Edinburgh, a City of Time Itself

Edinburgh is a city with layers of history. Stories upon stories walk these cobblestone lanes and hide like ghosts within the shadow of medieval closes. This is a city where kings rose and fell, where heroes fought for freedom and where shameful men were nailed to the Mercat Cross. This is a city of good times, of hard times, of Time itself.

Right from the beginning, these were lands born in fire; Castle Rock, at the city’s core, is volcanic in origin. It is on this strategic hilltop that the city’s tale began. Edinburgh Castle itself, with its many previous iterations, has borne the brunt of Scotland’s volatile medieval era; it played a key part in the Scottish wars for independence throughout the 13th and 14th centuries.

During the 16th century, the events of history continued to shape Edinburgh not only as a city, but as the capital of a kingdom. Fuelled on by Protestant Reformers like John Knox, the tragedy of Mary, Queen of Scots, would play out here. With the coming of the 18th century, Edinburgh found itself in the midst of the Scottish Enlightenment. Dozens of monuments found around the city today celebrate illustrious men like David Hume, Adam Smith and Dugald Stewart, tributes to Edinburgh’s maverick thinkers.

The draining of the Nor Loch paved the way for Edinburgh’s famed New Town in the mid-18th century. As the united kingdoms of Scotland and England entered the Georgian period, so too did Edinburgh’s architecture, with Charlotte Square and Calton Hill becoming emblematic of the new era.

Edinburgh today is very much a product of its long, complicated and sometimes difficult history. Every building, every statue and every bustling square holds deep ties to the past; the legacies of war, Reformation and Enlightenment are very much still felt here. And as you walk these streets, you just might feel it too.

Team Citytravelreview/Curso, by Tiger Shen, Edinburgh April 2019

Sample: http://www.curso24.de/travel-news-citytravelreview-sample.pdf

Edinburgh: More than just Haggis, Especially at Night

Edinburgh’s hidden nightlife happens in the narrow streets and low-lying wynds of the city. You just need to start walking and look out for such places; even though they can be difficult to find, they do exist. The revellers circulate in clubs and pubs and underground bars which are often intricately laid out and can feel like labyrinths.

When darkness comes, you can follow the curiously-clothed and sometimes drunk groups of people doing stag and hen nights. Close to the Old Town, you quickly reach the quarter between Niddry Street, North Bridge, Royal Mile and Victoria Street. In this area you will find a lot of partying options. Especially around Niddry Street, the gaps conceal gothic bars, motto clubs and pubs with scanty light. The Hive on the same street is considered the Edinburgh’s most popular club, though that means it’s more mainstream.

If you’re not into that, look into the smaller venues ones that are around because they might be more entertaining. They all have their own special setting and music style, with numerous floors and open basements. There are also some clubs with mixed music like the Espionage in Victoria Street. With a karaoke bar on the top and five floors downstairs, the club is an establishment for versatile music.

You will see queues on every corner in that quarter, so it’s advisable to check out the smaller side streets as well. From a cabaret to an open-air bar, everything’s on offer. Get out on the street and explore the life under street lights for yourself.

Team Citytravelreview/Curso, by Lisa M. Jordan, Edinburgh April 2019

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Citytravelreview 2019

Wir präsentieren unsere neuen Projekte in der Universität von Nottingham. Dank an die Uni sowie an die Studierenden für die Neugier und die Begeisterung.

Team Citytravelreview/Curso

Edinburgh April 2017

Fun, new friends, history, whisky, castles, pubs, tours, live music, fantastic views – oh my! Where completely strangers become friends with a glass of whiskey in hand – this is CTR in Edinburgh.

Not even the Scottish weather pranks could hide the unique charm of Edinburgh – rustic bookshops, mystic closes and lovely shops make the citys beauty! Exploring the beautiful city in great company – Edinburgh, you’ve stolen my heart!

This once in a lifetime experience helped me fall in love with the beautiful city of Edinburgh while making new friends along the way. There is a distinctive feeling you have while walking through Edinburgh: It’s the mixture of living, breathing history and the culturally open mindset of the people today that is different from any other city in Europe.

It’s not hard to fall in love with Edinburgh. The unique atmosphere in the pubs, the vitality everywhere, the beautiful landscapes and all the great people you are surrounded by made me feel like home!

What a positive experience: getting to know a beautiful city together with amazing people! I came, saw, and fell in love with this city and its warm citizen. Can´t wait to see you again, Edinburgh!

To fell in love with a foreign city in a few days and discover it with a group of other girls, who became real friends, was an exciting experience, which I don’t regret.

