Archive for berlin

Micro Group Tour Offer for Germany and Prague

Saturday, May 5th, 2012

Using inspiration from a recent tour plus some reliable favorites of our clients over the years, we are happy to present this amazing opportunity to experience some of Europe’s many delights in an intimate group of no more than six persons.

Micro-Group Tour in Germany, Czech Republic and Austria
11-day trip

Small Group Tour
Offered for 2013

Highlights include:

• Berlin
• Dresden
• The Erzgebirge Mountains and Seiffen
• Prague
• Regensburg
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber
• Nierstein

Recent guests check out remains of the Berlin Wall

DAYS 1, 2 and 3:
Arrival at Berlin Intl. Airport
(3 nights)

Guide James Derheim, who would have arrived in Berlin the day before, meets you at the new international airport. You travel with James’ guidance in the Derheim’s company van (a VW seating up to six passengers plus driver) to the heart of Berlin for a stay of three nights in your own private apartment in the historic Kreuzberg section of Berlin. This apartment complex features self-catering apartments accommodating up to four in a large, comfortable atmosphere. A café across the street provides an excellent breakfast. You are living as the Berliners live!

We are just half a minute away by foot from the bus, which takes us to the many historical highlights of Berlin.

Highlights of our stay in Berlin will include:

• The Brandenburg Gate (symbol of the divided city)
• The Parliament Building including climbing to the top for the view
• The amazing train station, the most advanced in Europe
• Potsdamer Platz (a wasteland after the war, completely rebuilt)
• The famous “Unter den Linden” promenade
• Remnants of the Berlin Wall
• Kurfurstendamm, West Berlin’s glittering shopping district
• River cruise on the Spree through Berlin’s historic center
• KaDeWe, the biggest department store in Berlin and worth a look even for non-shoppers

and much more

We get around the metropolitan area using Berlin’s highly efficient, comfortable and safe metro and bus system. It’s a fun way to get around and it solves the main problem of sightseeing in any large city – lack of parking.

Stay in a spacious apartment in Berlin!

DAYS 4 and 5:
Dresden (2)

We drive to the city of Dresden, located a little less than two hours south of Berlin. We take the back roads so that you can enjoy the countryside with our lunch stop the medieval town of Torgau. This was the meeting place for the U.S. Army and the Russian Army on April 25, 1945 in the last week of World War II.

We stay two nights in the heart of Dresden within easy walking distance of all of the sights. Among them are:

• The Protestant Frauenkirche, destroyed in WWII and rebuilt stone upon stone
• The royal jewelry, on display in a museum. One has to see the workmanship in gold and silver to believe it.
• Art museum featuring German, French, Italian masters
• Beautiful architecture throughout the city center, rebuilt to exact detail after the bombing of WWII
• Cruise on the Elbe River to admire many beautiful villas, small villages and countryside plus incredible views of the city skyline

The inspiring Frauenkirche, reborn from the ashes of WWII

DAYS 6 and 7
Prague (2)

We travel south through the Erzgebirge mountains with a stop in Seiffen where nutcrackers and other holiday ornaments are made. Guests have the opportunity to purchase these handmade items at great prices, direct from the maker.

Enjoy a tour of Prague in a 1930s jalopy!

We then drive across the border into the Czech Republic for a two nights stay in the heart of Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic and also considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We stay in a hotel located just a short walk from the astrological clock and market square. We are also close to the 14th century Charles Bridge, which links the “new” town with the “old” town. Jim shows you the highlights over the rest of the day of our arrival and the entire next day including:

• Great shopping opportunities for crafts that are handmade in the Czech Republic
• Architectural tour in Siroka, the old Jewish quarter
• A ride around the city by jalopy, fun!
• The castle hill and the huge cathedral there plus the famous “Golden Lane”

and much more

DAY 8:
Regensburg (1)

A small city founded by the Romans as a military camp in the 2nd century. We stay in the heart of the town next to the towering cathedral and spend the rest of the day enjoying the narrow lanes, towers and most importantly, some of the best bratwurst and sauerkraut in Germany!

Enjoy brats down by the river and the 13th century bridge in Regensburg

DAYS 9 and 10:
Rothenburg ob der Tauber (2)

We drive west with a stop in the historic city of Nurnberg for a look at the sights including the former parade grounds of the Nazis, used for huge rallies in the 1930s plus the historic city center, castle district, river district and more.

