Berlin 08 - Nikolaiviertel neighborhood

Nikolaiviertel neighborhood has some of the oldest buildings in Berlin (as what I've read in travel book), it is just a short 5-10min walk away from Park Inn hotel, so I decided to make a visit during the snowy new year morning.

Thanks to the occasion (New Year), most of the shops were closed, so that explains the lack of people, thus it was quite an surreal experience walking through the quiet pathment in Nikolaiviertel.

One of the souvenir shop that operates on new year.

Nikolaikirche (Church of Saint Nicholas) is located within the Nikolaiviertel neighborhood.

The Church is flanked by houses at close proximty from all ends, thus my point-and-shot 6 megapixel can't really get a good complete shot (am still considering DSLR with wide lens).
The facades of the Church.
'Skull' head has its significant in Christianity sometime ago, thus its not uncommon to see them among the facade in some of the older Churches.

'Bear' statue/model can be commonly seen around Berlin too.

Berlin 08 - St. Marienkirche (Church of St.Mary) @ Alexanderplatz

These are some pictures taken within St. Marienkirche (Church of St.Mary). However, will not be commenting much since I don't think I understand enough to do so.

Church of St.Mary in the snowy new year.

The Grand entrance.

Some writings,pictorial and art-work near the entrance.

Berlin 08 - Around Park Inn hotel @ Alexanderplatz

The Alexanderplatz S-Bahn (above ground) station is just a minute walk away from Park Inn hotel, it's quite a large station because its one of the 'interchange' for different tracks. Similar to Tokyo, Berlin has a pretty well connected railway system, so it pays to do some research before arrival to reduce the 'confusion time'.

Alexanderplatz S-Bahn station with glass panel exterior on a snowy new year.

Alexanderplatz U-Bahn (underground) entrance, these stations have been around before WW2, one of the fight scene in the game "Call of Duty: World at war" actually took place in one of the U-Bahn station.

The world time clock with revolving 'solar system' on top.

Trams roam the streets and walkways of Berlin, although these are really old transport system, but the trams themselves are really new.

The 'road' meant only for tram and human.

Hm.. Im not too sure if its healthy to expose ourselves to the snow, because I thought I saw a nuclear reactor somewhere in Berlin, so maybe the snow flacks are reactive?!

Picture of St. Marienkirche (Church of St.Mary), Ferris Wheel and the Tv Tower.

Besides restaurant, one can also get cheaper and quicker bite from one of the snack bars within the Alexanderplatz S-Bahn station.

With so much options and the prices clearly stated, one should'nt have an issue getting something to chew.
And so I had a sandwich and a PuddingBrezel (Tasted like Egg tart!) as lunch in one of the afternoon. Not alot really, but enough for those with Asian appetite. And it costed only around 3EUR in total.
Dog munched on the pudding too :)

Berlin 08 - Arrival to Berlin & Hotel view

Happy New Year to all!

Ive just landed in Singapore few hours ago, and im now sorting the pictures and baggage and also posting my first 2009 entry at the same time! Hopefully i'll be able to complete the "Berlin photo blog" within a week or two.

Anyway, I took an evening Christmas flight with KLM to Berlin (Route: SIN -> AMS, AMS -> TXL) on a semi-empty plane, most of us had the whole row of seats to ourselves. As you can see in the following picture, one of the guy is sleeping comfortably on the seats :)


Ive gotten a twin room (I stayed alone, but only managed to reserve twin room at the last minute) at the 15th floor of Park Inn hotel (Alexandreplatz). It had been a very present stay, especially when you've 2 beds to roll around on :) For around 90EUR/nite, I feel that this is well worth the money.

And here are some pictures of my room.

There is also a safe-box and fridge in the room. The drinks are not free of course.

Feeling relieved from the cold weather.

And theses are what i can see from my room.

"Tv-Tower"

The "Christmas Market" at the plaza next to my hotel.
I'll be writing about the Christmas market in one of future post.

And since I went alone, i decided to bring a 'travel companion' along, made by someone as Xmas gift, cute right? :)

Met up with a colleague and his wife for dinner at "Bistro & Kaffeehaus restaurant" located within Park Inn hotel. I gotten a delicious plate of "Entenbrust Gegrillt" or "Grilled duck breast" for around 14EUR. The restaurant's menu provides English translation for whole meal such as this but not the side dishes, so its safer to go for the whole meal.


On another separate evening, i also tried different dishes in the same restaurant (many times I just wanted to dine in a place within or near the hotel, because I don't find it fun walking in the cold).

"Fish steak"

"Breaded Pork cutlet"
Thanks to Micheal's recommendation (a chap from California I met in the conference), we tried the "Beer with coke" (For around 4EUR) as shown in the picture. Can't tell much from the picture really, but we both agreed that it goes down smoother than conventional beer and still provides the alcohol fixed.

Personally I'd recommend trying "Grilled duck breast" over the other two dishes, it was pretty thick, the tenderness was good and I love both the sauce & creamy stuff!