Just a quick post today. Mainly to say how damn BIG Berlin is ! This city is huge, big wide streets and wide avenues, and without it a real ‘centre’ it just sprawls out in all directions. Takes ages to get from one zone to another. I guess it must be a similar square area to London.
Berlin is totally different from any city i’ve visited before, either in Germany or Europe. It’s heart and it’s history are right there in front of you out on the streets. The scars from the Cold War era and the seperation between East and West are very visible, both in the big historic builidings and monuments, and the day to day streets and districts. For instance the old burnt out GDR parliment which sits near Alexandraplaty is so ridden with asbestos that they can’t safely demolish it. In the district we’re staying in, which is quite hip and trendy, the bulidings are still old and atmospheric. But the ambience and felling is fantastic, it’s full of the young free and liberal, slowly rebuilding and reshaping the identity of the city. Top place.
I’ve finally managed to put a few more photos on. Click on the photo below or use the ‘World Cup Photos’ link at the side. At the moment there’s not many of the England v Portugal game, but will hopefully get a few more on soon.
Only 30 hours now until the World Cup Final …