GOING OUT Take a bike,
GOING OUT Take a bike, take a ride along the Berlin Wall For delegates who eel like taking a non-strenuous way to see more of the former East, more of the Wall, and more of what makes Berlin the unique city it is today, this Berlin Wall Bike Tour delves deeper into the darkest time in Berlin's history - The Cold War. Regardless if this is your first trip to Berlin of if you already feel like "ein Berliner", this is a great way to see the city. An extremely insightful four and a half hour tour, leisurely covering about 6 miles (10 kilometers) by bike. This pervasive tour covers why Berlin was divided and how, the Berlin Airlift, tales of espionage by both the Allies and feared When TASTE Matters... With 3 hotels on Berlin’s most famous boulevard and one hotel in the South of the city, with ideal transport connections to the Eastern and Western quarters and to Berlin’s Schönefeld airport (SXF). AHC Hotels Berlin - addresses to remember! Hotel Belmondo am Kurfürstendamm, Joachimstaler Strasse 39/40, 10623 Berlin Hotel Frühling am Zoo Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 17, 10719 Berlin www.ahc-hotels.com Hotel Boulevard Berlin Kurfürstendamm 12, 10719 Berlin EuroHotel Berlin Airport BBI Rudower Strasse 90-94, 12351 Berlin East German secret police (Stasi), the downfall of communism, how Berlin is dealing with its past and much, much more. Your tour begins with an orientation to the Berlin Wall and the route you will follow, before hopping on your comfortable bikes. You go down the former main boulevard of East Berlin to reach the longest stretch of Berlin Wall still remaining - more than 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) of graffiti-painted Wall. Bike along more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) of where the Wall existed to understand the differences (many still existing) between life on both sides of the Wall. After a lunch break in a typical German beer hall, the tour continues with additional checkpoints, escape attempt stories (some successful, some not), the last of the round deathstrip watchtowers, Potsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate and much more. This is a great time to grab a bite and have a drink, as well as to plug your guide for inside information. Experience Berlin as the locals do! Start under the giant TV Tower by the Alexanderplatz S- and U- Bahn station, just to the right of the Tower entrance. It's easy, look for the yellow sign, you can't miss it! You'll begin with a brief introduction of Berlin before grabbing bikes, so don't fret if you're running a minute or two late. The Blackberry B-List News Junky Cherno Jobatey on his Favorite Berlin Places Cherno Jobatey, recently described as "Germany’s most enertaining alarm clock" in the conservative newspaper FAZ, has "shaped ZDF Morning News with his irrepressible zest” according to Germany's people magazine Bunte. “I love the Laden der Berliner Blindenstalt Luisenstrasse. It’s a charity that sells all kinds of brushes designed by some of Berlin’s top design talent. My favourite is a nail brush shaped like the Brandenburg gate and I love the Sammlung Berggruen Museum on Schlossstrasse. It exists thanks to one of the great art patrons of Europe who donated his collection to the city of Berlin.” When it comes to biting political satire, John Stewart on the Comedy Central website is a favourite. “I love his humour. When I want to work up a sweat I go to the Teufelsberg Health Club on Teufelsseechaussee. Alternatively when I need a fix of politics I go to the Bundespressestand. It’s my favourite bar in the summer and you can meet all types of politicians there.” “In terms of food I love Spindler & Klatt. It’s next to the Spree river and enjoys fantastic sunsets plus you can dance till late. I also really like the Schleusenkrug beer garden which is next to a canal lock. And if you like beautiful women there’s nowhere better than the Piso + Garz beauty salon. It’s where the city’s most attractive females go for their treatments.” 30 IFA International • Saturday, 1 st September 2007
