I never knew you could go inside Wellington Arch until a few weeks ago, so I thought I should take a look. It’s has a fair amount of space inside and a little bit of a museum to explore.
I also never knew it wasn’t in its original position and was taken down and moved to its current home. And the original top contained Wellington on his horse, that is now gone and it was changed over to what you currently see. Right up until the 1950s it also was home to a police unit.
Now it’s more a tourist attraction and a good view of the Kings Guard passing through.
I only went for a short weekend break and flew out from London Airport, which is so much easier to deal with compared too large airports than Heathrow.
In Berlin I got a taxi from the airport to my hotel and it’s not cheap, €65 for a 35-minute trip did seem a lot to me. It was also the same back and I tried to pay with the card, but the taxi driver had no idea how to use his card machine!! Or did he??
My first evening I walked around the immediate area next to my hotel. It was cold but not too bad. There are works going on right next to the hotel for the whole area, Deutscher Dom and Konzerthaus were completely closed off. I then found a pub-restaurant where I had schnitzel and a large beer. Not bad a meal, but I couldn’t finish the beer as it was far too much.
Walking around in the evening.Look at the head on that beer!
The next day I walked over to the Brandenburg Gate had a little look around. On the way the city felt empty, walking in the centre of Berlin, large buildings empty streets. Walked past several embassies guarded by lots of police. By the gate was a tourist store and I brought myself a museums pass and walked up to the museum island. Probably boring to a lot of people but I went into the Deutsches Historisches Museum and had a wonder. I believe I was only in one part of the museum as the main museum was being overhauled.
Next, I walked across and went inside Berlin Cathedral had a good look and walked all the way to the top and around. The stairs were a little killing, but really not that bad. But I am still young…ish!
Berlin Cathedral
After I had lunch I visited the Altes Museum lots of Greek artefacts on display including an amazing life like bust of Caesar.
I was feeling somewhat warn-out so I walked back to my hotel and I asked the concierge to book me into what is described as one of Berlin’s top restaurants called Borchardt’s. In my book it said it was where diplomats and celebrities go to.
Sitting in the restaurant it really did feel like the place the Berlin elite go to. And there was one gentleman who was sporting a flag pin on his blazer, a diplomat? Sitting next to me was a couple who I can only describe as wearing high end clothing labels. I ordered fillet steak with sweet potato chips and a salad and the waiter picked a glass of red wine to go with my meal. For one person I paid €75 altogether.
The next day I first went to Checkpoint Charlie, had a look around and I read the boards. I didn’t actually go into the museum on the side as I wanted to go checkout the fairly new Spy Museum. It was a good bit of fun, I tried to do a few puzzles in there, but I really wasn’t very good! Would I even make a good spy?
After that I walked round to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. An interesting piece of art in itself. From the exterior it looks like a graveyard, you enter and it feels like a maze. You really don’t see the deep middle from the top. To me it feels like the weight of humanity has left a scar here. A calm exterior, the wound underneath.
I then made my way back to museum island as I wanted to see the bust of Nefertiti. On the way I past a square, but I didn’t know the significands of what I was looking at until a lady told me what it meant. In the square was a glass window showing a room with shelves, but it was a representation of a library without books. This is the square where the Nazi’s did their book burning in the 1930s.
I finally go to the museum and started to wonder around and finally found the Nefertiti Bust, to see this is person, see the contours, the elegance, colours. It truly is a work of art. Anyone that goes to Berlin must see this antient piece of history. It truly is stunning. It’s not just the bust, but there are lots of fantastic historical items in the museum. I could easily visit this museum again.
My next stop was the TV Tower, it was already nearing 6pm and felt it was a getting on a bit and I didn’t want to late ticket they were offering to go up. So, I called it a day and walked back to the hotel. Maybe I can get up there on my next visit.
Last week we arrived at the Bellagio, after checking in a bit of gambling we then ate at 12 midnight local time. I don’t think I had much sleep in the next four days. We went to different hotel casinos ate in Hakkasan restaurant, STK steak house and the restaurants in the Bellagio.
My worse meal has to be in Hakkasan, a Chinese fusion food restaurant, didn’t really think it was all that. My favourite meal was in Spiro in the Bellagio, where we had an amazing view the of fountain.
I played some Top Golf at a very trendy golf range and pretty much had a good time. Walked through Caesars Palace shopping mall went into the Apple store there and brought myself a new Apple iWatch.
Visited some of the original old part of town. That had a more grimy feel, money lasts longer in the casinos down there.
I even tried my hands at a poker tournament in the poker room at the Bellagio. Now that was a deep end experience! Felt like everyone but myself were professional players.
I wasn’t so great on blackjack, roulette I won a load and lost it all. The three card poker tables, you seem to have higher odds to win and if you play on a full table of people the odds also become stacked against the dealer meaning everyone can win a lot more, unlike blackjack you’re only playing with one desk.
My only qualm was the cigarette-cigar smoke. Got in all my clothes, but other than that, had an awesome time.
Staying in Venice Beach seems very trendy, it’s very much similar to Camden of London of which I know. First night here we went to get some food and I had a pretty average burger, but boy people are smoking a lot of weed here.
A few days later we went down to Washington Bvld to find a dive bar called Hinano Cafe we were told about where Jim Morrison of The Doors use to hangout. He apparently scratched his name into the bar, but that has now been taken out and moved to a museum.
Surf boards on the ceiling saw dust of the floor to soak up the beer and pool tables.
We played pool there I don’t know if they are the same tables from Morrison’s days.
Arrived in Los Angeles on Monday night and yesterday had a look at the Hollywood Walk, the Chinese theatre.
Upon exit from the car park some guy wanted to sell me a CD, saying it was his rap music. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, I took out a little bit of money I had then he demanded a fiver, luckily my brother came and saved me!
After that near miss we had a walk up and down to see the stars. Took my picture next to William Shatner’s star, as I am a big Star Trek fan. Then over to the famous Chinese Theatre.
Before going to get a bit of food, another guy wanted to sell me a CD, this time I said I don’t have a CD player! That seemed to send him away!
It’s a interesting street with a honey pot of bums, scammers and tourists. I certainly kept my hands in my pockets making sure nothing disappeared!!
After that we drove up to Griffith Park and walked to the Griffith Observatory, there we had a good view of the Hollywood sign with amazing views over the city.
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