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BERLIN - STAY FOR LESS "EURO"

Think BERLIN, the unified German Capital, & you might conjure up images of hard times, Nazi rallies, bitter winters & post war devastation. You will certainly remember "The Wall" in particular November 1989 when it crumbled along with Communist control & indeed the City is still regenerating from these experiences with building sites & scaffolding all around so it is no place for light- hearted sightseeing. But there are sights to see & experiences to gain from your visit if you are familiar with recent history & you will find the following information from GB useful for your stay:

ACCOMODATION

No 1 - Hostel Mitte Backpacker on Chaussee strasse 102, tele 030 283 90 965 Email: backpacker@snafu.de - located in former E/Berlin, 1ml. N from Brandenburg Gate - E16 in 4/6 bed dorms, sheets E2. Excellent kitchen facilities ( microwave, fridge, crocks.) & great reception, sitting/bar area - Metro U2 to Zinno witzer ( N exit) just over road

Reserve - The Club House Hostel at Kalk scheunen strasse 2, tele 030 280 97 979
Email: mailto@clubhouse-berlin.de - cross over the River Spree on Friedrichstr. First street on right - E15 in 7/10 bed dorms, sheets E2. No S/C but small & friendly reception/ sitting area, also courtyard - Metro U2 to Oranien burger Tor.

FOOD - The main & best supermarket "Plus" is just over the road from No 1 hostel which has all your S/C needs. There are also plenty of fast-food places & burger bars around the City, takeaway pizzas are a boon if your on a budget.

TRAVELLING AROUND - The Underground, U-Bahn, is the mainstay of the central transport system in Berlin, S-Bahn for longer distances. Fares for short trips (3stops) is E1.50, a journey in the A&B or B&C zones ( up to 2hrs) costs E2.20. A day ticket (valid until 3am the day after it is stamped) is E4.20 (2 zones). Tickets are available from "orange" m/cs, U/S-Bahn Stns. & must be validated in the "red" m/cs. at platform entrances ( or be fined DM60). You can save money &organise your own tour by boarding bus # 100 (same ticket system but validate at bus stops) which links west & east Berlin & runs between the Zoo & Mollstr, taking in Tier'garten, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, & the Unter den Linden.

"FREE" SIGHTS TO SEE IN BERLIN

1. Brandenburg Gate - built 1791 an Archway dense with history, a symbol of German solidarity
2. Reichstag - the new German Parliament building topped with amazing panoramic glass dome.
3. The Wall - Only 4 sections remain, a symbol of the "cold war" years, still a vivid reminder
4. Berlin State Museum - free on 1st Sunday of each month as are the other main museums
5. Tiergarten - Berlin's central park is the place to be on a hot summers day.
6. Kurfur-stendamm - the smartest shopping street in the City; the busiest stretch is the east end.
7. Wannsee - the expanse of woods & lakes to the west even has its own beach, Strandbad.
8. Hackes'chen Hofe - stroll through the stylish courtyards of the old commercial east Mitte district.
9. Checkpoint Charlie - marked the old boarder between E&W Berlin, now a replica stands
10. Museum Island - middle of the River Spree, walk around some of the worlds great museums

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. Botanical Gardens - 100 acres beautifully landscaped, stroll through weekdays when quieter.
2. Potsdam - Berlin's baroque equivalent of Versailles, park free but various Palace prices.
3. Bauhaus Archive - a school of design founded 1919 a style which changed face of today's cities

(Romana, Charlie)