Rough times in Berlin

A city with an amazing albeit painful history. Every street corner has amazing things to see whether located in the East or West: the remnents of the wall or the Brandenburg gate, to the army men on the traffic lights on the East part of the city. Berlin is a fascinating place.

Quick Tips:

Look for accomodations in advance!! That was my big mistake. Circus hostel and Alcatraz are affordable hostels on the East part of the city.

The local beer is the best and the cheapest. (See my journal on Hamburg for a more in-depth review on beer!)

Stay there for more than 3 days to totally appreciate the city. Lack of time was my one regret.

Best Way To Get Around:

I was amazed by the extent of Berlin's transit system. When I saw the U/S- Bahn map all I could do was laugh! However it is pretty straight forward and very consistent making it the most effective way to get around the city. Don't get caught without a Fahrkarte though!

After hanging around the west side of Berlin for the night, we finally got a few hours of heavenly sleep! Circus Hostel is a comfy, modern, and clean hostel with great internet access, friendly staff (some of whom aided me in getting a flight back to Ireland when I was short on cash!)and excellent shower facilities.

The Turkish kebab stall across the road was always a tasty treat, and was cheaper than the hostels "all-you-can-eat" buffet. The seating area outside the hostel was always a nice area to meet people from around the world, play cards, and drink some local beer!