Berlin! Berlin!

Advantages: Germany's capital and most interesting city
Disadvantages: a bit too large, distances too long

...Berlin*, Berlin, Wir fahren nach Berlin! (Berlin, Berlin, We're heading for Berlin!) (pronounced Ber-leen, stress on the second syllable) This slogan has been chanted enthusiastically for ages whenever a German sports team made it to the capital for the last round, meanwhile it has left the confines of sports and is now even used by the Berlin Tourist Board for a campaign to attract visitors. I've been to four Berlins in my life: when in my mother's womb I was in Berlin, then the capital of the Third Reich, from the GDR (German Democratic Republic), where we later lived, I visited Berlin once in the 1950s, a much smaller city then (only the Soviet sector), but still a capital, the capital of the GDR. After fleeing to West Germany I visited West Berlin, not a capital any more, but no ordinary city, either, it had become...

MALU 13.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Berlin (Germany)

Brilliant Berlin

Advantages: A wonderful city
Disadvantages: None

...It is one of my life's ambitions to visit all the capital cities of Europe so I was thrilled when my parents said we could go to Berlin. Berlin is the Capital City of Germany and is located in the north-eastern part of the country. We stayed in Berlin for four nights. That may not sound like a long time but we managed to cram an awful lot of exploring into our time there! I will go through which attractions we visited each day to give you an idea of how long it takes to see the main sights. ~ Day 1 ~ The majority of day one was travelling to Berlin. We flew with easyjet from Newcastle airport. It was late afternoon when we arrived at Schonefeld airport. It took us about an hour to get from the airport to our hotel (Marriott) which was in Berlin City's centre. After unpacking we went for a walk in the immediate area of our hotel...

bluejules 03.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Berlin (Germany)

One of Irving's best

Advantages: All the usual trademarks of an Irving novel
Disadvantages: If you aren't used to him you may find it a little odd

...You find yourself in a bookshop- well, I do anyway! And as you peruse the shelves, passing the time of day (being careful to avoid looking at the erotica section, you never know what you will see!), you don't half come across some weird and wacky book titles. In my opinion there are one or two titles that haven't been used that should have been. My favourite is: 'Dieting with Prunes and Syrup of Figs - The 'S' Plan Diet'. But I digress as ever. There is one author whose titles are very striking and, once you get to know his style, there are certain things that you look for and cherish- not that there is any similarity or formula style about the books. They are all very different, believe me! I first encountered John Irving when I saw the films of 'The Hotel New Hampshire' and 'The World According to Garp'. These films were...

Nolly 14.07.2002 · Read review
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Review of A Widow for One Year - John Irving

BERLIN BERLIN BERLIN

Advantages: all
Disadvantages: ---

...BERLIN 1. Why of all things Berlin? 2nd Facts journey, live etc. 3rd history of Berlin 4. How does one get to the sights? 5. My visit in Berlin sights 6th result ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 1. Why of all things Berlin? This question very simply has to be answered actually: I like town journeys. After I had looked around in London, Copenhagen and Hamburg lately, I thought the capital of Germany must come to the row actually sooner or later once, too. My assumption that the journey would exceed my short-term budget stopped me from it for some time. At long last, there then was the controversial supply of the favourable train tickets at Lidl some time ago. I was lucky to be able to get hold without problems of tickets and I planned spontaneously a town journey to...

BACK_IN_BLACK_DEVIL 16.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Berlin (Germany)

Say A Little Prayer for John Irving's Best Novel

Advantages: Full characters, interesting story line, fascinating writing
Disadvantages: You might cry at the end - not always a disadvantage

...After my recent review of Fourth Hand, I thought I would update this review a touch so you can understand that John Irving's books aren't all bad. I became a fan of John Irving after reading "Hotel New Hampshire" and have read everything he has written since. And while they are all enjoyable - to differing extents - none of his novels have touched me as much as "A Prayer for Owen Meany". Perhaps I felt a special closeness to the book since the two main characters are both flawed - both physically and emotionally. Owen is a dwarf and has having a feeling he is on a mission from God. Johnny Wheelwright is dyslexic (like myself) and is in a life-long search for his father. The relationship between these two boys as they become entwined and grow, is as growing and entwining as Irving's plot itself. The plot of this book takes us into...

TheChocolateLady 04.08.2002 (17.04.2005) · Read review
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Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

Great 5* Berlin Hotel

Advantages: Great value for 5* hotel, very modern, clean
Disadvantages: Air-con was broken down..

