Clueless traveler guide: Berlin

Betonov · 12-12-11, 03:22 AM

Off to Berlin for the new years. For 5 whole days. So, places to see, museums to visit, clubs to go, restaurants to eat, streets to avoid, prices, people, customs... the works

So, any suggestions and ideas

Skybird · 12-12-11, 05:59 AM

Have lived there for ten years, but honestly cannot recommend to go there at all.

Berliner mentality: many of the young ones nowadays have moved there and are no original Berliners. The old-fashioned Berliners however can be extremely unfriendly and call that "Berliner Schnauze", meaning it as a hasrh but heartly attitude. But it isn'T, it simply is lacking politeness and lack of care and manners. Do not be surprised if occassionally you happen to run into an older Berliner and catch yourself some snappy comment out of the blue. Don'T start arguments, it only gets you into more of the same - stay Vulcan.

Museums: Deutsches Museum, or the Museumsinsel with a whole collection of such - places... No museum fan myself, I admit.

If it were spring or summer or autumn, I would say make sure you catch a sight of the large forests and lakes, Berlin is the greeniest city of its size in Europe. Some nice cafes out there.

Surrounding the Western Grunewald to the East, where Charlottenburg and Zehlendorf districts are located, you have the richer, nicier part of Berlin homes. The Eastern parts of the city, and the centre, are more dirty, emotionless, lacking asthetic and "Gemütlichkeit". Some streets have been renovated since the wall came down, some not.

Do not underestimate the danger level of Berlin by night, this has changed dramatically since the 80s. Where I used to go alone at night back then, I wouldn't do that today anymore. Almost every day there is news in the papers of street violence, burning cars, and people getting beaten up in the subway. My father left the city four years ago or so, and until the end had to drive car in the late evening (being an orchestra musician), he also said that it grew worse during the thirty years he was there. That should not be a dramatic appeall by me, I just mean: be careful, do not walk alone in the subway at night, such things.

Biggest shopping malls are 1st the Kurfürstendamm from Breitscheidplatz in the East to Adenauer Plaza in the West, and 2nd the Schlossstrasse in Schöneberg, especially it'S Western half. These two are the biggest there are. Nightlife for the most seems to be located in the former "East" of the city, though, but is said to slowly shift back to the former Western city's centre around the Kurfürstendamm. Cannot judge that myself, I never was a club examiner checking a "scene".

East of Berlin is a famous natural area that maybe also in winter is worth the day tour, the Spreewald. An ethjnic minority lives there embewdded both in the beautiful nature with many small rivers and the forest, and its traditions. But this is probbaly not what you are looking for, so... Just wanted to mention it. I am more the landscapes and nature type, you see. Museums and city life usually do not catch my interest.

Ooops, almpost fprgot that: watch where you are walking. The city is incredibly dirty - lots of dogsh!te almost everywhere. Dog owners simply do not care.

August · 12-12-11, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

The city is incredibly dirty

This I find difficult to believe. Not doubting you at all Sky, it's just so,... unGerman!

frau kaleun · 12-12-11, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

This I find difficult to believe. Not doubting you at all Sky, it's just so,... unGerman!

Next he'll be telling us the trains don't run on time.

August · 12-12-11, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Next he'll be telling us the trains don't run on time.

I once saw a German train pull into the station about 10 minutes late. The station master came out and tore a patch off the conductors butt that would have carpeted the reichstag.

Skybird · 12-12-11, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Next he'll be telling us the trains don't run on time.

Which actually is true. And the city trains called S-Bahn will maybe not drive at all. It's incompetence and mismanagement there since years. Therefore, the Berliner S-Bahn is in the headlines at least once a week. Their trains are not winter-proof and tend to breakl down. We had that with several ICE trains last winter as well. And frozen toilets, and trains with temperatures at zero degrees.

Germany is not that German anymore at all!

Herr-Berbunch · 12-12-11, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Which actually is true. And the city trains called S-Bahn will maybe not drive at all. It's incompetence and mismanagement there since years. Therefore, the Berliner S-Bahn is in the headlines at least once a week. Their trains are not winter-proof and tend to breakl down. We had that with several ICE trains last winter as well. And frozen toilets, and trains with temperatures at zero degrees.

