Berlin

Although it's probably not the best time of year to visit Berlin, I needed a Holiday, and it's a relatively cheap place to visit from the UK. As expected, the weather was cold and a little damp, but no worse than at home at the moment.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Berlin before visiting. I was aware of the history and expected to spend a lot of my time wandering through museums. What surprised me was how much of the city itself actually showed the history.

We were lucky enough to be staying just down the road from Checkpoint Charlie, so we walked past it almost everyday to get to other area's of the city. It was amazing to think how historic a landmark that was at one time.

Berlin had plenty of nice places to stop for a tea or coffee. I particularly liked this one, selling loose leaf tea and great big seeded sandwiches. This was just around the corner from Checkpoint Charlie and very convenient when we first arrived in the city!

Great to see what fun people can have with what was an oppressive symbol at one time. Also god to see that the wall wasn't just removed and forgotten, it's in plain sight so that everybody can see and remember the atrocities that the country has seen in the past.

People willing to que for a ticket to see some of the great museums on Berlin's Museum Island!

There were lots of reminders of the Holocaust. This was the most striking. Towering pillars of concrete creating a maze in memory of the concentration camps and murdered Jews. Very imposing and lifeless.

There was plenty of opportunity to sit, listen and digest the huge amount of history on offer. Definitely a good place to when the weather isn't very nice outside. It may not be the most glamorous holiday destination, and you certainly won't get a tan, but it's definitely stimulating and very interesting!