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 […]
Category Archives: Germany Tours
Germany Tours
What's Old is New Again in Berlin
The Reichstag was the seat of the Parliament before the Nazi takeover of Germany in the 1930s. An imposing structure built in the late 1800s, it was the backdrop for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, when he was proclaimed chancellor by the ailing President von Hindenberg. A mysterious fire destroyed the building in […]
The Berlin Wall and Topography of Terror
I spent nearly three hours at the “Topography of Terror,” located a few blocks to the west of the famous Checkpoint Charlie at the foundation of what used to be Gestapo Headquarters in the heart of Berlin. This landscape is hallowed ground. Many were tortured or murdered here, all in the name of State Security. […]
Cheap Place to Stay in Berlin
Finding a reasonable place to sleep in the heart of Berlin can be a challenge. Luckily, my friends Georg and Martina are developing vacation apartments in a former spice warehouse and apartment building in Kreuzberg, an exciting and multi-cultural district of Berlin which once butted right up against the former Berlin Wall. I was fortunate […]
The View Is Fantastic
We enjoyed dinner on August 26th at the delightful Hotel Ruebezahl at the foot of the mountains where two of King Ludwig’s castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, are located. It was a balmy evening, the calm and warm before the storm, as it has rained most of today (Friday the 27th) Here are some shots from […]
Travel and Experience Germany in October
Bacharach on the Rhein River is one of the stops on this wonderful autumn tour October is a fine time of the year to experience Germany small group tours. The kids are all back in school meaning the roads are not as congested with holiday travelers. The air is crisp and clear, the nights are […]
European Focus Private Tours – Benefit Number 237
Stopping for lunch is not just a quick “grab and go,” like on the big bus tours. We plan our lunch stops carefully to take advantage of beautiful scenery, great food and a memory to last a lifetime. James took his guests to one of his favorite cafes high above the village of Beilstein, on […]
Oberammergau Passion Play in 2010 – the Suffering of Christ at a Steep Price
Recently I was working with two couples who desired to see the world-famous performance in Oberammergau, Germany of Christ’s Passion. The trip I proposed to them would take place in late July and early August. Held just every 10 years (which gives the spring, summer and fall all-day performances a sense of urgency for those […]