Germany is not that German anymore at all!

Yeah, but have they ever claimed that leaves have brought the network to a standstill? Or ever the wrong type of snow?

August · 12-12-11, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Germany is not that German anymore at all!

Maybe it's just me but that's an incredibly sad thing to hear.

Kongo Otto · 12-12-11, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

This I find difficult to believe. Not doubting you at all Sky, it's just so,... unGerman!

Well go to Berlin-Neukölln and then show me a German.

Thats the same as going to Iran and search for an Israeli.

Penguin · 12-13-11, 01:25 AM

From Wikitravel on German culture:

Quote:

A late-running train is considered a sign of the degradation of society.

quod erat demonstrandum

Skybird · 12-15-11, 06:40 AM

Since I complained about the Berliner S-Bahn so much, this news is just in (Der Tagesspiegel). The complete S-Bahn traffic has just collapsed and came to a complete standstill. Even the internal communication links have broken down, the drivers need to use their private cellphones.

This could be due a technical major issue in one of the technical key-hotspots, maybe caused by the constant underfunding and thus lacking maintenance which plagues the S-Bahn since years and at times had over 60% of its trains taken out of action without repalcements for the missing trains in the ongoing traffic scheme (causing to 2 hours delays and more where trains should drive every 15 minutes or so, and then being hopelessly overcrowded).

It could also be the result of another attack on the S-Bahn, because since several weeks a leftist anarchist gang chases the company by laying fires and damaging trains and tracks.

But this today - is a total breakdown of the complete network.

TLAM Strike · 12-12-11, 08:04 AM

I'm guessing your more interested in the Military stuff since your posting on Subsim. Keep in mind I've never been to Berlin, but I know of these places.

At the Allied Museum in the old American Sector they have the guard shack from Check Point Charlie, and one of the Berlin Air Lift transports. At the site of Check Point Charlie there is another museum that chronicles the wall and the different escape attempts; they have a midget submarine there that was used to cross the Baltic.

At the Soviet War Memorial there are some Howitzers and T-34s.

There is the "Topography of Terror" Museum which chronicles the SS and Gestapo.

The Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr (German Air Force museum) has a bunch of aircraft.

Skybird · 12-12-11, 08:25 AM

Oh, I forgot Gatow, former RAF base. It is a military aviation museum - and a pretty big one.

Check Google Earth at N52°28'24"/E13°08'35".

Jimbuna · 12-12-11, 09:03 AM

A few sites of info:

http://www.visitberlin.de/en

http://www.visitberlin.de/en/plan/city-info

http://www.justberlin.org/

Betonov · 12-12-11, 09:11 AM

Thanks and keep them comming

I'll write a guide and publish it for Subsimers when I return. I just hope the term Clueless traveler isn't already taken, I like it

P.S. Yep, already taken (blody hell khm I mean Verdamnt), need a new name

@Skybird's first post: sounds just like Ljubljana

12-12-11, 03:22 AM	#1
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Clueless traveler guide: Berlin Off to Berlin for the new years. For 5 whole days. So, places to see, museums to visit, clubs to go, restaurants to eat, streets to avoid, prices, people, customs... the works So, any suggestions and ideas

