Electric Berlin

Electric Berlin

“Paris is always Paris and Berlin is never Berlin!”

-Jack Lang, Culture Minister of France

“Berlin is tough but so are you.”

— apocryphal

Within one lifetime, Berlin has alternated between being the world’s most liberated city and the most oppressed and then back again. It has been a haven for spies and artists, a stage for presidents, a pawn on a global chessboard and the unofficial capital city of Europe. It has endless rows of gray concrete housing and some of the wildest parties in the world. It’s no surprise that it also just so happens to be one of the most exciting cities in the world to visit.

As a major air and rail hub in the center of Europe, it’s easy to get here from pretty much anywhere, in any fashion, from luxury train to discount airline. However they arrive, travelers will easily navigate Berlin’s U-Bahn subway system. Among its other charms, Berlin is noted for being cheaper than most other European capitals. Lodging, food, drink and entertainment are notably less expensive than Paris and London, with attractive options at every budget level from backpacker to five-star luxury.

History:

First time visitors to Berlin often seek a connection to the city’s history. The city has been at the center of the worst of fascism and communism and the best of liberal democracy. Start by visiting the dome of the Reichstag, home of Germany’s parliament. The visit is free, but you must register online in advance. The dome’s museum will reintroduce you to the history of the city and its governments. Afterwards, you can visit the Brandenburg gate, the symbol of German and European peace and union and pay your respects at the Holocaust Memorial. A short distance away, Checkpoint Charlie preserves Berlin’s Cold War history where American and Soviet tanks once faced each other down. Even thirty years later, souvenir sellers still offer “pieces of the Berlin wall,” to tourists. The wall used so much concrete that you can be confident your piece is authentic. However, it’s quite likely that one side was painted afterwards to make you think it came from the famous graffiti that covered the wall’s surface.

Culture:

After taking in the weight of Berlin’s history, you’ll certainly want some levity and entertainment. The Reichstag itself boasts a notably excellent restaurant with expansive views of the city. For security reasons, reservations must be made in 48 hours in advance online. Other opportunities for high culture include the Berlin Philharmonic, and Museum Island, which hosts the Pergamon, a museum of Middle Eastern art and architecture, the Neues Museum, home of the famous bust of Nefertiti, and the Bode Museum, which houses one of the world’s largest public coin collections. A 3-day pass to all of Berlin’s museums is €29, but half price for university students and free for under-18s.

Carouse:

If all the high culture goes to your head, you can steady yourself at the city’s hundreds of beer halls and pubs. Whether you’re searching for an intimate and warming pub to linger over a bratwurst and brew or a rowdy beerhall to down pints and pretzels, you’ll very quickly find yourself making new friends and even picking up a little German. (The language. Do not try to pick up a small German person.) After dark, the city becomes one of Europe’s great party capitals. All night Techno EDM parties in abandoned Communist factories are among the tamer offerings. Some clubs open and close often, while others are long-lasting countercultural institutions. Check the blogs before you go to find one that meets your tastes.

Explore:

When you’re ready to get some fresh air, take a walk through the city’s famous parks. The Tiergarten, in the center of the city, is one of the world’s great urban gardens, perfect for a walk or bike ride. Outside of the city center, the former Tempelhof airport is now a city park where you can run and bike on the runways or explore the old terminals.

Shop:

If you want to get outdoors but your preferred sport is bargain hunting, visit the city’s fantastic flea markets. Whether you’re searching for a bit of history, fashion, art or something you didn’t know you needed, you’ll be sure to find it. My personal favorite is the Gendarmenmarkt, which is only open in December to sell Christmas gifts and winter delights.

Whatever season you’re ready to travel, be sure to get in touch so we can plan your perfect trip to Berlin!

Even Berlin’s airports reflect its role at the center of world-historic events. Markings on the tarmac indicate where to park various models of Soviet, American, British and European aircraft.

Remnants of the Wall

and Checkpoint Charlie

and Communist East Berlin

Inside the Berlin Philharmonic

Although Berlin offers a great diversity of cuisines, it’s a paradise for those with carnivorous tastes.

At the Christmas Market

London in the Summertime

“The California animal is a bear
Angeleno, but the devil may care
Summer time to talk and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
I’ll take you to the movies there
We could walk through Leicester Square
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man.”

— The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Whilst traveling on the River Thames, I said to Clyde "Let's look for dames."

"Very well," said he, "but it's called Thames."

"Alright," said I, "we'll look for femmes."

-Ogden Nash

The English are famous for many things, including The Beatles, afternoon tea, the royal family, but, above all, their rain. Although G.K. Chesterton lauded the English climate, saying: “I will praise the English climate till I die—even if I die of the English climate”, frequent deluges aren’t exactly welcomed on a city-break. So, if you are planning a long weekend jaunt to London, there’s no better time than summertime.