We then use the back roads to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Europe. Guests stay two nights in an inn located in the heart of the town within easy stroll of all of the major sights.

Medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Among the highlights:

• The Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas Store – Christmas all year long!
• The Medieval Crime Museum
• The Imperial City Museum
• 14th century town church
• Eating in a typical country inn, best schnitzel around!
• The Nightwatchman tour

DAY 11: Near Frankfurt Airport, Nierstein on the Rhein

We travel to a charming small town on the Rhein River not far from the Frankfurt Airport. We stop for lunch in Miltenberg am Main along the way.

Your Micro-Group Tour in Europe

Includes:

• Breakfast and lunch. Lunch will be soup or salad or a sandwich or something else light to your taste. Dinners, usually in locations offering authentic food which have been pre-vetted by your guide. Dinners are not included in the cost of your tour.
• Comfortable rooms or in the case of Berlin, an apartment, in unique, exceptionally comfortable and carefully selected hotels.
• Transportation by our company’s full-sized van.
• Incidentals, tolls, fuel, sightseeing, entry fees, tips or payments to local guides, etc.

Not included: Dinners and airfare. Airfare quotes are provided on request.

Total cost in Euro for each person: 3,550 Euro based on five persons minimum
Calculate in dollars
using www.x-rates.com
Visa or MasterCard accepted

Families invited!

Insurance to protect you

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is mandatory and should be purchased within 15 days of signing your contract and booking your travel dates.

You can book through European Focus, Inc or through your own travel agent.

Trip insurance usually costs about 5% of the total cost of the trip and is determined by the age of the clients.

For more details contact:

European Focus Private Tours
1469 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
800.401.7802
941.706.4508
www.europeanfocus.com
info@europeanfocus.com

The Dome of the Reichstag in Berlin

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

The Berliners nickname for the dome is "The Giant Blender" which seems to be perfect once you're inside

April 23

A visit to the glass and steel dome of the Reichstag in Berlin used to be something I would never contemplate. The lines were always huge, no matter what time of the day. However now, due to tightened security and the requirement that all visitors register in advance for security clearance, a visit is a snap.

The new rules took effect last year and make the visit a memorable experience, instead of a hassle. A fast elevator whisks the visitors to the start of the ramp that ascends the dome’s outer skin. You’re safe and dry inside the dome, no matter what the weather conditions outside. A 360 degree view is complimented by 360 mirrors within the dome, reflecting the visitors in a way that accents the fact that democracy takes the participation of many, and is a reflection of their wishes. The easy ascent can be handled by anyone, even people in wheelchairs. Once at the top, the visitor is treated to a splendid view of Berlin.

Visit Germany’s historical highlights on a private tour with European Focus, we welcome you!

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Categories : Germany Tours

Berlin and the Pope’s Revenge

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

The Pope's Revenge seen from Unter den Linden. Please click for larger view to see the visual effect related to the story

April 22

The Berliners have a great sense of humor. You’d have to, to live in a city which has been pummeled to smithereens by war (more than 60% of the city center was left in ruins after 1945) divided and torn apart by the Cold War and then reunited and for the next nearly 22 years, a non-stop construction zone. So it’s no surprise that the Berliners have a nickname for nearly everything in their city. In the case of the massive TV tower, the tallest structure in Germany, the Berliners from the west side of the wall called it from the start, “The Pope’s Revenge.” See, the East German architects who designed it were not really thinking of what effect the rays of the sun would have on its surface. When the sun is shining, a very obvious cross appears, which can be seen for miles and miles. The East German government stance towards religion was that it was not very much encouraged. The Pope, it seems, had the last laugh.

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Categories : Germany Tours

Welcome back fourth time

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

April 21

Dick and Darlene Muth arrived on April 20th for their fourth trip with European Focus since their first one to Italy in the spring of 2010. This time, we’re spending time in some of the great cities of Europe including Berlin, Prague and Vienna. Follow their adventure here as well as on our Facebook page under European Focus Private Tours.

