Breakfast was great and typically German with lots of different types of bread, cooked meats, cheeses, yoghurt and fruit. There was also, bizarrely, a dish of cucumber if you felt so inclined...I couldn't imagine anything worse at breakfast!
I downed three cups of coffee, a boiled egg and some lovely dark bread while Sophie opted for cereal, white rolls and a slice of cake. Our plan was to do some shopping this morning and head back to the wonderful Christmas market to sample some goodies.
We headed to Potsdamer Platz first and had a look around the shops there. Outside the beautifully decorated shopping mall was another small Christmas market and a huge snow slope for children to whizz down (Mikey went on it a few years back!).
We headed to H&M where Sophie tried on a couple of tops but she wasn't happy with either of them and decided to save her money for the Mac concession later! The shopping mall was very quiet and we decided to leave and visit the Galeria shop in Alexanderplatz. We took the U2 line and I suggested we first walk to Hackescher Markt where I wanted to wander around the inter-connecting courtyards, the Hackesche Hof, where I knew there was a Mac shop...
We found the area eventually (it had been a while since I visited last!) and we both fancied a hot chocolate as it was bitterly cold. The weather wasn't as sunny as yesterday with grey skies and an icy wind and the hot chocolate, topped with thick cream, certainly did the trick and warmed us up!
We found the courtyards and had a look in the Mac shop but Sophie said she felt a bit intimidated by the staff (I have no idea why!) so we decided to try and catch a tram back to Alexanderplatz. Now, in all the years we've been visiting Berlin - and amazingly this was my tenth time! - we've never used the excellent tram system. My feet were hurting a bit as the boots I was wearing weren't the most comfortable. My fault, I know, but I just didn't have room to bring my walking boots as well.
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| Ornate windows in the Hackesche Hof |
We persevered and managed to work out which tram we needed to get back to Alexanderplatz station. We had to wait about ten minutes and in that time I could feel the cold seep into my bones. I'm really silly at times, as I had a fur scarf, hat and gloves back at the hotel, but I'd chosen not to put them on as I get so hot on the underground and in the shops. I just had a thin top on under my coat and sitting in the cold wind started to feel very uncomfortable indeed.
It was sheer bliss to use the tram, which was brilliant, and then get into the warmth of the Galeria shop, a huge department store selling everything from food and wine to clothes, make-up and toys.
Sophie treated herself to a Mac make-up bag containing lipsticks and brushes and I bought some chocolate for Mikey. I deliberately avoided going to the sumptuous food hall as I couldn't have taken any beer or wine home and we just didn't have room for lots of gifts in our bags.
Outside the Galeria was yet another Christmas market but we decided to head for the lovely one near the Nikolaiviertal instead and on the way I bought some furry insoles for my boots to try and alleviate the pressure on my feet...damned cobbles!!
Sophie had a craving for sausage and potato soup again and amazingly, we discovered a little outpost of Reinhard's restaurant at the entrance to the market. We went in the little tent to find a miniature version with wooden tables, dark furniture and pictures on the walls. Big patio heaters warmed up the tent and a German woman singing plaintive songs in the background created a lovely atmosphere.
We enjoyed a bowl of soup each, and a beer, and this set us up for walking around the market.
Back out in the bitter cold we wandered around the market and I treated Sophie to a waffle covered in Nutella. I had a crepe with the same chocolate sauce and then it was finally time for a Gluhwein. The drink cost 3 euros but you paid another 3 for the ornate glass which you got back when you returned the glass, which I had no intention of doing!
The Gluhwein was utterly delicious and warmed me up considerably! By now it was getting darker and colder, so we decided to head back to the hotel where we had a nap and relaxed until it was time for dinner.
I didn't fancy walking far and on the way back to the hotel, we'd checked out an Italian restaurant opposite so we decided to go there for dinner. Before eating we had a glass of wine in the hotel bar where we were amused to see a group of German women order beer topped up with Fanta orange...that's a new one on me!
We had a lovely meal with a very friendly waiter who asked if we were sisters...hmmm! Maybe he was looking to get a generous tip at the end of the evening! Sophie chose a pork schnitzel served with spaghetti bolognese while I opted for a breaded version and both of them were delicious. We waited a little while before dessert of tiramisu and panna cotta and I treated myself to a glass of Cointreau. It was a great evening and made a lovely end to our Berlin break!
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