Next stop was St. Gereon’s Basilica. There were only a few people around when we visited so the atmosphere was peaceful. I particularly liked the area where the organ was placed – the sun shone on the stained glass windows, giving a pink light vibe.
APRIL 27, 2019
Next stop was ST. GEREON’S BASILICA. There were only a few people around when we visited so the atmosphere was peaceful. I particularly liked the area where the organ was placed – the sun shone on the stained glass windows, giving a pink light vibe.
We did not have anything to do in the afternoon so we went to MOXXA CAFFE to grab warm coffee and stay indoors.
We really wanted to go to BEI OMA KLEINMANN to try their famous schnitzel but we were not able to make any reservation. So what we did was we went there before their opening hour (17:00) and checked if we would be accommodated as walk-in guests. Fortunately, they did but they told us we need to leave before 18:30 because guests with reservations would start to pour in. My sister and I shared one order of schnitzel with gravy sauce because it was huge.
After our early dinner, we went to KÖLN TRIANGLE, one of the famous viewing spots in the city. What I liked about this place was that it offered 360 panoramic view of the city. They even placed icons in some parts of the glass to indicate that in that direction, you could spot a certain famous landmark or area.
We wanted to see the HOHENZOLLERN BRIDGE with lights on but the wind was really strong that the other people around started to retreat. We just snapped some pictures then decided to head home early.
Our last city to visit in Germany! I was so excited to see Cologne Cathedral in person because even with just pictures, both the exterior and interior were beautiful.
APRIL 27, 2019
Our last city to visit in Germany! I was so excited to see Cologne Cathedral in person because even with just pictures, both the exterior and interior were beautiful.
I requested my sister to braid my hair for a change in hairstyle during this trip. Hehe.
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL is a display of Gothic architecture and considered as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Its two towers make it an icon both for the church and for the city. Also, Cologne Cathedral survived the bombing during WWII even if it sustained some damage.
I was trying to get a good shot of the whole cathedral just like this picture from TripSavvy…
However, it was raining and it was so cold that day that I could not bear to stay too long outside. I also tried putting far distance but my camera could not just capture it.
Here are some of my favorites inside the cathedral:
We had brunch in FRÜH AM DOM, which was just walking distance from Cologne Cathedral. All of us ordered the same thing – sausage and Kölsch, which is a style of beer unique to Cologne. Not that I can taste the difference but I must say, Kölsch tasted good.
Before we continued our itinerary, we went back to our Airbnb to put on additional layers of clothing because the temperature dropped to winter-like (below 5C).
There was not much in our itinerary so we decided to wake up late and start with a Curry 36 brunch. The place is famous for its currywurst, which is my sister’s favorite. I ordered one serving but ended up ordering another one because it was good and I was really hungry.
APRIL 26, 2019
There was not much in our itinerary so we decided to wake up late and start with a CURRY 36 brunch. The place is famous for its currywurst, which is my sister’s favorite. I ordered one serving but ended up ordering another one because it was good and I was really hungry.
First stop was CHECKPOINT CHARLIE, a former border crossing during the Cold War and division of Berlin.
Next stop was EAST SIDE GALLERY, a more than 1-km remnant of the Berlin Wall with series of murals painted on it. One of the prominent themes in the murals is the call for peace.
We still had time before leaving for Cologne so we went to DER EISLADEN IN BERLIN MITTE. My sister got her favorite coffee drink in Germany, Eiskaffee while I got the Apfelstrudel.
We first visited Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), especially because the other locations we want to visit were walking distance from there. It was originally a symbol of the division during Cold War but now, it has become a national symbol of peace and unity.
APRIL 25, 2019
We first visited BRANDENBURGER TOR (Brandenburg Gate), especially because the other locations we want to visit were walking distance from there. It was originally a symbol of the division during Cold War but now, it has become a national symbol of peace and unity.
A short walk from there was the MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE. It was constructed as a memorial for the Holocaust victims but at the same time a grim warning to not repeat the mistakes of the past.
I was annoyed though by a few tourists who kept on taking pictures of themselves with the place – either selfies or IG/blogger pose. Talk about being insensitive.
While passing by the Tiergarten going to Reicstag Building, we saw the MEMORIAL TO THE SINTI AND ROMA OF EUROPE MURDERED UNDER NATIONAL SOCIALISM. The stones on the ground had every concentration camp carved into each. There was also a pool at the center where the triangular-shaped stone symbolized the badge worn by prisoners. According to articles online, a fresh flower is placed on the stone everyday.
When we reached REICHSTAG BUILDING, we found out that there were no more open time slot to visit the dome even for the next day. If you want to visit it, I highly suggest that you reserve online months before your visit.
We went to MUSTAFA’S GEMÜSE KEBAP for lunch and we were lucky that there were just 2 customers when we visited. My sister got the chicken döner while I ordered the chicken dürüm. The only difference was that she got it in a sandwich-like format while mine resembled a shawarma (pita bread).
Our last stop for the day was BERLINER DOM (Berlin Cathedral).