Team CTR/Curso, Edinburgh April 2017

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My Berlin

As a city with such historical significance, Berliners don’t shy away from the past. Memorials and monuments commemorating different facets of German history dot the Berlin landscape, providing a place to remember and reflect.
Sights

History and art fans beware: you will have your work cut out for you in Berlin. With over 150 museums and approximately 300 galleries (that we know of), you will struggle to fit everything in a holiday timetable. From open-air contemporary art galleries to historical museums, there is truly something for every taste.
Museums & Art Galleries

Berlin has a very urban feel when walking among the streets that are full of character. Whether it is looking at monuments, going to markets, or having a bite to eat, there are various possibilitiesto explore.
Streets & Tours

From street food and beach bars, to third wave coffee shops and vegan eateries Berlin offers a vast assortment of bars, restaurants and cafes that will leave travellers satisfied. Throughout the city, streets are littered with outdoor tables and delicious aromas that will lure you in. As a cultural hotspot, Berlin’s food and drink balances quality with affordability.
Eating & Drinking

Throughout Berlin there are areas of calm where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether it’s a peaceful lake in the suburbs or a park right in the middle of the city, there are endless places to choose from. In addition to this, you can find many activities to do whilst exploring outside in this fascinating city.
Outdoors

Whether you want to enjoy a day out or spend the night on the town, Berlin has something for you. From outdoor Karaoke, to jazz nights, to some of the most famous clubs in Europe, you’ll be hard pressed to find something that doesn’t interest you. Go out there and have fun, we sure did.
Entertainment

Team CTR Berlin
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Up Close: Edinburgh Farmers Market

Edinburgh Farmers’ market, located at Castle Terrace, offers fresh food from local farmers. As one out of ten best British markets it is worth a visit – not only because of the tasty samples at every of the thirty stalls, but especially because of its high quality organic food.
The smell of handmade sausages and bacon will make you feel hungry right at the beginning. Additionally you have several types of cheese, fresh ish, lobster and dairy products, such as cheese- cake -cream. You can also buy Scottish tablet for 2£, tartes illed with haggis, or fresh made bread from a German bakery. Also hot drinks and soups are available as well as healthy smoothies, or sweets from “the Chocolate Tree” and self-made pastries. You can always have a break, sit down and enjoy the stunning view on Edinburgh castle or inform yourself about the local farmers at the information stall. If the weather is good you may be lucky to savour some musicians too. Opening at 9am, Farmers market is a great opportunity to have an unforgettable, fresh, organic and especially local breakfast, surrounded by habitants shopping. As a tip: Saturdays you will also ind about twenty stalls at Grassmarket until 5pm.
A Traveller’s Guidebook through the Lanes of Old Reekie

Team CTR Edinburgh
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Off the Beaten

Berlin is home to some of the most profound and insightful museums and galleries in the world. Ranging in exhibits from ancient Egyptian artifacts to the tragic history of persecuted Jews to the surreal paintings of Dali, this city is a cultural hub. No matter your interests you are sure to find an exhibition that will challenge your opinions and expand your mind.
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Berlin’s history stretches back 775 eventful years, with various generations and dynasties leaving behind their mark in the form of landmarks and monuments. On either side of the Unter den Linden, the central boulevard of Berlin, lays a multitude of historic and awe-inspiring sights. A short walk around Mitte, the central district of Berlin, will take you past a litany of striking landmarks, from the Prussian era grandness of the Berliner Dom to the Cold War era remains of the Berlin wall, to the modern majesty of the TV tower. Truly, Berlin is truly a godsend for tourists looking for great sights, both famous and obscure.
SIGHTS

Berlin: the big grey city. A landscape entirely covered in drab high rises and industrial-looking buildings; or at least that’s what most tourists might think when coming here. With its best known aspects being its post-war ruins and eclectic art culture, travellers may not expect much in terms of outdoor getaways. But the city is abundant in large open parks, like Mauerpark, Tiergarten and the nearby Sanssouci Park just to name a few. Berlin proves to have something to offer everyone’s varying interests. With bikes on hire on nearly every corner, bathing lakes just a tram ride away and a visibly strong focus on fitness, this concrete jungle actually turns out to be a surprisingly green space.
OUTSIDE

What’s in a name? When it comes to Berlin, a lot. From Karl Marx Allee to the Kurfürstendamm, this city’s streets and tours provide a window into the past. So set out to a tourist hotspot or wander off the beaten strasse and immerse yourself in a city rich in history.
STREETS & TOURS

Known as the city that is “poor but sexy”, this German capital has high-design low-cost youth hostels all over the city. Travellers on a budget have the chance to rest their head comfortably and there is a plethora of options ranging from the ever popular chain Generator Hostels to the cozy boutique Wallyard Concept Hostel. All located within distance of major tourist attractions and close to public transportation links, visitors can take their pick to which neighbourhood they would like to eat, sleep and play in, giving them a glimpse into life as a Berliner.
ACCOMMODATION

Home to the famous Currywurst there is an impressive variety of local street food available all over Berlin. From cafés specialising in pretzels or patisseries to German food markets serving the popular kebabs, you will be spoilt for choice in this city bursting with flavours. Try out the craft beer gardens or sip on a cup of Berlin’s quality coffee, you will definitely find something to tickle your taste buds.
FOOD & DRINK