Once home to Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Sylvia Plath, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, and Richard Burton, England’s capital is steeped in a vast and divergent history with many a tale to tell. Few cosmopolitan cities can boast of such an array of iconic architecture, ranging from the instantly recognizable Big Ben, the Tower of London, and the Houses of Parliament to the innovative architectural styles of the Shard, the Tate Modern, and the London Eye. And the best way to enjoy such a plethora of structural heritage is to get immersed into the city, spending as much time wandering the higgledy-piggledy streets like a local. As the skyline of this vibrant and vivacious city is ever-changing, the time to enjoy it is definitely when the sun is shining.

To avoid reverting back to a bulky and outdated guidebook, here are some quirky and unique ways to see London in the summer.

Enjoy a spot of summer sun alongside Shoreditch's canals...

...or perhaps a jaunt with a friend

Getting Around

London is a large and busy city, so planning your routes is vital. One fun and unusual way to buzz around is in one of smallcarBIGCITY’s Mini Coopers: they allow you to nip through the hustle and bustle of the capital while absorbing the panoramic view from this adorable little car – an experience you can’t enjoy on the underground.

Alternatively, you can opt for London’s own transport. One of London’s iconic black cabs can take you wherever you wish to go. The drivers of these cabs all have a complete knowledge of every route and landmark in London - hence the name, “The Knowledge”, for the grueling geographical test they have to pass.  

There is also a fleet of big, red buses that take to the street (including ones specifically for tourists), on which you get a great view of the sights from the top deck.

Hidden Treasures

Markets & Arcades

It is no secret that London is host to some of the finest and quirkiest retail experiences – the secret is knowing where to find them! With a myriad of hidden markets and arcades dotted all over London, all your shopping demands will be more than satisfied.

You can’t visit London without taking a stroll down one of the most British streets in London, Cecil Court.  This eccentric pedestrian half-block with its used book stores, toy shops, and hobby shops is perfect for presents and gift shopping and specializes in traditional English-ness.

London’s arcades often have narrow and discreet entrances, so you have to have a keen eye to spot them, but they are one of the weird and wonderful characteristics of London life. One of the oldest and most famous arcades is Burlington Arcade, which opened in 1819. The trouble with some of these arcades, however, is that they are positioned in spaces that demand some of the highest rents in the world, so they aren’t exactly cheap - but well worth a visit!

A Cecil Court Shopkeeper

S

Pubs

Should you find yourself parched or in need of some sustenance, you are never far from a good old English pub where you’ll find some of the finest ale and best fish and chips you could ask for. Like so many buildings in London, each pub has an interesting and unique past.

The Shakespeare’s Head, on Carnaby Street, was built in 1735 and was originally owned by Thomas and John Shakespeare, who were distant relatives of the great dramatist himself.

The George Inn, in Southwark, was built in 1677 and glories at being the only remaining galleried inn in London. The George can also claim to nineteenth-century fame through having Charles Dickens as a regular patron when the inn was a coffee house.

Escape from the Hustle and Bustle - Manchester

If the energetic London life gets too much, you can always hop on a cross-country train at Euston and head up to Manchester for a mini getaway.

The city is a refreshing blend of old and new, undiscovered and inexpensive. The pace of life is much more relaxed than in the capital, so you can still enjoy urban life without feeling rushed off your feet.

There are plenty of shopping opportunities with large department stores and high street chains, along with great cultural activities and excursions, in the form of museums, galleries, football clubs, and a private library. The John Rylands Library is open to everyone, in which you can research their collection of ancient manuscripts – you just need to book an appointment.

Be sure to get a Blue Badge Guide - it’s an official tour agency in England and the guides have excellent training in history and culture. These guides can be easily arranged either through me or through your hotel.

Maury’s Checklist for London in the Summertime

1.     The amount of transport options available to you in London means that you don’t have to spend months in advance planning and preparing your visit.

2.     The iconic landmarks and tourist sites are easily accessible and well-known, but choosing the best pubs, shopping experiences, markets, and alike require insider-knowledge and some forethought, so familiarize yourself with their locations and plan your day accordingly to make the most out of your visit.

3.     Some of the best places in London are discovered by getting lost and there’s nothing like wandering through the side-streets of London on a summer’s day (you definitely won’t fancy it in the winter!). So, take advantage of the amazing weather and get lost in this marvelous city and see what hidden treasures you stumble across!  

Shepherd Market, in Mayfair, is an experience in itself simply because it is a little-known gem to locals and tourists alike - and understandably so, given how understated the entrance is. This hidden treasure is the definition of cultured chic, specializing in hotels, pubs, rare books (from Maggs Bros Ltd), art galleries, and Simon Carter Menswear.

Markets are another prominent feature of London life. There’s Spitalfields Market, which sells everything from food and drink to cosmetics and bicycles. Borough Market offers a more nuanced range of produce, specializing solely in British and international foods - it was also where Bridget Jones’s Diaries was filmed. Amongst the best markets is also Piccadilly Market, which is great for belts, bags, all things leather and jewelry.