The exterior was being renovated at that time and we could see that some of the statues were already worn out. However, when we got inside, we couldn’t help but be in awe on how grand it looked like. The most striking part for me was the altar and the dome above it. The area with the organ was also majestic.
After we explored up until 2nd floor, we found an exhibit dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach. We stayed there for quite some time to listen to the musical pieces highlighted in the exhibit.
There was an option to climb about 400 steps to reach the rooftop and we took on that challenge. By the latter half, my legs were shaking seeing the steps and imagining how high we were already. The view though was so rewarding that I eventually forgot my fear.
We went back to our Airbnb to rest then had dinner at SAHARA IMBISS, as recommended by M’s friend. I ordered the chicken and falafel sandwich, and it was delicious!
I was excited to see MUNICH RESIDENZ as it is the formal royal palace of House of Wittelsbach and it is considered as the largest city palace in Germany. My favorite part in the palace is seeing all rooms lavishly decorated with gold and chandeliers.
APRIL 24, 2019
We took some time trying to find the entrance to Munich Residenz because of the pin in Google Maps but that allowed us to explore this area nearby…
Apparently, we already passed by the entrance the previous day during the free walking tour. I was excited to see MUNICH RESIDENZ as it is the formal royal palace of House of Wittelsbach and it is considered as the largest city palace in Germany. My favorite part in the palace is seeing all rooms lavishly decorated with gold and chandeliers.
Before getting our luggage from J’s place, we grabbed some lunch at STEINHEIL 16. My sister and I shared one order of schnitzel and one order of Käsespätzle. Good decision because the serving size was too big for just one of us to finish. Both were really delicious and sad to say, I haven’t found any schnitzel or Käsespätzle in PH that can rival Steinheil 16’s.
Our day started with running for our dear lives to catch up with the train going to Füssen… we were so lucky that right after we set foot inside the train, the doors began closing in a few seconds.
APRIL 23, 2019
Our day started with running for our dear lives to catch up with the train going to Füssen… we were so lucky that right after we set foot inside the train, the doors began closing in a few seconds. Had we been 30 seconds late, the train would have left us and the next ride would be after a few hours.
From Füssen Station, we took a bus going to the base of the castle. J bought our tickets online but we had to get a physical copy from the ticket office. After getting our tickets, we ate lunch first before going to the castle.
Schnitzel
Currywurst
To go to the castle, there are 3 options available: shuttle bus, carriage, and by foot. We went for the shuttle bus option because 1) poor horses pulling up the carriage in an uphill and steep slope; 2) we still needed to walk from the drop-off bus stop so no to additional walking.
When we reached the end stop, a few minutes of walking and we were greeted with these beautiful views…
Hohenschwangau Castle
Finally, we were able to see NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, which is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney and Sleeping Beauty castles. No picture taking allowed inside the castle, except for the end part which was in the kitchen section. The time slot that J chose had a free tour guide included (instead of audiobook) so it was nice to know more about the history of the castle and King Ludwig II’s life.
After touring the castle, we went to Marienbrücke, which had the best vantage point to see Neuschwanstein Castle. A bit of climbing again before we reached this but it was worth the effort!
We went back to Munich afterwards and had dinner at HARLACHINGER JAGDSCHLÖSSL. I ordered Nuremberg Bratwurst and a glass of the weakest beer that they had. Haha!
When we arrived at the central station, my high school friends (J & M) picked me up. Since J was staying and working in Munich, he was in charge of touring us around. We first went to Englischer Garten (English Garden), one of the largest urban parks in the world.
APRIL 22, 2019
When we arrived at the central station, my high school friends (J & M) picked me up. My sister headed off to Heidelberg to see her best friend. We ate breakfast in a nearby bakery before dropping off our stuff in J’s place.
Since J was staying and working in Munich, he was in charge of touring us around. We first went to ENGLISCHER GARTEN (English Garden), one of the largest urban parks in the world.
The place was really huge that we had to use Google Maps to find our way to CHINESISCHER TURM (Chinese Tower). When we reached the place, we ordered the following for lunch: Käsespätzle (cheese pasta), Schweinshaxn (pork knuckles), Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, and Weißwurst. I also ordered Apfelschorle which looked like beer but it’s just apple juice + sparkling water. I was so happy that I was able to meet my high school friends because they made me feel like I was back home.
We did not have anything planned in the afternoon so J recommended a free walking tour that would start in MARIENPLATZ. We went there and it was a nice 2.5-hour tour to get familiar with some of the famous spots nearby such as Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, Hofbräuhaus.
M left our group for a dinner with another friend so J brought me to another park – WESTPARK. I envy Munich for having large parks where you can stroll or run around for workout, without fearing death by pollution or cars.
As it was Easter Monday, a lot of restaurants were either closed or closing early. J brought me to one of his favorite burger places, FIVE GUYS. I got the cheeseburger and it was huge that I could not finish the whole thing. As a burger lover, yes this one was actually good.
Anne Goes to Places 