BYD by 1826

 Singapore - Edmund brought me to have lunch at Suntec BYD by 1826.  This is a clever strategy by BYD through a series of restaurants and showrooms in Singapore that combine dining with automotive experiences. The cafes are part of a strategy to promote electric vehicles (EVs) as a lifestyle choice.  

The set menu was priced affordably and the atmosphere was welcoming.

Salad apetitiser

Delicious steak

Edmund's salmon

Cheese cake

A very hearty meal - 

Day 10 in Berlin - Last day of our trip - Back in Aberdeen - 3 countries in 3hrs

Berlin - We woke up early today @ 2:30AM, change and check-out to catch our flight to Amsterdam at 6AM.   It was an hour flight, with snacks and a drink.   After a short nap, we hear the pilot announcing the approach to the Amsterdam airport.   

We had to walk fast to clear immigration, and reach our departure gate within 1hr.   The immigration was autogate for Singaporean passports so that makes the process faster, custom officer stamp an exit chop on our passport and a quick rush to our gate.

Our plane was co-share with German Airways - https://germanairways.com/ 

Sandwiches and a drink was served and within 45 minutes, we landed on the tarmac of Aberdeen airport.  As a small international airport, we walked to the immigration and custom, then back to Quinston home.  

Day 9 in Berlin - Potsdam (UNESCO World Heritage site) @ Reichstag Building tour

Berlin - Today, we took a train ride out to Potstdam town and it was an 1.5hr ride.  This is an UNESCO site under the name of Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin is a huge collection of important palaces and parks located mostly in Potsdam.  

Charlottenhof Palace

This was the summer residence of Crown Prince Frederick William, who later became King Frederick William IV.   Charlottenhof Palace is actually a remodeled farmhouse converted into the neo-classical villa you see today

Apart from the UNESCO award, Potsdam also has a great history in filmmaking. In fact, Potsdam is the birthplace of the film as we know it. Images first started moving in the city of Babelsberg, which is now a part of Potsdam. The world’s first silent film was made here in 1912.

Chinese House in Sanssouci Park

The Chinese House is a garden pavilion in Sanssouci Park.  The pavilion's exterior is distinguished by life-sized gilded figures placed around the building individually or in groups. Chinese musicians and tea drinkers, dressed in fairytale-like apparel, are represented.

Sanssouci Palace

Built in the mid 1700s, Sanssouci Palace was built as a summer residence for the king, Frederick the Great.   Beautiful gardens and sulpture surrounding this grand palace.

We had our sandwiches for lunch at this park.  

Huge fountain in the garden

The grand palace

Magnificant sulptures surrounding the palace

Brandenburg Gate at Portsdam

Lesser known and popular than the Brandenburg gate in Berlin.  The Brandenburg Gate is the most splendid city gates in Potsdam and is the culmination of the Potsdam promenade. Friedrich II had this impressive city gate built after the Seven-Year´s War in 1770/71. 

Between 1756 and 1763, Prussia and Austria fought against each other in the Third Silesian War. After seven years of war, Silesia could be added to the Kingdom of Prussia. King Frederick the Great decided that his victory should be commemorated with a triumphal arch.

Dutch Quarter @ Potsdam

The Dutch quarter is characterised by small shops, cafés and bars that attract visitors in this part of town. The story of the district starts with King Frederick William I who urgently needed qualified craftsmen for an extension of the garrison town. 

very quaint dutch looking houses

King Frederick William I made an overture to the neighbouring country of The Netherlands where he wanted local Dutchmen to feel a sense of being at home whilst in Potsdam. To prove the point, he then had 130 brick houses — in the typical Dutch style — built in this part of town in the middle of the 18th century. Even today, there is a lively atmosphere that celebrates this forward-thinking concept and welcoming of cultures.

Candy store

Lindt chocolate

IKEA

Church of St Peter and St Paul

small outdoor market

Fresh fruits stall

clothing stall

After spending hours at Potsdam, we return to our hotel to rest and have lunch.  We have a reserved tour of the Reichstag at 5pm.

Reichstag Building tour

Reichstag building in Berlin that is the meeting place of the Bundestag (“Federal Assembly”), the lower house of Germany’s national legislature. One of Berlin’s most famous landmarks.   We had to bring along our passport as identification for entry into Reichstag building.  It was high security because this is used during German Parliament.  Tours are conducted only when parliament is not in session.

We had to wear our tags and soon a tour guide arrives to bring us on a guided tour and education of the Reichstag building.   She was a serious looking tour guide - she asked questions and expected someone to answer the question.  Questions varies about German parliament, what are the different political partities, etc.  We were attentive and much to absorbed.

Reischstag is no longer used except for this building; and was explained by her that Reich is rarely used and is taboo in modern Germany because of Nazi Germany.   The Third Reich, meaning "Third Realm" or "Third Empire", referred to the Nazi claim that Nazi Germany was the successor to the earlier Holy Roman Empire (800–1806) and German Empire (1871–1918).

