Berlin lovers.... HELP please
Jul 27th, 2009, 10:59 AM
#21
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Dutch, thanks.
Stu/tower, yes, you are correct that the Gropius House in Lincoln Mass is open to the public. It is managed by Historic New England. Apart from regular tours (excellent), during warmer season they also offer night time tours on selected Friday nights.
http://www.historicnewengland.org/vi...es/gropius.htm
In case anyone is going to Berlin soon and interested in Bauhaus, there's an exhibition on Bauhaus at the Martin-Gropius-Bau through October 4, 2009:
http://www.modell-bauhaus.de/index.php
Unfortunately, Bauhaus Archiv is closed for the next few months.
Stu/tower, yes, you are correct that the Gropius House in Lincoln Mass is open to the public. It is managed by Historic New England. Apart from regular tours (excellent), during warmer season they also offer night time tours on selected Friday nights.
http://www.historicnewengland.org/vi...es/gropius.htm
In case anyone is going to Berlin soon and interested in Bauhaus, there's an exhibition on Bauhaus at the Martin-Gropius-Bau through October 4, 2009:
http://www.modell-bauhaus.de/index.php
Unfortunately, Bauhaus Archiv is closed for the next few months.
Jul 27th, 2009, 11:24 AM
#22
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I think Berlin grows on you after a few days.
I was there the the second time a couple of years ago. I loved it more the second time. But we were there for 9 days and really got a chance to soak it up.
I second the suggestion of taking an all day walking tour with Brewers Tours. It was the highlight of my stay there. Puts the entire city into perspective, historically, and you'll learn tons of great trivia and see off-the-tourist radar sites. Excellent tour guides, too.
Definitely get up early and climb to the Reichstag dome, for sure.
And, consider hopping the subway/train to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. An excellent daytrip.
I was there the the second time a couple of years ago. I loved it more the second time. But we were there for 9 days and really got a chance to soak it up.
I second the suggestion of taking an all day walking tour with Brewers Tours. It was the highlight of my stay there. Puts the entire city into perspective, historically, and you'll learn tons of great trivia and see off-the-tourist radar sites. Excellent tour guides, too.
Definitely get up early and climb to the Reichstag dome, for sure.
And, consider hopping the subway/train to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. An excellent daytrip.
Jul 27th, 2009, 11:59 AM
#23
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Thanks tower! Certainly he changed my life in ways I can't even begin to know. I think the NYTimes just did an article on the new exhibit yk mentioned. I enjoyed my visit to the Bauhaus Archiv, but it's too bad I can't make it to Berlin (I don't think) before that exhibit closes.
Jul 27th, 2009, 12:25 PM
#24
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zeppole, thanks for pointing out the NYT review on the Bauhaus exhibit. I haven't been reading the NYT recently so I easily would have missed it. Now I'm even more excited! Looks like the exhibit will go to NYC's MOMA, so you can always plan for that instead.
In case anyone is interested, this is the link to the NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/fa...-design27.html
In case anyone is interested, this is the link to the NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/fa...-design27.html
Jul 27th, 2009, 12:33 PM
#25
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''Well, Paris and Barcelona weren't bombed to smithereens, for one thing. Nor were they divided, crudely, into two cities with competing things to prove, fast. ''
zeppole, you are so right! What was I thinking...
I had something like Bebelplatz or Gendarmenmarkt in mind ( have seen both... lovely..)as Berlin.
Seeing the photos of what most places near the Wall looked like only 20 yers ago was an education.
I don't think I have the time for Potsdam.
Thanks Thin for mentioning ( some time ago) Melia - great location, big room ,and a very good price !
Thank you all for taking time to give me your ideas.
As I said, I have visited many great museums and galleries in Europe ( let's not forget New York!) but there is always more ... and never enough time.
zeppole, you are so right! What was I thinking...
I had something like Bebelplatz or Gendarmenmarkt in mind ( have seen both... lovely..)as Berlin.
Seeing the photos of what most places near the Wall looked like only 20 yers ago was an education.
I don't think I have the time for Potsdam.
Thanks Thin for mentioning ( some time ago) Melia - great location, big room ,and a very good price !
Thank you all for taking time to give me your ideas.
As I said, I have visited many great museums and galleries in Europe ( let's not forget New York!) but there is always more ... and never enough time.
Jul 27th, 2009, 12:38 PM
#26
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''The Wannsee Konferenz Haus...a most sobering visit to this mansion on the lake...where in January 1942, the one-day planning session for the "final solution"''
tower,
there was a German film ( not a doc., but made in that style ) '' Wannesee' ( not sure about the title), I saw it yers ago ...
tower,
there was a German film ( not a doc., but made in that style ) '' Wannesee' ( not sure about the title), I saw it yers ago ...
