Our second white Christmas; remembering our first experience was in Seoul, Korea. Not very "white" though.
Queen found this air ticket combination covering 2 countries via skyscanner, and the timing seems perfect with proper planning.
The plan will be taking the early morning flight to Berlin. So have to be quickly fall asleep once boarded the flight, in order to last your energy for the whole day.
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| Its 7:30am in Berlin, but the sky is still dark. We are well charged after 2 hours of nap in the plane. |
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| Board onto the airport bus that bring us to Hauptbahnhof Train Station. Not so complicated, bus ticket from ticket machine. Adult @ EUR 2.70, Child @ EUR 1.70 |
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| Berlin Hauptbahnhof looks more like a shopping mall to me. Yes, this building comprise of retail shops, eateries, and of course - trains... |
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| This is 50% of the Berlin Metro Map. Complicated enough to find the station that you are going instantly. Hauptbahnhof to Unter den Linden (Brandenburger Tor) |
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| Have you found the stations in the map? We reached !!! |
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| Coldness during winter is no joke. Really have to wrap up |
While walking around Brandenburg Gate, we came across Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. The monument are rows of rectangle blocks of different height. There is even a museum on this.
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| Have anyone wonder why is it in rectangle shape, and not square? Does it resemble the shape of the coffin? LOL... |
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| Start to play hide-and-seek. I view it as a piece of art though. |
Christmas Market at Gendarmenmarkt
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| This market concentrate more on gourmet food and handmade goods. The location is in the square between the French and German Cathedrals and the Berlin Concert Hall. |
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| Terrorist attack happened few days ago before our visit. Mourn to the 60+ souls. Rest in peace. |
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What is that???
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| COMEBUY - Princess' favourite Taiwanese bubble tea |
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| Street view around Gendarmenmarkt |
The coldness literally affect our mobility, did not manage to cover the day itinerary. However, we will be back on the last day of this holiday. We will be having a long transit in Berlin again, and hope the weather is better.
Time to head to airport... and will be spend the night in Prague, Czeck Republic.
Currency in Prague is Czech Crown, short-form as czk or kc. We did manage to get the currency ready before arrive.
Some pointers that need to be remember; tourist usually try to spend away whatever coin they got it from any purchase, but this is not the case in Prague. Coins is precious especially if you are taking public transport. The ticket machine does not accept notes.
So fortunate that I read it from some blogs.
Metro tickets are located just outside the airport. Not difficult to understand though. Just look for Adult and reduced ticket, which is for kids.
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| Prague Metro Map is so much easier to understand. LOL Straight forward, just 3 lines. Will be difficult to get lost. All you need to do is to match each alphabet slowly. |
We were shocked by the hotel, till the extend, we did not take any photo of the hotel even though we stay there for 2 nights. While we are walking towards our room, princess first comment was "eerie". The room is spacious and modern. The corridor is so dark, there are only a few blue luminous light, sufficiently guiding your way to the room.
Other than the corridor decoration, everything is perfect. 5 minutes walk to Metro, tons of eateries, grocery stall opposite the hotel (to get drinks), 5 minutes walk to the Christmas Market at Wencelas Squares.
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| Christmas Market at Wencelas Square popular with gourmets and handicrafts. |
Petrin Tower
The best way up to Petrin Mountain is to take the funicular from Újezd LD. Petrin Tower resemble of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but this is taller. It is an observation tower as well as a transmission tower. While during the planning of the itinerary, did not realize that most of the attractions will be close due to Christmas eve and Christmas Day... OMG...
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| Left: Funicular that bringing us up to Petrin Mountain. Center: Mirror Maze Right: St Lawrence Church Only could take the photo of the buildings as all attractions are closed. |
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| Left: Petrin Observation Tower Center: Jesus woooo.... Right: Notice the castle between the branches? |
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| Nice city view from a height |
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| Romantic right? Why I look so much like 寧采臣? Is 聶小倩 (The ghost in 倩女幽魂) behind me? wahahaha.... |
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| Really have the Christmas feel, especially the Christmas Carol filled the environment. Overlooking the fairy-tales castle; Church of Our Lady before Tyn. |
Prague Castle
The history starts from 9th century... Whoah... to be exact is year 870. 1100 years of history. All details can be found in wikipedia...