Berlin is known for its eccentric nightlife and clubbing scene. Most clubs play Techno music but you don’t have to look hard to find venues that specialise in Rock, Hip Hop and Jazz. Many clubbing spaces occupy previously abandoned warehouses, power and heating plants. These industrial settings generally create an intense and sweaty environment. Door policies vary from club to club and your best bet is to go out in small groups and dress casually.
NIGHTLIFE

Bursting with the best places for art and music events,performance venues, sports stadiums and festivals, all reviewed by us cool folk at CTR, you are bound to find some form of entertainment to your required taste. With a heap of music gigs, sporting events and art shows to choose from, Berlin is definitely the place for a dose of good ‘ole’ culture.
ENTERTAINMENT

Visitors to Berlin may not be expecting much outside its well-known history and vibrantly unorthodox party scene, but once here it would be hard to leave without adding a few new numbers to your wardrobe. Whether it’s a way to kill time after your walking tour, or an unexpected pop-up market which has caught your eye, you’ll quickly learn Berlin plays host to an exciting shopping scene. So get your wallet ready and prepare yourself to shop ‘til you drop at some of these awesome destinations.
SHOPPING

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No Wall Left: 100/200

These public bus routes traverse the city offering a fairly comprehensive tour for a cheaper price than a tourist bus. Bus 200 departs from outside the main entrance of Zoologischer Garten station. In the opposite direction it leaves from Michelangelostraße in the Prenzlauer Berg area, taking around 40 minutes to complete the route. You will cruise past Berlin Philharmonie and Potsdamer Platz, before heading along the historic boulevard Unter den Linden, which is full of cultural attractions like the State Opera House, the Neue Wache memorial, Deutsches Historiches Museum and Museum Island. You will have the opportunity to admire Lustgarten, The Dom and the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz before the bus reaches its terminus.

Alternatively choose Bus 100, the first bus service to connect East and West Berlin after the city’s unification. It travels between Zoologischer Garten station and Alexanderplatz. Like the 200 it travels down Unter den Linden: get off at this stop if you wish to view the popular Brandenburg Gate, and from there it is only a short walk to the Reichstag. You will then be taken down the central road through Tiergarten where you can behold the glorious Siegessäule (Victory Column) before going south onto Kurfürstenstraße.

Bus 100 is the better option if you want a shorter journey time of around 30 minutes (without getting off) and if you want to see more of the famous sights in the city, although it is generally busier than the 200. Both offer a cheap hop-on hop-off alternative to the standard tour bus for the price of a standard day ticket. If you are young at heart, then the best seat is naturally at the very front of the top deck, where you can ‘drive’ the bus on your own personal tour of Berlin.

Team CTR Berlin
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Be in Berlin: The Ampelmann

Walking through Berlin, the traffic light symbols dress in their Sunday best to kindly tell you when to stop and go.

Created by traffic psychologist Karl Peglau in 1961, the iconic Ampelmann silhouettes were inspired by a photo of the general secretary of the Socialist Unity Party Erich Honecker in a straw hat, and were soon stationed at every street crossing in East Berlin. Since the fall of the wall, the Ampelmann has become cult item and a positive symbol of the identity of the East Berlin citizens, and can now be seen splashed on merchandise at the many Ampelmann stores dotted around the city.

Walking into the store, it’s hard not to smile at the brightly coloured towels, key chains and t-shirts; the endearing stop-and-go symbols are plastered over every inch of the walls, floor and ceiling. Peruse through the racks of Ampelmann towels, rubber ducks and hilarious postcards, seeing why the Ampelmann is loved by so many.

After you’ve taken the obligatory photo inside the larger-than-life Ampelmann statue, sit back in the café and enjoy a coffee as you watch traffic lights from around the globe blink their green and red counterparts. After you’ve spent the remainder of your Euros on Ampel-merchandise, tip your hat to the ol’ crossing friend as you leave the store and wait for the green ampelmann to greet you at the side of the road.

Team CTR Berlin
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Picture This: Barcelona

You’ve done the museums, the art galleries, the churches and the picturesque lunch spots; you’ve relaxed and soaked up the sun at the beach, the outdoor pool and the park, and you’ve clocked up what must surely edge close to a marathon on your pedometer. Are you heading home to bed? No chance, you’ve got an entirely new city to explore, transformed by the sunset from a cultural haven into a maze of restaurants, bars and clubs to stumble into and dance the night away.

We have done our best to offer you a comprehensive starting point, reviewing the clubs and bars which we poured into on instinct, and staggered out of hours later having had a great night. But really, the best way to create your own unforgettable story of ‘this one night in Barcelona…’ is to wander around and see what takes your fancy. As we all know, the best nights are always the spontaneous ones.
Feel the Night Vibes

Team CTR Barcelona
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