Jul 27th, 2009, 12:46 PM
#27
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From an earlier report:
We also recommend the 3.5 hour round trip on the Landwehr Kanal and the Spree which gives a good view of Berlin old and new. The tour starts near the Jannowitzbrücke U & S-Bahn station. We had no reservations, and got the last seats on the boat. The commentaries are all in German, but we could have received a hand-out in English if necessary. The Landwehr Kanal goes through the old neighborhoods with their 19th century houses--although there are exceptions--while the ride up the Spree showcases all the brand new buildings around the government center.
We also recommend the 3.5 hour round trip on the Landwehr Kanal and the Spree which gives a good view of Berlin old and new. The tour starts near the Jannowitzbrücke U & S-Bahn station. We had no reservations, and got the last seats on the boat. The commentaries are all in German, but we could have received a hand-out in English if necessary. The Landwehr Kanal goes through the old neighborhoods with their 19th century houses--although there are exceptions--while the ride up the Spree showcases all the brand new buildings around the government center.
Jul 27th, 2009, 01:03 PM
#28
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Second the boat trip idea. Some really excellent views especially around the Reichstag and Museum Island. Breakfast at the Cafe Einstein on Kurfuerstenstrass or Unter der Linden is really nice too.
Jul 27th, 2009, 02:43 PM
#30
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Sounds like you're warming up to the city somewhat,
Danon..yes, the 2001 film was not a documentary..it starred Kenneth Branagh as Heydrich, and can you believe Stanly Tucci as Eichman...they were both quite marvelous in their roles....but in the late 1980's, a German-made film I thought was decidedly better, less dramatic overtones..but that was exactly what made it a more powerful rendition..the "matter of fact" swaggers..the petty arguments between the talking heads, the power plays...just like any other business meeting...made it quite a bit more chilling than the Branagh version. Rent either one...
Stu
Danon..yes, the 2001 film was not a documentary..it starred Kenneth Branagh as Heydrich, and can you believe Stanly Tucci as Eichman...they were both quite marvelous in their roles....but in the late 1980's, a German-made film I thought was decidedly better, less dramatic overtones..but that was exactly what made it a more powerful rendition..the "matter of fact" swaggers..the petty arguments between the talking heads, the power plays...just like any other business meeting...made it quite a bit more chilling than the Branagh version. Rent either one...
Stu
Jul 27th, 2009, 02:58 PM
#31
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yk...thanks for verifying what I had heard from afar.
My BIL's place in Concord naturally has some aspects of the the Gropius house in Lincoln. It was funny when Dick (BIL) used to tell us how Walter craftily imposed his greater experience and knowledge on Dick's drawings for the Concord House..it's quite beautiful. Damn..now you've got me mssing Massachusetts! (been gone for 52 years).
Stu
My BIL's place in Concord naturally has some aspects of the the Gropius house in Lincoln. It was funny when Dick (BIL) used to tell us how Walter craftily imposed his greater experience and knowledge on Dick's drawings for the Concord House..it's quite beautiful. Damn..now you've got me mssing Massachusetts! (been gone for 52 years).
Stu
Jul 27th, 2009, 06:15 PM
#32
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You are staying at the Sol Melia?? Great!!
Did you walk along the Spree and cross over the bridge behind the Bode Museum to go to Prenzlauer Berg?
I love that little bridge. I will always remember it because on Christmas Eve I bought some gluewine and toasted my dead mother whilst looking up at the stars in the sky.
Don't forget that there is a Laduree in the basement of Galleries Lafayette on Friedrichstrasse. Go get some delicious macaroons. They will make you smile.
Really, danon, the dome of the Reichstag Building was the highlight of my trip to Berlin. I felt like I was in an eagle's nest looking down over the city.
Thin
Did you walk along the Spree and cross over the bridge behind the Bode Museum to go to Prenzlauer Berg?
I love that little bridge. I will always remember it because on Christmas Eve I bought some gluewine and toasted my dead mother whilst looking up at the stars in the sky.
Don't forget that there is a Laduree in the basement of Galleries Lafayette on Friedrichstrasse. Go get some delicious macaroons. They will make you smile.
Really, danon, the dome of the Reichstag Building was the highlight of my trip to Berlin. I felt like I was in an eagle's nest looking down over the city.
Thin
Jul 28th, 2009, 09:57 AM
#34
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I saw Bauhaus at the Martin-Gropius-Bau today .WOW - best of everything :the building, the location ( right next to the Wall) and ,of course, the exhibited work..