During retoration and renovation of the Reichstag building, the plaster were removed and beneath lays graffiti which were kept and restored to original.  These were written by Soviet soldiers when they storm Berlin and took hold of the Reichstag as a symbol of the 'Fall of Nazi Germany'.

After this, we returned our neck tags and adjourned to the Parliament roof top for a 360 view of the city.  

German Flag

Parliament dome that was closed for renovation

This was closed for renovations but if it was open, we will be able to take a closer look and walk round the dome to have a higher elevation view of the city.

EU Flag

Reichstag Building

It was a good 90 minutes tour and worth the time.

Day 8 in Berlin - Spandau Citadel, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, World Clock on Alexanderplatz & Haribo

Berlin - We took the S Bahn to Spandau city about 1hr from our train station.   

Spandau, one of Berlin’s largest boroughs, has a wealth of history to explore. Its roots go back to the thirteenth century when it was founded as a medieval fortress town. Down the centuries, it has experienced many changes – and the traces are evident everywhere.

The old fortified tower, which is incidentally the oldest building in Berlin, stands in the middle of the Zitadelle, a square fortress built in the 16th century. It is completely surrounded by water and is one of the most important and best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe.

The Citadel, the borough's most prominent historical monument, encapsulates this dynamic history and is a must-visit for anyone interested in Berlin's past.

Constructed in the 16th century, the Spandau Citadel is one of the best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in Europe. Its imposing bastion walls, which are up to four meters thick, and its vaulted corridors showcase the architectural prowess of the time. 

The Citadel served as a strategic military fortification designed to withstand sieges and attacks. Over the years, it has played various roles, including serving as a prison and a military barracks.

Model of the Spandau Citadel

Showcase of rifles

Today, the Spandau Citadel is more than just a historical relic; it is a vibrant cultural hub. The Citadel houses several museums and exhibitions that offer insights into the history of the fortress and the broader historical context of Spandau and Berlin.

climb the stairs to reach the top of the Citadel

Views from the top of the Citadel

We explored the Julius Tower, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Musical Instrument workshop @ Spandau Citadel

The Glass workshop @ Spandau Citadel

Relaxing outside the workshops,

Alta Kaserne - The Old Barracks

From its Renaissance fortifications to its role in more recent history, the Citadel provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of military architecture and urban development in Berlin.

The Provisions Depot 

Lennin scuplture

Exerzier Halle - the armoury

various ship cannons

Spandau City History Museum 

The Spandau City History Museum is located in the Arsenal. The permanent exhibition on the ground floor gives you an overview of the history of Spandau.

Linotype

The Linotype machine is a "line casting" machine used in printing.

The Bat Haven

One of the unique aspects of the Spandau Citadel is its role as a sanctuary for bats. Every winter, the Citadel’s thick walls and vaulted corridors provide a hibernation haven for around 10,000 bats. This fascinating aspect adds an ecological dimension to the Citadel’s historical and cultural significance, making it a point of interest for wildlife enthusiasts and researchers.

We entered this infra-red damp chamber shielded by glass with bats flying in the caged glass chamber.  

Spandau City

We walked around Spandau city and immersed in the atmosphere of this small town.

Lunch @ an authentic Italian restaurant with waiters speaking Italian.  The dishes were delicious.

Magarita Pizza

Spaghetti minced beef sauce

Spaghetti carbonara

Gotisches Haus Museum

After our lunch we visited the Gothic House is one of the most important secular, medieval monuments in the entire Berlin area. The late Gothic building was constructed in the second half of the 15th century.

Cargo carriage

16th century furniture

Grandfather's clock

Fire hydrant and fire bucket

Model of Gotisches Haus

St Nikolai in Berlin-Spandau

The church was closed and we just took as outside photo of this church.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

We took the train to this church is one of the famous churches in Berlin.  Air raids in 1943 damaged the church so badly that the top of the main spire broke off and the roof collapsed. At the end of the war, the Allies were unwilling to rebuild it, since it had been a symbol of excessive national pride. The ruin stood as a constant reminder to Berliners of the horrors of war.

In honour of Wilhelm I, the first German Kaiser, his grandson Wilhelm II planned a magnificent church, which was built by Franz Schwechten between 1891 and 1895 in the Neo-Romantic style. With five spires, the bombastic design reflected the tastes of the time and that of the Kaiser.

The church bells were the second biggest in Germany after Cologne, and when the church was inaugurated, the five bells rang so loudly that the wolves in the zoo started howling. During the Second World War, the chimes stopped and the five bells were melted down for munitions.

This iconic church was partially destroyed during World War II and now stands as a memorial to peace and reconciliation. The new church and the preserved ruins are a powerful reminder of the city's history.

World Clock on Alexanderplatz

The World Clock on Alexanderplatz consists of a cylinder with 24 corners standing on a column. Each segment schematically represent the 24 time zones of the Earth. 

The most important names of the cities from the individual time zones are engraved on the aluminum plates.

Haribo store in Berlin

HARIBO’s success has not been limited to the German market: as a global market leader in fruit gummies and liquorice, HARIBO is now available in more than 120 countries around the world.