Berlin to Lubeck

My last few days in Berlin were wonderful, I had moved from the Vienna House Andel’s in the Lichtenberg district, to the Orania Hotel in Kreuzberg, an area once known for it’s Punk Rock scene. The Orania is a newly opened boutique 5-star hotel with an amazing vibe that is tough to describe. If I were to try, I would say it felt like an oasis of calm. As soon as I entered and saw the rich hardwood floors, real-wood fireplaces burning and a Grand Piano taking center stage, I had a feeling I was in for a treat. The hotel just felt warm and inviting and the upscaleness was evident in the high-end materials and craftsmanship.

Several local Germans I met days earlier suggested that Kreuzberg was a tough neighborhood, and that may be true, but I felt like it was an up-and-coming area with many boutique shops and restaurants.

One evening for dinner, I went to Nocti Vagus, which is Berlin’s first DarkRestaurant where patrons dine in utter darkness and are served by the visually impaired. I had no idea what to expect, other than the obvious. Even knowing that I would be dining in the dark, it still could not prepare me for the experience. Click the following link to read what dining in the dark is really like. You’ll be amazed by the photos I captured.

On my last night in Berlin I ate at the restaurant in Orania, which is located on the ground floor near the lounge. The dining experience matched that of the hotel and it was such a treat to listen to some amazing live music in the lounge after dinner.

The next day I picked up a rental car and drove through the German countryside en route to Lubeck, where I am spending the next couple of days. I have gone from the hip hotels of Berlin, to an amazing inn, which is a fully renovated small castle. Each of the rooms at Lubecker Kronchen are individually crafted in a unique theme. The owners and innkeepers Annett and Peter are wonderful hosts. You have to really have a lot of passion to put as much work into an an old castle like Peter and Annett have. A labor of love I suppose. The hard work has really paid off because the guest experience is fantastic.

In addition to Lubecker Kronchen, I am loving Lubeck! It’s such a charming city where more than 80% of the buildings survived the war. From the narrow cobblestone streets, to the unique architecture and overall setting, this 12th Century city is one I would love to return to spend more time.

Last night I had dinner at a pretty well know establishment called, Schiffergesellschaft, one of the longest restaurant names I’ve ever seen. This restaurant is a Lubeck institution, it’s quite large and resembles the hull of a ship inside.

The next day I took a walking tour of the city and visited the The Europaisches Hansemuseum, a high tech museum featuring interactive displays, historical scenes and information on the Hanse era. In addition to its historical significance, Lubeck is also well known for its marzipan, a confection consisting of sugar or honey and almond meal. One of the best places to visit in Lubeck for marzipan is Café Niederegger, which has an extensive display of sweets made of marzipan. On the second floor is a cafe in which you can order a coffee/tea and some sort of sweet dish…this made a nice mid-afternoon rest from my walking tour.

That evening I had dinner at Miera Restaurant, a fantastic little Italian bistro located on one of those narrow cobblestone streets. I had a velvety cauliflower curry soup as a starter with a Dorade Filet for my entree and some pistachio ice cream for dessert. Yum!