We have seen a great Kandinsky exhibit in Paris just this May , I did not know he was a teacher at Bauhaus...
Thanks for the NT link. Not much has been advertised here (in English) about the event. ....
I can order a meal and ask for my shoe size in five languages - German is not one of them.
Thin, I love Melia (and the bridge), there are some nice bars and restaurants by the river...
I have gone to Lafayette several times .. good food..
I have done a 'bad' thing and booked lunch at the top of the
Reichstag Building for tomorrow... well, it is my last day here....
Also seen Helmut Newton Musem today, love his racy (.. sooo German) photos.
Walked into the Kulturforum, but did not have time to visit any of the galleries.
Hope to go to Hamburger Bahnhof tomorrow and later to Pergamon for 1-2 hours.
Thank you all again for so many good ideas.
After five nights in Prague, two in Dresden and six in Berlin
I can say : it was a great trip!.. My only regret is that this time of the year there were no performances at the Opera (s) or concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic..
Some other time?
We have seen a great Kandinsky exhibit in Paris just this May , I did not know he was a teacher at Bauhaus...
Thanks for the NT link. Not much has been advertised here (in English) about the event. ....
I can order a meal and ask for my shoe size in five languages - German is not one of them.
Thin, I love Melia (and the bridge), there are some nice bars and restaurants by the river...
I have gone to Lafayette several times .. good food..
I have done a 'bad' thing and booked lunch at the top of the
Reichstag Building for tomorrow... well, it is my last day here....
Also seen Helmut Newton Musem today, love his racy (.. sooo German) photos.
Walked into the Kulturforum, but did not have time to visit any of the galleries.
Hope to go to Hamburger Bahnhof tomorrow and later to Pergamon for 1-2 hours.
Thank you all again for so many good ideas.
After five nights in Prague, two in Dresden and six in Berlin
I can say : it was a great trip!.. My only regret is that this time of the year there were no performances at the Opera (s) or concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic..
Some other time?
Jul 28th, 2009, 10:07 AM
#37
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danon, thanks for the positive review!!!!! I'm really excited about it. Are there plenty of English explanation at the Bauhaus exhibit?
BTW, I emailed the Bauhaus-Archiv, and the reply was that the Archiv right now is EMPTY, but it's open for architecture tour, so one can actually see the Gropius building without being distracted by the displays inside. There are English audioguides for the architecture tour.
I guess I'll also have to make a lunch reservation for Reichstag. We did that on our trip 6 years ago, and I guess the lines are still as long now as it was back then.
I also have Hamburger-Bahnhof on my list too. BTW, I really, really would love if you could post a (brief) trip report when you return... please???
BTW, I emailed the Bauhaus-Archiv, and the reply was that the Archiv right now is EMPTY, but it's open for architecture tour, so one can actually see the Gropius building without being distracted by the displays inside. There are English audioguides for the architecture tour.
I guess I'll also have to make a lunch reservation for Reichstag. We did that on our trip 6 years ago, and I guess the lines are still as long now as it was back then.
I also have Hamburger-Bahnhof on my list too. BTW, I really, really would love if you could post a (brief) trip report when you return... please???
Jul 28th, 2009, 10:27 AM
#38
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I think I went to the Reichstag Building on a Sunday around 10 AM and only had to wait 20 minutes to get in.
Yes, Laduree is in the basement of Galleries Lafayette--the Food Halls. Lots of goodies there. They even sell Mariage Freres' tea.
Thin
Yes, Laduree is in the basement of Galleries Lafayette--the Food Halls. Lots of goodies there. They even sell Mariage Freres' tea.
Thin
Jul 28th, 2009, 12:37 PM
#39
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' Are there plenty of English explanation at the Bauhaus exhibit? '
'
Yes, I don't know what people who don't speak Enghish do when they travel the world...
' if you could post a (brief) trip report when you return... please???'
sure, I'll do it on the weekend.
'
Yes, I don't know what people who don't speak Enghish do when they travel the world...
' if you could post a (brief) trip report when you return... please???'
sure, I'll do it on the weekend.
Jul 28th, 2009, 12:42 PM
#40
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'German-made film I thought was decidedly better, less dramatic overtones..but that was exactly what made it a more powerful rendition..the "matter of fact" swaggers..the petty arguments between the talking heads, the power plays...just like any other business meeting...made it quite a bit more chilling than the Branagh version. Rent either one...'
tower,
I have seen the German version.. as you said - it was chilling.
tower,
I have seen the German version.. as you said - it was chilling.
