Berlin, day 1

May, a great month, a start of hopefully good weather, month I was born and the month that always includes Eurovision, what else could you need?!

So to celebrate these events, mainly my birthday (haha) hooked up a weekend in Berlin.

First time I had used Easyjet Holidays, the good thing about this they recommend certain hotels when you book your flights and makes it easier to find accommodation for a good price. Check it out, they have very good deals for city breaks.

Flight arrived late the night before (Saturday) so we made our way to hotel, straight to bed and ready for day ahead. Hotel I used was Quentin Hotel located in West Berlin, in an area called Charlottenburg. A good clean 4* hotel, the only downside is was not central but transport in Berlin is so good and actually the area had lots of good restaurants and this wasnt a problem in the end.

Day 1. Up for breakfast and out! Being spoilt with UK Sunday rules, Berlin does not have the same, and all shops and most venues were closed. But still able to walk arround sights, and enter museums.

First up, Topography of Terror (free admission), informs visitors about the site's history and the crimes that were planned here, and our first encounter with parts of Berlin wall which is literally set up all over the city.

Inside the museum.

Well worth a visit. Moving on. A short walk from Topographie des Terrors is Potsdamer Platz, where you will find the Sony Centre.

"NEW BERLIN" Only opened in year 2000, a square full of venues, large cinema, and Berlins Film museum, that looked promising but with a steep entrance fee decided to leave it as so much more to see.

Further up the road, The Holocaust Memorial.

Next to the Memorial, Brandenburger Tor, that once trapped East of Berlin.

And the Reichstag

 Getting hungry now, all this walking, a stop for lunch! Tiny huts of Currywurst sausage are tucked everywhere in Berlin.






And then have a walk down to the river, Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), TV Tower.

Finally, to end the day, find a traditional venue. Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt.

When in Germany, eat Pork and sausage and BEER!

Review: Blackbird Tea Rooms

 On a day off, there is nothing I like more than a good old breakfast out, and discovering new places I've seen on different blogs and sites, today we are looking at Blackbird Tea Rooms in the South Lanes, the photos don't do it justice, lets put it that way.

You don't get more traditional than this for a tea room, and I don't even drink tea!

And the cakes! Well can't say I have actually tried them but they look exquisite, what you would think an old-fashioned cake in those days looked like!

And even the rest of the decor is like a museum within itself!

But... Breakfast is what we came for, and Breakfast it is! And I have saved the bestest for lastest.

Having been here several times I have always been quite boring and ordered the same thing, but it's what I come here for, the Cinnamon French Toast with Bacon drizzled with maple syrup (Oh well it's Sunday) and a good old cappuccino!

  
And yes, here it is...

I know...

And yes me, being me, loves a bargain, well check this out, they have breakfast deal going on weekdays before 11am, any breakfast dish you get 50% discount and a coffee/tee free! BAR-GAIN!

Well worth a visit, have been here several times and always sing their praise.

Ta ta for now!!

TMS

Fresh pizza, come and get it!

Hey dudes, On a Sunday wanting to share with you a great pizza recipe, for the nicest, tastiest, crunchy, home made pizza dough and toppppings! The recipe is from ye old Jamie Oliver and goes a little like so...

• 
  

  1 kg white bread flour or Tipo '00' flour, or 800g strong white bread flour or Tipo '00' flour, plus 200g finely ground semolina flour

  
  


• 
  

  1 teaspoon fine sea salt

  
  


• 
  

  2 x 7 g dried yeast sachets

  
  


• 
  

  1 tablespoon golden caster sugar

  
  


• 
  

  4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  
  


• 
  

  650 ml lukewarm water

  
  

Veeeery simple, just mix all together in a LARGE bowl and then work on a floured surface, knead until it has all come together and you have a beautiful springy dough. Put back in the to bowl (flour the inner first) and let it spring to life for 40mins to 1h in a warm area (next to radiator, airing cupboard?!). I was able to then separate the dough in 3 balls and made 3 different pizzas!

Pictures as followed.

First up, my FAVE, veggie pizza, with courgettes, onion, red pepper and a little spinach.



Second for the meat lovers, turkey slices and frankfurt sausages



And last but not least, ham and pineapple and magic ingredient, Heinz tomato ketchup, yep, love it or hate it, it's on there!



In the oven they go! This pizza base does cook quicker than shop bought pizza I find as its fresh, so make it as crispy or as doughy as you like!



And the end result is....!! Be prepared to droooollll....





 
Really worth making your own pizza and this really is a very good recipe for the base! Have fun with it!

TMS