Archives for “Relaxing” tag

In a big city, it’s always nice to enjoy the nightlife, restaurants, shops, art exhibits, and all the exciting things that are in offer. But sometimes, we are so consumed with the business of daily life that we forget how important it is to be able to pamper yourself every once in while. Despite its relaxed attitude Berlin, like any other big city, can manage to wear you out.

That’s why it was delightful to receive a voucher for a day at a Hamam right in the middle of Kreuzberg as a present. I’d known of their existence around this area but never ventured out to look for them. So when the opportunity presented itself, I relished in it. My visit consisted of me and my friend relaxing in a warm room with comfortable cushions and magazines, then relaxing some more in the bathing area every once in a while pouring warm water on ourselves while chatting and then dividing the rest of our time between the sauna and the cold water showers. You can also get traditional Turkish ‘Kese’ (Turkish handglove) peeling and ‘Sabunlama’ massages.

I find it lovely to live in an area with such cultural diversity like Kreuzberg. And I think the Hamam at Marianenstrasse, though a bit ‘Europeanized’, has managed to maintain an authentic and heavenly environment in which women of all different cultures come to enjoy such an old and absolutely delightful tradition.

The window is covered up by paper and the entrance hidden. It looks like a shop under construction but every minute people go in and out. This is Dr. Pong: Prenzlauer Berg’s Ping Pong-Bar.

When you enter you get the feeling that this is not an official bar but a member’s only club. The Spartan interior includes little more than a ping-pong table and some chairs. The walls are empty, but the club is crowded. Upon further exploration, you will find a bar, a small lounge and a DJ stand. No luxuries here, just a comfortable, cozy grotto that offers a remarkable alternative to all the normal bars where you just sit, stand or talk.

In the bar’s main room, people with table-tennis paddles run in circular fashion around the ping pong table. Most of the people are not professional players and some have never played before, so don’t worry if you don’t hit the ball (and as a good excuse, you can always say that beer makes you lose your body control). Anyway, there is always a new round, which gives you the chance to show your hidden talent.

One of the bar’s owner’s interests is, according to the bar’s manifesto, “losing the definition between game/sport and partying”. A “healthy addiction” to beer and ping pong makes you definitely want to come back to this inconspicuous place.

By the way, you don’t need to bring your own ping pong paddle; you can borrow one at the bar for a deposit of 5 euro.

Many times I passed by this building which fascinated me at first sight. Generally I am not that interested in churches but this one is not a common church: no spire, no nave and no bell.

The story of St. Elisabeth-Kirche, built in 1835, is a long one. The famous Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed the church which is a special example of neo-classical architecture.

Until 1945 it played an important role in church and urban history. But then it was destroyed in World War II except the perimeter walls. So the church was a ruin for more than 40 years. Only 1991 it was possible to protect the building by specialists. Until today they were able to rebuild the structure with the help of Berlin’s government and different organizations. But they still need financial support for the interior.

The church is currently used for cultural events, especially concerts and exhibitions. But his winter they will do more interior work so that the church can be opened for public soon. Sometimes the door just stands open so try your luck to catch a glimpse of the inside. (There is also a rotating view online)

The German Federal President Horst Koehler paid tribute to this place when he held his second “Berliner Rede” (Berlin speech) on the 24th of March 2009 at the Elisabeth-Kirche.

You shopped til you dropped? You walked your feet sore? You need some relaxing? Then Liquidrom is the right place. The main attraction is a huge salt water pool where you can float around while colorful lights and smooth music surrounds you. On weekends also Live bands play.

Besides the pool a minimalistic with warm colours designed Spa is waiting for you. In the stylish Sauna area you will find a steam bath, a Finnish sauna (90 degrees), an Himalaya Salt Sauna (60 degrees) and a Kelo Panorama Sauna (80 degrees). Outside is a small warm pool where you can watch the stars after a special infusion which happens every full hour in the Finnish Sauna.

You will have the best view in the courtyard while lying on one of the comfy loungers with a soft mattress and a fluffy blanket. But try to come here on weekdays if you don’t want to fight for a lounger and space in the Sauna.

If you want to let someone knead your body make sure to book a massage before you come there, or just ask – on weekdays you might have luck. A bar offers you special drinks like smoothies or shakes and light food.

Don’t be afraid if you forgot your swimming equipment: You can rent there towels, bath robes, slippers and swim clothes.

North to Treptower Park (see the Treptower Park article), between the peninsula Halbinsel Stralau and the district Lichtenberg you can find a place where nature and architecture are closer together than anywhere else in Berlin.

The Rummelsburger Bucht is a bay around the Rummelsburg lake. While walking all around the lake, which is actually a small branch of the river Spree, you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Berlin skyline and the new modern and fancy houses. Those were built mostly after 1997. In the 20th century this area used to be an industrial area.

Some of the old houses are under monument protection so they reconstructed most of them completely, for example the two “Knabenhäuser” (boys’ houses) which were part of an orphanage built under the German Emperor.

All around the bank you can find small fenced ecosystems where you can watch animals in spring and summer. 

The closest station is Ostkreuz or Rummelsburg (S-Bahn).