Issue 32 / Getting Our Bustle On In Wintery Berlin

by Vallisa Chauhan

Getting Our Bustle On In Wintery Berlin

Jan 17, 2016

Exploring the world-renowned German markets of Berlin.

Christmas may be over and you may be feeling the winter blues but something that may cheer you up is the thought of booking a trip to the German markets for the end of the year.

^{Weihnachtsmarkt am Gendarmenmarkt}

^{Photo Credit: Vallisa Chauhan}

In early December I had the chance to visit Berlin, Germany. I stayed at the Park Inn by Raddison which was a beautiful hotel situated near the Alexanderplatz which has access to the trains and buses. The hotel also happens to have one of the German markets right below, perfect because when you get cold you can go back to the hotel to warm up.

^{Park Inn Alexanderplatz

Photo Credit: www.tripadvisor.co.uk}

On day one we flew in and decided to go to the markets to check out what was on offer. One thing that won't be empty when you leave the market is your tummy; not with the German sausages, sandwiches, pizza, waffles, crepes and sweets that they have on offer.

^{Traditional German Food Stand

Photo Credit: www.ashbrooklandsscaping.com}

One the second day we took a City Circle Tour of Berlin. The city is quite small but has alot to offer. As we were staying in Alexanderplatz it was the perfect place to start the tour. We visited the Berlin Wall Memorial, the memorial site of the German division which contains the last piece of the Berlin wall, and Checkpoint Charlie, the most popular crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

^{Checkpoint Charlie

Photo Credit: www.berlin.de}

I love cathedrals and whenever I visit a country I try and find a cathedral or church to visit. Berlin's Cathedral is very hard to miss. It is based in the Mitte borough and looks amazing. The current building was completed in 1905.

^{Berlin Cathedral

Photo Credit: www.turismoenfotos.com}

One part of the tour that I thought was particularly interesting was the Kaiser Wilheim Memorial Church. The original church that still stands in the centre of Breitschedplatz was damaged during the 1943 raids and a new church was actually built. The only part of the old church that remains and is visitable is the main foyer on the ground floor which is now houses the memorials.

^{Kaiser Wilheim Memorial Church

Photo Credit: www.tracesofwar.com}

After finishing our tour at the Kaiser Wilhelm church we visited the markets situated there, which were similar to the ones near our hotel but slightly larger with different stalls, where I bought some amazing decorations for my Christmas tree back at home.

One the third day of our trip we decided to visit the AquaDom as we only had a little time before we needed to leave for the airport. The AquaDom is part of the Sealife Centre and what makes it different than other aquariums is the fact it's a 25-meter tall cylinder with a built in transparent elevator. When you're inside the elevator you feel like a mermaid that doesn't get wet as the water surrounds you from all sides.

^{AquaDom

Photo Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk}

^{Main Image Photo Credit: www.telegrapgh.co.uk}

Vallisa Chauhan

Author

Vallisa Chauhan (@vallisachauhan) presents the Flagship breakfast show on Lyca Radio 1458. She has scripted and produced a full feature film called "Those 4 Walls" and is currently working on other projects. She loves travel and movies and tries to fit in both as much as she can.