Berliner Weekend. Day1

Another attempt to pal up with Berlin. The first one was almost a year ago, and at that time I have noticed that the city was very diverse, but quite gloomy and not very friendly.

I came to Berlin with the train. I think we even do not have any direct flights from Prague. However, if you set off early in the morning, you would still most probably feel sleepy, so you can sleep on the train some hours.

The spring has just come to the city. Not much greenery and leaves on the trees.

Wide streets in the city centre. Very pedestrian-friendly, with large sidewalks, bike lanes, and well-marked crossings.

Here is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. A powerful symbol of the destruction of war and the resilience of peace. It was largely destroyed in a bombing raid in 1943 during World War II, but nowadays it is preserved in its ruined state as a memorial to remind the horrors of war.

I am staying at SORAT hotel, a small, cozy city hotel in a prime location directly on Wittenbergplatz, located in Berlin's Schoneberg district, at the edge of the famous shopping boulevard Kurfurstendamm. One of the main attractions here is the iconic KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), a Berlin institution and the largest department store in continental Europe.

The late lunch I had in some traditional restaurant. And in that traditional restaurant I tried the traditional food - the Schnitzel. To tell the truth, Schnitzel originated in Austria. But it has become a beloved and widespread dish in German cuisine too. In Germany, the most common version is Schnitzel "Wiener Art" (Viennese-style Schnitzel), usually made with pork instead of veal. The Schnitzel was served here with potato salad (Kartoffelsalat). Very delicious and very heavy :-)

The day was not finished with Schnitzel, of course. After having a nap at the hotel I had a long walking in the neighborhood of Wittenbergplatz, visiting many local bars. Yet, the night life in Berlin is more exciting than the daylight life.

Triangle. Rotterdam.

From the Hague I took a train, which delivered me to Rotterdam, to the quite city centre, only in 20 minutes.

Rotterdam, with a population of over 650000, is the second-largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam. It was first mentioned in the 13th century and grew as a fishing village along the Rotte River (still there are three other main rivers flowing through the city). It became a major port and trade center during the Dutch Golden Age, but it was heavily bombed in World War II, leading to a complete rebuild with modern architecture.

It feels more vibe here on the streets rather than in the Hague. But the architecture also looks a bit simpler.

My hotel is located on Witte de Withstraat, one of the city's trendiest and most vibrant streets, known for its artistic vibe, filled with bars, galleries, boutiques and cool restaurants. There is a self check-in, so I needed to wait until 3pm to get the code to the entrance.

The room is small, but it has a distinctive feature, which I paid for. It is the view to the street and to the other beautiful houses. 

Rotterdam is a home to Europe’s largest port, known as the “Gateway to the World”. The port stretches over 40 kilometers and handles millions of containers, goods, and raw materials every year.

In general, Rotterdam has a vast network of harbors, with more than 40 harbors spread across the city. One of the most interesting for tourists are Wijnhaven, Kop van Zuid and Leuvehaven. Wijnhaven is a historic harbor area, now a vibrant district with modern apartments and dining options; Kop van Zuid is a large waterfront area featuring several harbors for recreational boats and modern buildings; Leuvehaven is known for its maritime museum and historic vessels.

There were several unexpected discoveries in the city, while I was randomly strolling around.

The first is the Markthal, a giant indoor food market with an arched ceiling covered in colorful artwork. The building features a unique horseshoe-shaped arch with a glass facade, making it the largest glass-window cable structure in Europe. Above the market hall, there are 228 apartments, and below, a four-story underground parking garage with over 1200 spaces.

The second is the mirrored facade of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. The building features a unique cylindrical shape covered in 1664 reflective glass panels, which mirror the Rotterdam skyline, creating a truly magical impression. The reflective surface also captures the trees, water and buildings around the museum, giving the structure a dynamic and ever-changing appearance.

Quite intensive day, but only 23000 steps were made. Still, for the dessert today I have deserved a wonderful brownie from the local coffeeshop.

Going to sleep with one thing on my mind, that tomorrow I finally will visit the famous Van Gogh museum!

Triangle. The Hague.

It was many years ago when I visited Amsterdam for the first and the last time. So, I would like to refresh my memories and to see the canals, narrow streets and Van Gogh inheritance again. Unfortunately, the hotels rates are like Boeing wing there. And I came up with the idea to stay not only in Amsterdam, but also in other cities of the Netherlands.

My first city is the Hague. The Hague is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. It is home to the Dutch royal family’s working palace. And many international organizations are based here. For example, it hosts the International Court of Justice and many embassies.

I should mention, that trains in the Netherlands are fast, clean, and easy to use, with frequent connections between major cities. So, from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can take a direct train to The Hague in about 35 minutes.

The Hague features a mix of historic and modern architecture. Modern skyscrapers rise near classic Dutch townhouses from the 17th century here. 

But before exploring the city I have to check-in to the hotel Ibis, located very close to the Binnenhof, the parliament complex.

My hotel is housed in a historic building designed by the renowned Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage. Constructed in the 1890s, this building showcases Berlage's distinctive architectural style, characterized by robust brickwork and geometric forms. I was astonished by the look of the hotel itself, but most of all I loved the grand view through a big window of my room.

The city has the canals, so many bicycles and very cozy streets with summer cafes. A very relaxed atmosphere today. It feels like Amsterdam already.

 

The weather is perfect for walking. Around four kilometers from the city centre, and I am already can feel the breeze from the North sea. The Scheveningen Beach is the most famous beach district in The Hague. Many local people are sunbathing, making promenade here or even swimming in the cold waters.

It was a very walkable day today. I have made almost 30 thousand steps! Tired, but happy. And tomorrow I set off to another remarkable city of the Netherlands.