinated by it, from the food to the nice handicrafts.

So, there you go, my second impression this time made it more memorable.
I hope this helps the next time you wish to visit the city.

* where was this *
berlin, germany

" the signs of time "

Le Metro dans Paris,
The M signs are everywhere!
Some are Art Nouveau inspired, while others wear the classic type.





yOu are herE

" R.E.R "

The Réseau Express Régional or simply RER in french, is a transit system
that goes from suburb to the city of Paris and vice versa.
It is one of the many transportations that is affordable and efficient.

Yet, to a season traveller with a luggage that's pretty heavy,
It can be quite cumbersome.
Imagine, having to carry it in and out of the door,
managing the stairs, (escalator if you're lucky)
exiting the turnstile, which can only fit one person at a time and
more uneasy situations inside the metro.

Here's what I've learned so far,
a few tips to live by:

In Paris:

1) To alight at the next stop, you have to press a push-button or otherwise,
the door won't open.
It's not the same thing as it's in Asia, where it's automated.

2) For women travelling alone,
always head for the front row seat of the train,
(nearest to the conductor) and never at the back.
A bit unsafe especially at night.

We randomly hopped on the back seat of the train on the way to Luxembourg station,
without knowing that's it's mostly where thieves hang out.
Don't stand near the entrance door either,
pickpockets happen in a matter of seconds.

3) Be on guard in stations like Les Halles and Chatelet les Halles.

Here's a glimpse of the station:

Our trip to Paris wouldn't be complete if it weren't for some unforeseen events.
Aboard the EasyJet plane,





we assumed (like always) that we would have a
fixed seating designated for us.
But lo and behold, because it's a low-cost, no frills plane,
the seat selection is on a first-come, first-served basis.
which we didn't know till we got inside,
blame it on bad research. ^0^



It was a small aircraft btw,
at first, we were quite lost and panicking for good seats
but finally, we settled along the aisle area.
After a minute or two,
My mind was drifting, as I can't wait to see Paris already.
Indeed, like we always say, there's a first in everything. ^0^



We were ecstatic when the plane finally landed at
Terminal 2-CDG (charles de gaulle) aeroport.
It looks different from the way I had imagined.
It's a bit dated and full of passengers going in and out.
While we patiently wait for our luggage to arrive
that took about 15mts or so.



Since we opted to take the RER-Metro, all the way to Luxembourg station.



We bought tickets at the tourism office at 9euros each for a one way ticket.





There are two options for train departure, both heading to the city.
We chose the left side, I think it was Saint Remy-...something.
Its interior reminds me, more or less of Singapore's metro terminal.



then, we took a couple of shots here and there.





Then, the trouble,
I was the first to step inside the train,
while carrying my oof! heavy luggage,
and Pepperoni ( my sister) was just behind me,
when the train doors, without warning or a buzzing sound
suddenly closed and left dear Pepperoni outside.
Since most trains in Asia are already in automatic mode and has a motion sensor.
It never occurred to me that I still have to press a "push-button" if I wish
to have it re-opened.
A nice gentleman helped me by pressing the button several times,
but nothing happened.
by now, I think I was starting to sweat profusely.
Between the glass door of the train,
Pepperoni shouted that we meet at the next stop instead,
which we're not even familiar with. ^0^
While waiting at the next stop for Sis, in what like seem forever,
It finally arrived. ^0^



We happily board the next train, all the way to our destination.