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| Christmas Market just outside Prague Castle. Mainly for food. |
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| Going for a river cruise on river Vltava |
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| Czech Bridge |
Is a Black Light Theater. Why is it called black light theater? My first experience too.
In short, everything on the stage will be black. Spotlight will only focus on the main performer. Actually, there are a few people on the stage to create illusion. Impressive!
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Times fly... Last night in Prague, and we are heading to Berlin tomorrow, then back home.
Journey continue...
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| Shopping for hats again... |
Berliner Fernsehturm
Berliner Fernsehturm is an observation tower in central Berlin. There is a small theme park and a ice skating rink beside the tower, it could be only available during Christmas period.
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| Princess is so looking forward to ice skate but we are running out of time, rushing to the most popular Christmas market in Berlin. |
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| View from the tower |
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| To comfort her to skip ice skating, I have to take 1 ride with her. Scare die me (吓死我) |
Gendarmenmarkt
There is a fee to enter Christmas Market in Gendarmenmarkt, EUR 1 for each person.
I would say I am most willing to pay, as this is the best Christmas market so far that I have visited.
It's like the consolidation of everything from other Christmas markets; from Gourmet food, Souvenir, Handicraft, Performance...
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List of Christmas Market in Berlin and their information (correct as at Dec 2016)
1) Christmas Magic at the Gendarmenmarkt
Gendarmen Market WebsiteThe Weihnachtszauber market is a little bit at the luxury end of the scale, concentrating on gourmet food and handmade goods. The location is in the square between the French and German cathedrals and the Berlin Concert Hall.
Dates: 27.11.17 – 31.12.17
Times: 11.00 to 22.00 (24.12 until 18.00)
Entry: 1 Euro after 14.00 Monday-Friday for music and performances
Location: Gendarmenmarkt
Website: www.gendarmenmarktberlin.de
2) Winter World at the Potsdamer Platz
Christmas market, Potsdamer Platz, BerlinThe Christmas Market on the Potsdamer Platz is part of a larger Winter World celebration which includes snow tubing and ice skating, as well as Austrian-style ski huts.
Dates: 21.11.16 - 26.12.16
Times: 10.00-22.00
(Christmas Eve : 10.00-14.00)
Location: On the open space of the redeveloped Potsdamer Platz
Website: www.winterwelt-berlin.de
3) Nostalgic Market at the Opernpalais
Christmas market at the Opernpalais, BerlinThe nostalgic market is situated at Schlossplatz on the Museuminsel.
Dates: 23.11.16 - 26.12.16
Times: Monday to Thursday: 12.00-21.30
Friday-Saturday: 11.00-22.30
Sunday: 11.00-21.30
Location: Just off Unter den Linden near the Museumsinsel
Website: www.berliner-weihnacht.de
4) The Christmas Market at Schloss Charlottenburg
Schloss Charlottenburg Christmas Market, BerlinThis market is held in the grounds of the famous former royal palace in the commercial quarter to the west of the main city centre (known as City West).
Dates: 27.11.17 - 26.12.17 (closed on Christmas Eve)
Times: Monday-Thursday: 14.00-22.00
Friday-Sunday: 12.00-22.00
Location: In the grounds of the Charlottenburg Palace
Website: www.wvdsc.de
5) Christmas Market on the Breitscheidplatz
Christmas Market at the Gedächtniskirche, BerlinThis is another market in the City West area of Berlin, this time near the Gedächtniskirche (a relatively modern memorial church for a German Emperor).
Dates: 27.11.17 - 07.01.18
Times: Sunday-Thursday: 11.00-21.00
Friday-Saturday: 11.00-22.00
(Opening times vary on public holidays!)
Location: On the Breitscheidplatz near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Website: www.schaustellerverband-berlin.de
6) Lucia Christmas Market
Lucia Market in Pankow, BerlinThis market is one of the smaller and less overtly commercial in the city and is held a little way out of the centre in Prenzlauer Berg.
Dates: 27.11.17 - 23.12.17
Times: Monday-Friday: 15.00-22.00
Saturday-Sunday: 13.00-22.00
Location: In the Kulturbrauerei in the Pankow part of Berlin
Website: www.lucia-weihnachtsmarkt.de
Extracted from http://www.christmasmarketsgermany.com/berlin.php
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