tonrob

Danke!

cindyabs

good, hopefully all will be well.

tonrob

Off to Berlin for a few days tomorrow!

Local train to Koeln and then one of those fast ICE jobbies the rest of the way. I was surprised how much it cost - we could have probably flown for the same but at least this way there's no buggering about with airports.

We had the choice of staying at Potsdamer Platz or - for half the price - in Mitte (but closer to Alexanderplatz). I've not been to Berlin before but having read the Lonely Planet from cover to cover (as something to do as I can't join in the German conversations between Mrs tonrob and her family) it seems that there's more to do in the east (especially nightlife) so we'll probably go for the cheaper option.

Anyone been to Berlin? Read the guide but all hints and tips welcome. The beer guide said go for the Berliner Weisse without the syrup...

Toontje

Syrup????? Sacrilege!!!!

tonrob

Exactly. I don't like crap in my beer, whether it's a lemon wedge stuck on the glass, syrup or - don't get me started - sodding coke.

Toontje

My thoughts exactly.

If a beer needs syrup, lemon, or anything else, the brewer would have put it in the beer (think Hoegaarden).

Hiro11

I'm extremely jealous. I've always wanted to go to Germany. Out of my price range at the moment...

tonrob

It's cheap if you stay at Mrs tonrob's parents' house. (I can have a word if you like, although Mrs tonrob would have to translate it). And now I'm here I'm drinking the most gorgeous Dunkel Weizen priced at 39 measly Euro cents per half-litre bottle.

Oh - the agony.

MsElui

oh go to Dusseldorf and have an Altbier for me - i have many fond memories of that!

tonrob

Won't be able to make Dusseldorf, but I had a load of Germans round last week (in the U.S.) and fed them Long Trail Ale (from up the road in VT) - that's a widely-available Alt (albeit an American one).

Optimus Prime

I'll be in Dusseldorf on Monday unfortunately. Well Erkrath actually. Arse end of nowhere.

Deedee13

only a couple of stops to krefeld - great shopping center.. and on the other side altstadt dusseldorf. Lets face it they have a great public transport system

tonrob

So - I've been in Berlin for just over 24 hours now (well, two nights out round the pubs aided by this very useful guide for beer lovers).

Having a great time, took lots of photos, drank lots of nice beer etc. Given the fetish clubs a miss - Mrs tonrob thinks they're so passe...

Train here was a bloody hour late due to delayed work on the overhead wires - made me feel kind of homesick...

The Horticulturalist

Coke in beer, surely ye jest?

chartreuse

I've been there, once. Flew over from England to see a Tom Waits gig. Don't have any useful info - we just went to the gig, had a few jars, crashed out then did a quick whiz round the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie before going home.

Glad you're having a good time.