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

Pacific Escapes

Dana Point, CA

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, / And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; / Round many western islands have I been / Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. / Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne; / Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: / Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken; / Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men / Look'd at each other with a wild surmise - / Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

-John Keats

You’ll have to give John a little poetic license. It was the Spanish explorer and conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa who became the first European to lay eyes on America’s Pacific shoreline, not Cortez. But it’s easy to imagine the wild attraction the serene waters must have held for the weary band of gold-seekers as they trudged across the mountains that run along the Pacific’s shore from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

Our lives tethered to computers and smartphones might not have the risk and terror of Balboa’s march across the continent, but they leave us searching for calm and salvation all the same. Luckily, we don’t have to surmount uncharted mountains to reach the Pacific Ocean’s most gorgeous beaches. Unless we want to find ourselves with a body-testing hike, a la Cheryl Strayed, all we have to do is book a flight to LAX.

Pacific Escapes

It's time to live your beach life

The ocean itself is much the same throughout Southern California. But each beach has a character all its own. Finding the right one for your purposes can make the difference between taking a comfortable trip and struggling to find the peace and escape you packed your bags for in the first place. So let’s talk about making your way to some of the best golden sands in the Golden State.

Getting There

Los Angeles is famous for many wonderful things, but traffic-free highways are not one of them. If you’re traveling during rush hour in prime holiday seasons, making your way to or from the airport through the city can take several hours. Plan your visiting hours accordingly.

Suit up at Venice Beach

Once you’ve left the city, you’re never too far away from the waves. But before you dive in, no matter where you choose to do so, consider one general note. The sun always seems to shine over California, but the Pacific Ocean isn’t necessarily always warm. Take some time to tan, but before you hit the waves, strap on a wetsuit. Not only will you look like you belong, but you’ll thank yourself for the extra warmth.

For Relaxation - Dana Point

If relaxation is you're goal, make your first stop in laid back Dana Point. You can’t go wrong with the five-star Laguna Niguel Ritz Carlton. If you’re simply looking for a warm bed after a day of surfing, you’ll have it. But they can accommodate you and your companions for all sorts of purposes. Honeymoons, multi-generational gatherings, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and more – it all happens here in high style.

Walk right out the front door and you’ll have access to museums, shopping, and excellent restaurants accessible via a comfortable stroll. (And, of course, we’re in California - beach volleyball is never too far away). But with such development comes other tourists, too, so keep that in mind especially during holidays.

If you’d like to stretch your wings a bit further, consider traveling further south to find Laguna Beach’s Top of the World Hike. The drive to and from your point of origin is worth it in and of itself. But once you’re out of the car and on your feet, you’ll discover why you really came: pristine views of Laguna city, the beach, and snow-capped mountains all in one place. California has it all.

And if you’re looking for bit more busy, Hop back in the car, travel just a bit further south, and you’ll find yourself in a lovely boating community at Dana Point. If you want to feel the Pacific waves but still stay dry, this is the place to do it. Hop on a paddleboard to travel from one boat to another, taking in a way of life that screams California. You can find common attractions such as fishing and watersports, but this is one of the only places where you can do all of that then turn in for a comfortable night without ever having to step foot on shore.

For excitement - Venice

Maybe you've got a little too relaxed on the beach. Or maybe your idea of relaxation is wild parties with wild people. Either way, it's time to come to Venice. 

Of course, there's a wonderful sandy beach with a long boardwalk lined with off-beat stores, street art, head shops and folks who are either street performers or independent-minded locals (it can be hard to tell which). But behind the beach the the neighborhood GQ calls "the coolest block in America." Although long-time residents gripe about the gentrification ("I would not pay $9 to park in order to buy a $5 cup of coffee." griped a writer for the LA Times.), it's still one of the best shopping and culture destinations to be found anywhere in the world. 

We’ve only just begun to discuss a few of the seemingly endless worthy destinations in California. No matter what you’re looking for, we can help you find it, access it, and do what you really wanted to do - leave everything else behind.