U + S-Bahnhof Neukölln – English 28. November 2010
Posted by konniebritz in Articles in English, Berliner U-Bahn.Tags: S-Bahn Neukölln, U-Bahn Neukölln
add a comment
Neukölln station is one of the main changing points within Neukölln. The U-Bahn line 7 runs here, some buses as well as several S-Bahn lines like the „Ring“ (circle) and trains to Schönefeld airport or Königs Wusterhausen.
The S-Bahn station on the circle line had been opened in 1872 as Rixdorf station. In 1912 the station’s name had been changed into Neukölln together with the name change of the Rixdorf municipality. Since 1920, Neukölln is part of Berlin.
In 1980, Neukölln S-Bahn station had been closed down by the Reichsbahn and been reopened in 1993.
The U-Bahn station with its plain yellow tiles had been planned by Mr. Alfred Grenander, a Swedish architect, and was opened in 1930. Mr. Grenander also planned the station building at Karl-Marx-Straße / Saalestraße.
You can change trains from the U-Bahn to the S-Bahn either by stairs to a floor with several shops, from there by escalators. As well, there is an elevator available which will take you directly down from the U-Bahn to the S-Bahn station above.
You can park your car at the rear exit of the S-Bahn station at Saalestraße.
Lots of people change trains at this station, it is always crowded. So please beware of pickpockets. It’s one of their favorite playgrounds. This is one reason why I don’t really like this station and don’t enjoy changing trains here.
Reuter-Terrassen – English 24. Februar 2010
Posted by konniebritz in Articles in English, Berlin_Britz, Restaurants in Berlin.Tags: Berlin, chinese buffets, chinese cooking
add a comment
This is a nice Chinese restaurant offering daily Chinese buffets for lunch from 12.00 h – 15.00 h and in the evening from 17.00 h – 21.00 h. If you would like to bring your children: no charge for children up to 4 years, half price for children up to 8 years (this applies only for the buffets, not for the regular dishes).
The couple running the place has started the business in October 2007. Most people come here for the buffets. The dishes from the regular menu are also worth a try. If you like to try them in a relaxed atmosphere, make sure to get here at other than the buffet times as then the place is rather busy.
The staff are always kind and attentive. Sometimes they seem to be a little confused, compensating it by their typical friendliness.
The restaurant has a summer patio. As it is located at two busy, noisy streets, I always prefer sitting inside, even during the summer.
Disabled persons may face some difficulties. To enter the place, you will have to climb approx. 10 steps. The toilets are downstairs.
Reuter-Terrassen
Buschkrugallee 226
12359 Berlin
Tel. 030-6018157 / 030-66528188
www.reuter-terrassen.de
Berlin – U-Bahnlinie 55 – English 28. November 2009
Posted by konniebritz in Articles in English.add a comment
The Berlin underground line 55 has been opened in August 2009. Consisting of three stations, you can change trains at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof only as it is not connected with any other underground line yet. We went there in October 2009 on a Sunday afternoon.
We went on this line at Hauptbahnhof. Other than the rest of it, the underground station was rather quiet, only few people were waiting with us for the next train. On the walls of the station you will find pictures from old Berlin stations which look totally different nowadays – if they still exist at all.
The next station, Bundestag, is the one I like most from the architectural point of view. On both sides, there are galleries over the railtracks. On one side, the gallery consists only of plain concrete, whereas the gallery on the other side is covered with pictures from Berlin – past and present. The numerous columns on the platform end up in lightwells with incident daylight.
Finally we got to the last station, Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate). The walls of the station are covered with images relating to the division of Berlin between 1961 and 1989. The illumination of the station through top panels looks impressive.
A single train is running this little line. A second railtrack already exists though it is still closed. A sign-board is informing you that this track is “out of service”.
The construction works on the stations have not yet been finished. As an example, the escalators at the Bundestag station are still missing.
This rather short line will surely become much more important when being extended to underground line 6 at Friedrichstraße. I have heard this should be finished in 2017.
Erholungspark Marzahn mit den Gärten der Welt – English 15. November 2009
Posted by konniebritz in Articles in English.Tags: Berlin, Erholungspark, Gärten der Welt, Marzahn
add a comment
Though this park is quite at a distance from home, I always enjoy going there. The various gardens are beautiful. The best time for a visit is from spring – autumn. Be sure to bring a camera – you will take lots of pictures there!
If you like drinking tea, try the Chinese Teahouse. They offer various black, green, yellow and white teas.
Don’t miss the magnificent Oriental Garden with its mosaics and ornaments.
In the Balinese Garden, located in a glasshouse, you will find lots of orchids and other tropical plants. Please mind the rather high humidity there.
It is not easy to walk around the Japanese Garden – you will have to cross lots of stones up and down a hill. And the guards at the entrance make sure nobody will enter the garden from the wrong side.
Next to it you will find the Korean Garden. It is much easier to walk around there.
One of the recently opened gardens is the Italian Renaissance Garden. It is located close to the entrance at Blumberger Damm.
There are more interesting places in this park like a maze. As this review is meant to give you a rough overview, I can only recommend the park for a visit.
Various refreshments are offered. All over the place you will find spots for taking a rest. The park is wheelchair accessible.
Erholungspark Marzahn mit den Gärten der Welt
Eisenacher Straße 99
12685 Berlin
Tel. 030-700906-699
http://www.gruen-berlin.de/parks-gardens/gardens-of-the-world/
Restaurant zum Hufeisen – English 31. August 2009
Posted by konniebritz in Articles in English.Tags: Hufeisen, Restaurant
add a comment
The place is run by a Croatian couple who are in their early forties. Consequently they offer Croatian cooking. This usually means a lot of meat (steaks, schnitzel etc.) though they also offer a few vegetarian dishes like baked camembert or feta cheese which are quite nice. The prices are reasonable.
Draft beers are Berliner Kindl and Märkischer Landmann. You can also get the regular offer of Croatian wines.
They have a smoker lounge which is also used for large parties up to 40 people.
During the summer, you can take an outdoor seat with a direct view into the inside of the horseshoe building.
So sit down looking into the horseshoe, have a drink or two and enjoy your meal…
Restaurant Zum Hufeisen
Fritz-Reuter-Allee 48
12359 Berlin
Tel. 030-6 06 38 05
Konniebritzs Berlin Blog 