In recent years I had twice made a planning what to visit in Berlin, but Corona delayed these plans. The 2nd time it could have been done, but the restrictions in Germany were less relaxed than ours and not always clear. Since my wife had no interest in the things I wanted to see in Berlin, I went with my son, who is also a keen photographer and collector of (photo) books. Since he'd been to Berlin before, I also had a guide to show me the ropes of the excellent U-bahn system.
But my son had commitments and so the trip was cut short to four nights and choices were made in what to visit.

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Icon in Berlin: (Kaiser-Wilhelm-) Gedächtniskirche.
Ruins of an original church, built in the 1890s & damaged in WW2.

The interior surprised me, so impressive!

Donations were requested for roof maintenance.

A surprise 'find': the Nickelmann under the S-bahn. Built in 1904 as apart of a park. 'Nickelmann' is an old German
name for a water spirit or 'Wassermann'. It used to be a fountain with water flowing from his mouth in a large pond.

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I was surprised to see so many homeless / destitute people on the streets of Berlin, much more than with us at home.

Notable contrast I thought, that advertisement for 'Geld & Gold'.

Even the trains did often not escape the spray cans of the Urban Artists. Graffiti like this, I don't like much.

Modern times, everybody on the smartphone, for games, social media or finding ones way.

IMAGE

'Do Long', Sushi & Vietnamese food, was an eatery nearby our hotel. Good food, cold beer, moderate prices. Nice!

Always handy to know a Spätshop nearby, for when one has 'the munchies' in the evening on the hotel room.

Köstritzer Schwarzbier is a kind of 'black Pilsener' from Germany. The bottom-fermenting beer has aromas
of roasted malts, caramel and spicy hops. Despite the dark color, this beer is easily digestible and very drinkable.
Prosit!

Looking at the other bank of the river Spree

Nearby this spot: "Until 1945 a a road led over the 1909-built Brommy Bridge to Kreuzberg.
At the end of WW2, the German Wehrmacht blew up the bridge to stop the advance of the Soviet army.
One of the bridge's foundations can still be seen in the Spree today."

Idyllic spot on the river Spree, wasn't always like that!

Valid warning, we did see 'them' around (NL: 'balletje, balletje')

BRANDENBURGER TOR and things happening at 'Freedom Square'.

Protest againt Putin's Terror in Ukraine

'Putins Geiseln'

War in Ukraine - STOP Terror Russia!

The ADLON KEMPINSKY Hotel

I am a fan of Philip Kerr's novels, esspecially the ones with Bernard 'Bennie' Günther as the protagonist.
In many this (ex/) police detective and privat investigator moved around in this hotel. He was also a house
detective in this hotel. I just had to visit the bar and get a taste of the atmosphere. Expensive!
en.wikipedia.org:_Philip_Kerr

The English Bookshop

Besides BücherBogen (@Savignyplatz) the English Bookshop (In-store shopping @Dussman KulturKaufhaus) was heaven on earth for us. One finds it at Mittelstrasse, a side street of Friedrichstrasse.
We walked away with quite a selection and I wish it could have been more!

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