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Categories : Germany Tours

Street Artist on the Kurfurstendamm, Berlin

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Sidewalk artist Peter Heda entertains the crowd while using an oblivious passerby as bait for his gags

April 19

The Kurfurstendamm is still “the” place to shop in Berlin. It lost a bit of its luster when the eastern part of the city opened up but the once and still prime shopping street in Germany’s capital city is still all about the big brand names and shop til you drop. I spent a pleasant few hours here today, just browsing around and not helping the German economy much except for a light lunch at the excellent Lindner deli and a coffee at a place on the Uhlandstrasse with more than 30 different varieties of coffee, about two dozen different types of tea and half a dozen flavors of hot chocolate. Afterwards, I wandered back down the “Ku’damm” to the Alt Berliner Biersalon where I chose a table up front for people watching and a cold Berliner Kindl draft pilsner. Just as I was taking my first sip, I noticed a street performer starting his “show” on the sidewalk in front of the joint. Peter Heda was the hit of the day and he made me laugh til I cried. His talent is instant mimicking of people’s gaits, their stroll, their amble, their facial expressions and their distraction as they talk on their cell phone while pushing a bike while balancing shopping bags. It’s all a gas, and the show is obviously appreciated by the crowd sitting down at this old-time establishment. At the end, Peter goes around with a silver bucket and the coins tumble in with no hesitation. I sent Peter copies of the photos I took so that “daddy can show the kids what he does at work.”

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Ferienwohnung in Berlin

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Eine super Wohlfühl- Ferienwohnung im pulsierenden Herzen der Hauptstadt. Kreuzberg ist der ultimative Schmelztiegel für alles Kreative, immer up to date und immer voll im Leben.

Apartment 1.5


Unzählige Restaurants, Bars und Kneipen lassen nie Langeweile aufkommen.
Wir bieten Ihnen ein Stück Privatshäre, für ein paar Tage, mit Familie,Freunden oder auf Geschäftsreise.4 Personen können hier relaxen und neue Energie tanken.
Bus und U- Bahn zu Berlins highlights sind nur 3 Gehminuten entfernt.
Supermärkte, Bank, Apotheke und Spätkauf in greifbarer Nähe. Für die Kids gibt es Spielplätze und einen großen Park.

Nichtraucherwohnung !!!
Kreuzberg ist einzigartig- Sie werden es lieben.

Spacious living room area with leather couches

April 18

In the heart of Berlin in the vibrant neighborhood of Kreuzberg my friends Georg and Martina Siegmann have opened “The Five Lofts” apartments in a former store house that Georg bought in 1986. Moving from Rothenburg ob der Tauber where they owned and operated the successful “Passage 12″ gift store, the Siegmanns have invested in restoring and rebuilding this formerly shabby complex into a fantastic, spacious apartment complex with all of the modern amenities. I can’t think of a better place to unwind and relax after a busy day of sightseeing than The Five Lofts.

You can cook a full meal in the well-equipped kitchenette


My treat was two nights in the “Presidential Suite” which is at the top of the former storehouse which held spices in the old days. The 90 square meter apartment features room for six to sleep plus a well-stocked kitchenette, huge bathroom with massive shower, cozy leather couches and chairs and a big flat-screen TV plus stereo, original art and very handy for the late sleeper, shades to black out the morning sun and allow for slumber parties.

The former spice warehouse and now four apartments reached by modern lift


The Five Lofts are in a neighborhood known for its wide variety of dining and entertainment. Close by are Vietnamese, Persian, Turkish, Italian and German restaurants. Best of all, Kreuzberg is known for having exceptionally low prices for food. Four people can eat and drink to their contentment here for less than 20 Euro per person, which is pretty remarkable in a European capital city. Also nearby is a jazz club and numerous small bars which keep the neighborhood hopping well into the morning hours. Best of all, the Five Lofts is securely located behind heavy doors and in a courtyard where no noise can penetrate.

When visiting Berlin, stay at the Five Lofts. Or, pay a lot more and stay in a hotel. www.the5lofts.de

Potsdamer Platz in Berlin

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin


Left a barren wasteland after WWII, Potsdamer Platz is once again the vibrant unofficial heart of Berlin. Tall skyscrapers built with cutting edge designs and sponsored in part by Sony Corporation, the area is full of light and color and activity until late in the evening. A huge train and underground station takes up acres of space below the shops, restaurants and multiplex cinemas, showing films in their original language (a cool treat for movie-starved Americans) plus more than enough people watching to while away the time on a cold fall day while waiting for a movie to start.