 

Pubs in Summertime can take up an entire sidewalk

Manchester is often more relaxed than London...

...but still very social!

Enjoy London's favorite tourist sites...

...but don't be afraid to wander off the beaten path!

Venice!

“If I were not King of France, I would choose to be a citizen of Venice.”

-Henry III, 1574

“Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.”

-Truman Capote, 1961

Venice’s canals and palaces are so beautiful that they just about created the entire idea of traveling for pleasure, rather than trade or conquest. Before Venice was a playground for, Lord Byron, Mark Twain and Kim Kardashian, it lured young English noblemen on their “Grand Tour” of Europe. While Paris’s salons instructed the sons of Albion how to behave in court and Rome’s ruins left them with visions of empire, it was Venice that taught them to love beauty and passion.

If you’re ready for a personal renaissance, let’s start planning your trip to Venice. Before you pick from the myriad of non-stop or low-cost flight options, here’s a guide to travelling in the world’s first tourist destination without being a tourist.

The Must-See’s

The canals are Venice’s sine qua non. Plenty of gondolas and gondoliers ply the Canal Grande and the smaller waterways, but their passengers are largely tourists enjoying the theater of a gondola ride. Locals ride a dense network of ferries and water taxis, but most of all they walk. With almost no cars on its tangled web of streets, Venice is a walker’s paradise, with treasures to be found around every turn.

Napoleon called St. Mark’s Square “the drawing room of Europe.” To Venetians, it’s just la Piazza (the square). The physical and spiritual center of the city, St. Marks should be treated as a starting point for exploring Venice. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds, then do your best to get lost in the city. When the restaurants stop displaying English-language menus, you’ll know you’re in the right place.

Venice rewards both the night owl and the early bird. If either of these suit your flights of fancy, make your way to the Rialto Bridge. At 7:30 in the morning, you’ll find dozens of stalls of fresh produce, fish and other delights, open for the locals before the tourist rush.

It will require an advance reservation and a private tour, but the Peggy Guggenheim collection is one of the best contemporary art collections in the world. If this is on your radar, let me know before your trip.

Day Trips:

It’s easy to get lost in Venice for a week or more, but if you long for open skies, open roads or just solid rock beneath your feet, you’ll want to discover the cities, small towns and islands near Venice. It’s easy to reach the major destinations from Venice’s train station, but if you really want to explore wine country, you’ll need to rent a set of wheels. In Italy, you have a choice - two wheels, or four. Italians love their cars and their Vespas. If you’re only doing a daytrip with minimal luggage, don’t pass up the opportunity to drive a vintage ragtop roadster. Whether you’re behind a wheel or a set of handlebars, you’ll need a certain confidence to contend with Italy’s drivers. Just because they seem fearless doesn’t mean you should be.

Verona:

Much older than Venice, Verona integrates Roman ruins into the fabric of the city itself. Although very popular with locals, Verona doesn’t attract too many international tourists, so it’s an excellent opportunity to understand Italy on its own terms. It’s also a great jumping off point for Wine Country. If you’re nervous about driving (see above), try renting a bicycle or e-bike.

Murano Island:

If you love Venice’s intricate glassworks, you’ll want to budget time for a trip to Murano Island. A short water taxi ride away from the Grand Canal, Murano Island is home to Venice’s glassblowing industry. You can watch artisans create these extraordinary sculptures, and perhaps even commission one yourself.  

Cinque Terre:

For an overnight or weekend trip, Cinque Terre (Five Towns) on Italy’s Western Coast provide a gentle respite from Venice. Dotting the picturesque Mediterranean coast, the towns are more easily accessed from the water than the land. Each one provides a base for La Dolce Vita, a chance to slow down and enjoy fresh food, swims at the city beaches, hiking in the mountains. Each individual town has its specialty, so be sure to pick the right one.

Maury’s Rules for avoiding sticking out as a tourist in Italy

1. Pick up a few Italian phrases. Un poco goes a long way, and people appreciate the effort.

2. Dress well. You don’t need to live up to complete Italian standards, but a button down, slacks and loafers can be just as comfortable as a ratty t-shirt, cargo shorts and flip-flops. You’ll be welcomed at many more establishments, and find yourself striking up many more conversations.

3. Get lost. And when you’re lost, try to get a bit more lost. The further away you get from hearing English, the better. Finding your way back will give you most of your fun.

How Venice Locals Travel...

…by private boat

…Water Taxi

...Ferry

…and sometimes on a Gondola

Roadster or Vespa

The best way to travel in Italy is with a friend!

Rome's Coliseum may draw the tourists and dress-up gladiators, but Verona's Arena is still an active cultural attraction, hosting Opera performances throughout the summer.

Cinque Terre

Land of La Dolce Vita

At the Peggy Guggenheim Museum - The tour guide may be from Staten Island, but he's mastered the art of how to dress in effortless chic Italy (see Maury's Rules for avoiding sticking out as a tourist in Italy)