In early June 2026 my secondary human took a trip to Berlin to go to something called the Creative Bureaucracy Festival (whatever that is). Because he’d never been before, he went a few days early to see some of the sights. This makes up for there having been a whole Berlin trip previously planned that was cancelled due to the pandemic…
Ready to go!
Starting off with a familiar site – if rather earlier in the morning than usual.
This will be a theme – met this excellent gentleman in Heathrow Airport.
In order to save money, instead of flying directly to Berlin, we had a short stop-over each way in Brussels. Sadly, this mode of transport wasn’t an option.
Arrived at our hostel. Our room-mates were very nice and the bed was comfy.
Although this chap in the foyer was slightly concerning!
It’s polite to do things outside the room when people are asleep, though. Since the secondary human tends to be up all hours of the night, we would sit in the dining room to do the important Daily Charging Of All The Things.
My secondary human did an insane 26k steps on the first tourist day. No wonder he was somewhat broken the rest of the time we were there. Learn to pace yourself, man!
There were many random examples of what my humans call “random public art” (RPA) in Berlin. This lovely example was just around the corner from our hostel.
The walk into downtown was mostly alongside the Spree, which was lovely.
Berlin is a beautiful city with one of the most complex and interesting backgrounds in the world, given its history with the Wall.
There’s so much to see that’s easily walkable. Starting with the cathedral.
The inside is amazing.
You can also walk all the way up to the path around the dome and look out over the city.
Take this spaceship to Mars!
Then on past the Altes Museum (Old Museum).
And the Alte Bibliothek (Old Library).
Down the road, past the Humboldt Forum with its replica of the Sanchi Torana — the eastern gateway of the Great Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, India.
And then suddenly you turn a corner and there’s a stark reminder of the fact that many of the areas we were going through were behind the Wall for most of the 20th century. A bas-relief of Uncle Karl.
Still not done, though. Managed to squeeze in a trip to the Museum of the German Constitution in the Deutscher Dom.
Vote Bear!
That was more than enough walking for Tuesday!
Wednesday, we did a little light geocaching and dropped off a trackable.
Then off to more tourist spots. Starting with the Reichstag.
Then the Brandenburg Gate (the only part of Berlin that felt really touristy).
Then, we do like a tall building overlooking a city, so it was up the Fernsehturm Berlin (also know as the TV Tower).
Which included this amazing replica of the city in Lego!
And then finally the Berlin Victory Column.
One of the big themes in Berlin at the moment is… Drum roll, please… Wait for it…
Bears!
United Buddy Bears is an international touring exhibition of ~140 bears, each painted by an artist representing a different UN member country, promoting tolerance and international understanding. They’ve toured the world but Berlin is home base.
Berlin Buddy Bears — decorated bears placed around the city by local artists and sponsors.
Even in the gift shop of the cathedral.
And the TV Tower.
Not to mention in the local markets.
Heading back to the hostel after the Festival on the Thursday, we randomly happened on this beautiful spot. So much so that several other people had stopped and were also taking photos.
In general, we had an excellent time and would love to go back to Berlin in the future.
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