Breakfast in Berlin

A late and lazy breakfast at Cafe Einstein is the ideal start your day. It is housed in a villa which was once owned by a star of the German silver screen. Many of the original features are still there and outside there is a lovely garden area. They do a special breakfast which is a mini buffet for two people or more and includes rolls, meats, salmon, cream cheese, fruit and yogurt. It is served on tiered cake stand.

The story of Berlin and bunker tour

The Story of Berlin provides an easy and interesting overview of Berlin over the last 800 years. It’s a doddle to find as it is on Kurfurstendamm, a main shopping street. It has many displays and uses artefacts and multimedia. Most displays focus on the years between the rise of the Third Reich through the Cold War years to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The displays bring key moments in Berlin’s history to life and provide a sense of the life of Berliners from the past. I particularly liked the mock ups of period rooms. The Museum also includes a tour of a real underground bunker, which is interesting and very disconcerting. You learn there are not enough bunkers and that that they are useless anyway as you wouldn’t survive that long in one of them.

Blown away by the Berggruen Museum.

You could spend a day enjoying the attractions in Charlottenburg. The Baroque splendour of Charlottenburg Palace attracts many visitors. I haven’t been round it and reviews of those who have are mixed. The Brohan Museum is another option, it has a range of art nouveau and art deco pieces of furniture, art and sculpture. It is well laid out and easy to spend an hour enjoying what it has to offer. Without doubt the highlight of Charlottenburg (and arguably Berlin), is the Berggruen Museum. It features the work of Klee, Picasso and Matisse, includes an African art exhibition and a small range of works by some other artists. There are also a small number of sculptures, most notably a cast of Giacometti’s Le Chat. The Picasso collection is impressive and wide ranging, covering his blue period, pink period and some excellent examples of cubism. All too often a fantastic gallery just has too much to take in, the Brugguen has just about the right sized collection to enjoy in one viewing. It is certainly worth going back though, to take it all in again.

Berlin: a night at the opera

A great way to spend an evening in Berlin is at the Duetche Opera. The prices are a fraction of what they are at Covent Garden. On a recent visit we were initially disappointed that Angela Gehorgio had pulled out of La Traviatta. We still went and were delighted with the performance of Carmen Gianatissimo, she isn’t that well known yet, but deserves to be.

Berlin: Potsdamer Platz to Bradenberg Gate

Potsdamer Platz is a showcase for modern urban regeneration. The Sony Centre is located here and has places to eat and shop and is covered by an impressive dome. It is just a short walk to the New National Gallery, where you can spend a happy couple of hours, if you like modern art. Some fresh air will be in order after that and it isn’t far to Tiergarten Park. You can walk through the park towards the Bradenburg Gate and the Reichstag, but before getting there be sure to have a look at the Holocaust Memorial on the way. Very modern and bold and I am sure not to everyone’s liking. It is worth a visit to the Reichstag and going on the roof to admire yet another dome. This one is designed by Sir Norman Foster and you can walk to the top of it. The Brandenburg Gate is a must for pictures. A half hour stroll along the River Spree is time well spent as it allows one to see how the old and new aspects of the parliament building combine. In my view it is a happy marriage.

Berlin: Alexanderplatz to Gendarmenmarkt

Standing in Alexanderplatz feels a bit like being in the centre of a large industrial city from the sixties with a space age feature (the TV tower or Fernsehturm) thrown in. You get 360 degree views from the observation area of the tower and it has a revolving restaurant. There are a range of architectural styles in this part of the city, grand, some brutal sixties and a sprinkling of new developments.

The St Nicholas Quarter is nearby (Nikolaiviertel) and has lots of historic buildings which border the River Spree. It is a good place to be in the summer, because you can sit out by the river and enjoy a drink

You soon get to Museum Island with its five Museums. It is impossible to take in everything that is on offer in a single viewing, so a case of spending a selective couple of hours, or a couple days. You can take your pick from German artists, impressionists, nineteenth century sculpture, Islamic art and ancient antiquities. If scale is your thing, the Pergamon Museum is a must, with its magnificent Pergamon Alter.

A little more strolling and you come to Gendarmenmarkt. The architecture in this imposing square is in stark contrast to Alexanderplatz. It boasts two cathedrals either side, one French, one German and a Concert Hall in the middle. It is a good place for a spot of lunch or just to rest for a while and enjoy the surroundings. If the weather is good there are plenty of outdoor eating options. There are also bars and restaurants overlooking the square. The trendy Newton Bar, has a mural of nudes on the wall. It is quite boisterous at night, but more sedate during the day and has a good range of Champagne.

Fassbender & Rausch overlooks the square and sells a huge range of delicious chocolate. I am no chocoholic, but love this place. The shops in this part of the city are high end. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, it is worth popping into Galleries Lafeyette and admiring the glass cone which runs through the middle of the building from the floor to the ceiling. I know it sounds a bit anoraky, but it really is worth viewing it from the top looking down and basement looking up

Luxury and seclusion in Sri Lanka

Those wanting to really spoil themselves can chose from a range of luxurious villas which can be found on the South Coast of Sri Lanka. I like the look of this one which is in Walligama and built on its own Island called Taprobane. http://www.villasinsrilanka.com/property.php?resid=12

Relaxing on the beach in Unawatuna

A few days in Unawatuna, on the South Coast of Sri Lanka is a perfect way to wind down. The tourism here is low impact. Not many shops apart from a few which just sell a basic range of items. There isn’t a promenade either, so all the restaurants and bars are directly facing the beach or a short stroll away from it from on un-tarred road. Not for everyone, but great if you want to get away from highly developed resorts dominated by large hotels. Most of the accommodation here ranges from simple lodges to boutique hotels. The Villa was great choice offering comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price and right on the beach. http://www.reddottours.com/322/the-villa-accomodation-profile.htm

There is little to do other than wander along the bay or walk up on to ‘Jungle Beach’; very relaxing and a great place to just enjoy the simple things in life.

Galle is a short drive away by tuk-tuk or bus and is the nearest large town. It has shops, a market an old fort and some larger hotels. I recommended The Lighthouse for those who prefer something closer to a regular resort hotel.

At the very least Unawatuna is worth a visit for a few hours and a great place to stay for longer for those who can take the slow pace.