...Just came back from our long weekend (2nd May Bank Holiday, 26May-28May) with 4 other friends. We went to Berlin with Easyjet; it was about £120 per person (a little pricey due to peak period) and the flight time is a little inconvenience because it departed at 6.30am, and check-in time is from 4.30am so we took the last train from London Bridge to Luton airport (about 1hour). We got there by 1.30am and slept on the benches for few hours. There are three airports in Berlin, which are Schoenefled, Tegel and Tempelhof. We went to Berlin Schoenefled with Easyjet and this is the furthest airport from town centre and to the hotel (Grand Hotel Esplanade), it took us about 1 hour. The closest airport is Berlin Tempelhof it would be about 20 minutes from town and 30minutes from Berlin Tegel Airport to town. Grand Hotel Esplanade is a 5...

roseycheeks 31.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Grand Hotel Esplanade, Berlin

Radisson SAS Hotel Berlin. An oasis of calm in a bustling city.

Advantages: Stylish hotel in a superb location. Unique feature of huge aquarium in hotel atrium.
Disadvantages: One bed rather than two pushed together would have been nice!

...streets. Situated on Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse in the Mitte district of Berlin, this hotel is superbly situated for sightseeing. The River Spree runs to one side of the hotel and if you leave from the main door and turn right you are just a few metres away from a boarding point for sight-seeing boat trips. You will also be facing the Cathedral (Dom) with its baroque style dome and stunning architecture. Very close at hand is Museum Island and the National Gallery. Continue in this direction and you will be strolling down "Unter den Linden" . This will lead you to the Brandenburg gate - just about 15 - 20 minutes stroll from the hotel. If you were to turn left from the hotel entrance you would reach Alexanderplatz and the TV tower within minutes So what does the hotel offer inside? Well, I have to say that if you are hoping for a taste...

ALM1 20.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Radisson SAS Hotel Berlin, Berlin

Kreuzberg Berlin for punks & general summary

Advantages: friendly people, great nightlife, great history/attractions, great transport system
Disadvantages: some may find Kreuzberg intimidating, Kottbusser crime rate is a deterrent

...This review of Berlin is based on my experience whilst on tour with my band. It focuses on the people in Berlin as well as the city. It is a general overview of my experience, not a restaurant or hotel review. BERLIN FOR PUNKS & BANDS My band have played in Berlin twice now and both times been received with open arms by old friends and strangers. We travelled to Berlin first of all in May 06 originally not knowing anyone or expecting anything. We knew we'd be meeting a friend of a contact from myspace but that was it. The venue 'Wild At Heart' in Kreuzberg it turned out was great with good music, good PA and sound staff and punters. The management there provided us weary touring few with free beer and a decent backstage area and a free meal, with a vegan option if requested. It is here we met our myspace friend's friend...

plymouth117 18.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Berlin (Germany)

Air Berlin - Fantastic

Advantages: Great service
Disadvantages: They don't fly to more places

...Air Berlin Low cost Flight s to Germany and Beyond This summer was the first time I had flown and to say I was nervous about my first flight was an understatement, especially as I had heard terrible things about other low cost air lines. I had nothing to worry about. The staff were pleasant and efficient and with the added bonus of being able to check in online the night before there were no worries about where I would be sitting. The flight I took was from London Stanstead to BerlinTegel, a flight of about 1hour and 20 mins on a Focker 100. Booking I booked the flight with Air Berlin direct on there website www.airberlin.com which has since been improved since I booked my flight. You now use a map and click on the airport you wish to depart from and all the routes avaliable from that airport show up. Then choose the dates...

craftinessa 07.09.2007 (06.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of Air Berlin

getting spoiled at Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz, Berlin

Advantages: great position of the hotel, great service
Disadvantages: none that I can think of

...I stayed at this hotel for two nights ( 24-25 May 2009 ) when I went to Berlin for The Simply Red concert at O2 Arena and I loved it . It situated in the center of East Berlin near the Television Tower ( witch many argue that is even higher that The Eiffel Tour from Paris) and a short walk from The Brandenburg Gate ( witch is one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany ). If you are a shopaholic, then you are definitely going to appreciate the Alexia Mall that is just in front of the hotel. The hotel is also 20 minutes away from the O2 Arena and 5 minutes away from a modern train station , a great way to travel rapidly through Berlin. Did I mention that Park Inn Berlin is a 37 floors building? :) Is one of the highest buildings in that area and you have a restaurant at the last floor where you can go anytime and take pictures...

radeanuanca 30.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Park Inn Berlin ? Alexanderplatz, Berlin