CharlotteO's Qype reviews
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Ebertstraße 1, Grosser Tiergarten, 10117 Berlin
Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas
CharlotteO
wrote on 15 June 2011
Situated near the Brandenburg Gate the Holocaust Memorial only came about as recently as 2005, 2,711 unique stone blocks pay homage to the murdered Jews of Europe.
It is a magnificent site to behold, criticisms have included that it does not provide enough historical information or illustrate its specific connection to the Jewish people, as the stone tombs are all unmarked and are free from any religious symbols. For me however the monument is a perfect piece of installation, in its vast expanse and blocks of varying heights it is both unnerving and disorientating, as the architect Peter Eisenman intended, it is a symbol for how Jewish people must have felt at the time.
For those who are some how unaware of the historical significance of the site there is now a visitors centre beneath the blocks, how much information it contains I do not know as I didn't feel it necessary to go in. Directly across the road from the monument is the Gay Holocaust Memorial, far too easily missed, it is a single large grey cube with a repeating image of two men kissing inside.
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Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 1, direkt an der Spree, gegenüber dem Berliner Dom, 10178 Berlin
CharlotteO
wrote on 14 June 2011
I think that the negative reviews of this musuem seem a bit unjust. I found it an incredibly informative and unique museum. Where you may not get as much depth and politics, as you would say from Checkpoint Charlie, the DDR is wonderful and is a brilliant example of how a museum can keep both adults and children engaged and entertained. Small children don't want to read board after board of lengthy dates and information, they want to touch things and get involved. I don't even have any children and I could appreciate how rare and wonderful that aspect of the DDR was.
Yes it is a little compact, but it is also very cheap to get in, a lot cheaper in fact than a lot of the other smaller museums I visited in Berlin, and so great value for money. There are so many fantastic in depth, historical and political museums in Berlin that the DDR provides a little light relief from what can be a lot of dark and extremely emotive exhibitions.
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Charlottenstraße 60, (Nähe Gendarmenmarkt), 10117 Berlin
Fassbender & Rausch Chocolatiers am Gendarmenmarkt
CharlotteO
wrote on 14 June 2011
I had the most decadent hot chocolate of my life in there upstairs cafe. For a hot chocolate I guess it a tad on the pricey side but hey I'm on holiday and given the touristy location it was to be expected. What I especially loved, and this is true of most of Europe, is that they don't add milk to your hot chocolate so it is pure thick chocolatey goodness, I must mention here that I am lactose intolerant so for me it's a huge bonus.
Yes the store's a tad touristy but it is definitely worth a visit and children will love it. Go if only to view the amazing Berlin landmarks made out of chocolate.