Berlin

Just back from Berlin, visiting a consumer electronics exhibition. A wonderful time it has been. The exhibition itself was great - all the major players with quite some eye-candy, and then the city.

We stayed near the Brandenburger Tor - the Brandenburg Gate - at the Kempinski Adlon, just on the eastern side of where the Berlin Wall stood. And the exhibition was on the western side. Managed to go round a bit, especially into the Eastern side - the Cathedral, the Historical Museum, the Jewish Quarter.

Went on a boat-ride the day before we had to leave. Started in the Eastern side, past the old lock and some of the old buildings. Past the Reichstag and the Chancellery and some of the modern buildings. Past bridges and picnic spots, parks and waterfront hotels.

On the way back, dropped in at an art and architecture bookshop. Spent some time walking down the Unter den Linden, the street that Frederick the Great built.

Went to Potsdam the next day. The Sans Soucci is grand and the Neues Palais grander. Huge grounds, delicate villas, and pure history. Managed to get into the Cecilienhof where the Potsdam Treaty was signed by the Big Three, just as they shut the door - no audioguide, but we managed to see the rooms at least, and the photographs.

Brilliant place - Berlin. Would love to return and take it slower that time.