My first time in Berlin dates from May 2015. Until September 2021 it was my only time. I know it’s odd. The capital of Germany is a centre of history, culture, clubbing, gay culture. It should have been a standard annual getaway. Berlin is a modern, quirky city with a reputation for being hip and trendy. I took time to look back on this first visit – with Frank – in 2015. .

Previously, I wrote of our visit to 

• Potsdam;
• The Jewish Museum, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Memorial to Homosexuals persecuted under Nazism;
• Ostalgie;
• The Reichstag, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Berlin Cathedral;
• Schloss Charlottenburg Palace;
• The Olympiastadion;
• Tempelhof Airport.

Obviously, Berlin is more than that. We wandered to Alexanderplatz and went to Primark (which was somewhat new on the Continent). We had lunch at Gendarmenplatz with its Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom. The Kurfürstendamm and nearby Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe). Let’s not forget the iconic Brandenburg Gate. 

And just in general enjoying the city.

Not on the menu

We didn’t do Museuminsel, Museum Island, as so many museums were being renovated.

Also not on the menu was going out. The gay scene is vibrant in Berlin, but it’s not Frank’s thing. And not enough mine to overrule or go out on my own. Maybe a next time.

Potsdam & Berlin 2015

1. BERLIN 2015 | Potsdam.
2. BERLIN 2015 | Museum and memorials.
3. BERLIN 2015 | Ostalgie.
4. BERLIN 2015 | The Reichstag, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and Berlin Cathedral.
5. BERLIN 2015 | Schloss Charlottenburg Palace.
6. BERLIN 2015 | Olympiastadion.
7. BERLIN 2015 | Tempelhof Airport.

Potsdam & Berlin 2021

1. POTSDAM 2021 | Schloss Sanssouci.
2. 1945 Potsdam Conference’s Cecilienhof Palace.
3. Potsdam 2021.
4. REVIEW | InterContinental Berlin.
5. BERLIN 2021 | Pergamon, ‘Das Panorama’.
6. BERLIN 2021 | Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace.
7. BERLIN 2021 | The Bundestag in the Reichstag.
8. Berlin 2021.