12-12-11, 05:59 AM	#2
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,643 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Have lived there for ten years, but honestly cannot recommend to go there at all. Berliner mentality: many of the young ones nowadays have moved there and are no original Berliners. The old-fashioned Berliners however can be extremely unfriendly and call that "Berliner Schnauze", meaning it as a hasrh but heartly attitude. But it isn'T, it simply is lacking politeness and lack of care and manners. Do not be surprised if occassionally you happen to run into an older Berliner and catch yourself some snappy comment out of the blue. Don'T start arguments, it only gets you into more of the same - stay Vulcan. Museums: Deutsches Museum, or the Museumsinsel with a whole collection of such - places... No museum fan myself, I admit. If it were spring or summer or autumn, I would say make sure you catch a sight of the large forests and lakes, Berlin is the greeniest city of its size in Europe. Some nice cafes out there. Surrounding the Western Grunewald to the East, where Charlottenburg and Zehlendorf districts are located, you have the richer, nicier part of Berlin homes. The Eastern parts of the city, and the centre, are more dirty, emotionless, lacking asthetic and "Gemütlichkeit". Some streets have been renovated since the wall came down, some not. Do not underestimate the danger level of Berlin by night, this has changed dramatically since the 80s. Where I used to go alone at night back then, I wouldn't do that today anymore. Almost every day there is news in the papers of street violence, burning cars, and people getting beaten up in the subway. My father left the city four years ago or so, and until the end had to drive car in the late evening (being an orchestra musician), he also said that it grew worse during the thirty years he was there. That should not be a dramatic appeall by me, I just mean: be careful, do not walk alone in the subway at night, such things. Biggest shopping malls are 1st the Kurfürstendamm from Breitscheidplatz in the East to Adenauer Plaza in the West, and 2nd the Schlossstrasse in Schöneberg, especially it'S Western half. These two are the biggest there are. Nightlife for the most seems to be located in the former "East" of the city, though, but is said to slowly shift back to the former Western city's centre around the Kurfürstendamm. Cannot judge that myself, I never was a club examiner checking a "scene". East of Berlin is a famous natural area that maybe also in winter is worth the day tour, the Spreewald. An ethjnic minority lives there embewdded both in the beautiful nature with many small rivers and the forest, and its traditions. But this is probbaly not what you are looking for, so... Just wanted to mention it. I am more the landscapes and nature type, you see. Museums and city life usually do not catch my interest. Ooops, almpost fprgot that: watch where you are walking. The city is incredibly dirty - lots of dogsh!te almost everywhere. Dog owners simply do not care. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-15-11, 06:40 AM	#11
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,643 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Since I complained about the Berliner S-Bahn so much, this news is just in (Der Tagesspiegel). The complete S-Bahn traffic has just collapsed and came to a complete standstill. Even the internal communication links have broken down, the drivers need to use their private cellphones. This could be due a technical major issue in one of the technical key-hotspots, maybe caused by the constant underfunding and thus lacking maintenance which plagues the S-Bahn since years and at times had over 60% of its trains taken out of action without repalcements for the missing trains in the ongoing traffic scheme (causing to 2 hours delays and more where trains should drive every 15 minutes or so, and then being hopelessly overcrowded). It could also be the result of another attack on the S-Bahn, because since several weeks a leftist anarchist gang chases the company by laying fires and damaging trains and tracks. But this today - is a total breakdown of the complete network. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-12-11, 08:04 AM	#12
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	I'm guessing your more interested in the Military stuff since your posting on Subsim. Keep in mind I've never been to Berlin, but I know of these places. At the Allied Museum in the old American Sector they have the guard shack from Check Point Charlie, and one of the Berlin Air Lift transports. At the site of Check Point Charlie there is another museum that chronicles the wall and the different escape attempts; they have a midget submarine there that was used to cross the Baltic. At the Soviet War Memorial there are some Howitzers and T-34s. There is the "Topography of Terror" Museum which chronicles the SS and Gestapo. The Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr (German Air Force museum) has a bunch of aircraft. __________________

12-12-11, 08:25 AM	#13
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,643 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Oh, I forgot Gatow, former RAF base. It is a military aviation museum - and a pretty big one. Check Google Earth at N52°28'24"/E13°08'35". __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-12-11, 09:03 AM	#14
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 181,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	A few sites of info: http://www.visitberlin.de/en http://www.visitberlin.de/en/plan/city-info http://www.justberlin.org/ __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

12-12-11, 09:11 AM	#15
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Thanks and keep them comming I'll write a guide and publish it for Subsimers when I return. I just hope the term Clueless traveler isn't already taken, I like it P.S. Yep, already taken (blody hell khm I mean Verdamnt), need a new name @Skybird's first post: sounds just like Ljubljana