AFTER experiencing the party life of Ireland and the more subdued beauty of Amsterdam our travelling nurses, Aby and Maddie, embark on their next leg which takes them to Berlin and Epernay, the amazing champagne region of France.
A FASCINATION to see the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe took us to one of the most confronting cities of our tour.
While we had just 24 hours in Berlin the impact will live on for many years.
There was just enough time to toss the bags in our hotel room before joining a free walking tour by “Walkative” that lasted for three hours.
Once again taking a walking tour with a knowledgeable guide or doing a hop on, hop off bus tour is the best way to appreciate what any city has to offer.
At one point we stopped at an empty carpark which if were by ourselves, we would have just walked past.
Our guide, however, made us pause as he told us that we were standing above the infamous site of Hitler’s Bunker.
The tour saw us journey from east to west across Berlin hearing stories that had shaped not only the city, but the entire world.
After enjoying the bike tour in Amsterdam, we decided to book the Berlin Wall and Cold War Bike group which went for three-and-a half hours and cost 32 Euros each.
We soon found out that Berlin is not nearly as flat as Amsterdam, but that aside it was another fascinating insight into a city of rich history.
A day is not enough in Berlin and in hindsight two or three days at least is the way to go.
Flights across Europe are both reasonable and quick and in less than two hours we touched down in France.
After a trip to Europe last year where my bag went missing for a month, we wisely invested in AirTags and we were glad we did.
When we landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, we were told one of the bags was still in Berlin.
When we showed the airline our phone tracking saying that the bag was indeed at the airport they were stunned and went looking and found it.
With the bags now in hand we collected our hire car for an anxious two-hour drive on the wrong side of the road to Epernay and our appointment with the best champagne in the world.
We booked a delightful Airbnb which gave us an authentic experience in the heart of the city around the corner from the Avenue de Champagne.
Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Perrier-Joet and Pol Roger flowed over the two days as we experienced amazing champagne houses that featured caves, art works and magnificent gardens.
It wasn’t just the champagne that made this city special, the streets are lined with patisseries and gourmet food shops.
Epernay needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.
Reims is just a 30-minute drive away and experiencing the champagne caves there is also a must.
Ratings
Berlin: 8/10
Epernay: 9/10
Food Berlin: 6/10
Local France: 9/10
