Monthly Archives: March 2012
Hotel Art Nouveau – Freund aus Deutschland
Few years ago, when I worked for one of the magazine from HK, I traveled quite often, once or twice a month. But even I went to the same destination which I have been to before, I seldom stayed in the same place. I was quite happy to search for new. In those few years I visited Berlin for four times, but I stayed Hotel Art Nouveau for two times, which was also recommended by my colleague who stayed beforehand. Why? I guess you may agree with me, because of the host, the owner. He is a very friendly German with a nice artistic wife who came from Austria. They have a kind a love story which is easy to understand: opened a guest house because they wanted to build their nest fill with love. And they both loved travel around the world. So when they tried to find a place to settled down a bit, they bought some flats on a building. His wife designed the interior and he do his managing work. First when I came, they treated me like a friend and the following next time I backed, seems like visiting an old friend who lived Berlin.
Their guest house is perfectly quiet and in the very “west” berlin area, Savignyplatz. So if you have time to visit, please say a hello for me.
在過去於雜誌工作的幾年間,我經常出門,不過就算往同一地點去,也很少重覆住同一酒店,因為我很愛新鮮感。而這幾年來柏林有四次,然而卻有兩次入住同一間旅館Hotel Art Nouveau,有趣的是這家旅館是我一位同事介紹,他之前亦住過。為什麼我們都愛它?原因不是因為什麼設計與裝修,而是「人為」因素,就是這裡的老闆。他是為很親切有善的德國人,有位奧地利籍的藝術家老婆,是一個平凡的愛情故事,兩人築愛巢,然後買下物業作為居所也作為旅館,兩口子都愛周遊列國,他們仍間中外遊。無需多說,妻子當然是發揮所長,負責室內設計,老公做管理。當我第一次到訪時,他們已很熱情招呼我,而我再次回去時,感覺有如探朋友,一位居於柏林的朋友。
他們的旅館真的非常舒服,清靜,座落在很西面的柏林。如下次你有機會入住,請代我向他們問好!
ITB in Berlin
ITB, the leading travel trade show in Berlin, is now holding in Messe Berlin (the big big big exhibition halls). I was there yesterday for just few hours. Today is the last day open until 6pm. Some of my friends planned to go with the discount rate because of the “late check-in”. I was lucky as I can visit with my media status anytime from 7-11 MAR free. It was really big with almost 20 something halls inside, can’t be comparable with the one in HK exhibition centre. But ITE (held in HK) is also a nice travel expo with well organized and clear instruction. It is what I am proud of being a HKese sometimes.
今天將完結的柏林 ITB 旅遊展,我昨天參觀過。地點在 Messe Berlin 舉行,而此地是個非常大的展覽中心,我只逛了幾小時,已經很累。最後一天的展覽至下午六時,我有些朋友在最後幾小時前往,說是有 discount。我知道自己很幸運,因為可用特殊的記者身份免費參觀,但無論如何,halls實在太多,展館有二十幾個,相比香港會展實在也不能比較,不過,我也欣賞會展的旅遊展,雖只得兩至三個 hall,但也很組織得好,指示清楚。身為香港人也為這點感到自豪。
Surrealism
Here comes the last day of Museum’s tour in Berlin which started 2 days ago, when I’ve got a three days pass. Then I planned to visit the most TOP 10 from the booklet recommended. Surely, I was just picking up some interesting <—which I regarded… mostly were painting and drawing. For example, Gemäldegalerie (old master painting) in Postsdam Platz and Alte Nationalgalerie in Museumsinsel. I didn’t miss DDR, Guggenheim and Pergamonmuseum for sure. But the most interesting one was not on this list, which is the one I saw today in Charlottenburg which just opposite to the Palace, called Scharf-Gerstenberg. This is a private collection of Scharf’s family and showcases of the Surrealists. Two floors and one big hall covers many important works from Piranesi, Goya, Redon, Dali, Rene Magritte, Paul Klee, Max Ernst and Jean Dubuffet. Remembered that once I was in Brussel, I took a tour to Rene Magritte Museum which impressed me very much. I thought I really appreciate what the artists’ creative works. I started my first touch on this topic. Now, I am still learning about Surrealism. This private collection of Scharf are not the Mega store, but tidy, nice, interesting and modern. There are cafe and film display also. Can take a short break on weekdays afternoon especially the weather is bad outside.
今天是漫遊博物館的最後一天,說是最後,只因我買的是三天通行證,期限在今天屆滿。我打開小冊子選擇,例如是十大必逛的博物館,當然我也有個人喜好,大多數揀畫廊,包括在 Postsdam Platz 的 Gemäldegalerie、博物館島的舊國家畫廊,亦不缺最人氣的東德生活館、有名的 Guggenheim 及看古文名的 Pergamon。但最令我難忘的,卻是今天所參觀的 Scharf-Gerstenberg,她是一間私人館,位於 Charlottenburg 城堡的對面,展品其實是超現實主義的作品,由 Scharf 家族擁有及收藏。開放的是一個大廳及兩層的展廳,展出全是超現實主義的代表,包括 Piranesi, Goya, Redon, Dali, Rene Magritte, Paul Klee, Max Ernst and Jean Dubuffet 等的作品。我記得我在布魯塞爾看過 Magritte 的博物館,印象深刻,這是我最初接觸超現實主義的畫家的作品。而如今我仍是在學習中,也許 Scharf 不是一間龐大的博物館,極其量是小巧精緻有趣又摩登,不過她也不乏 Cafe 及影片播放室。我想,大家可在這兒留幾小時,尤其外邊的天氣差不想活動之時。





