Girls Getaway to Berlin - The Fashions

After a very good night’s sleep, I enjoyed breakfast on my floor at Club Etoile, which provides lovely panoramic views of the capital and a quiet ambiance to enjoy alone of with your fellow travelers. Our first stop this morning was a visit to C’est tout, a boutique within walking distance from the hotel. The owner/designer, Katja Will, used to be a stylist for MTV Europe and uses dresses as the key to every collection. She incorporates party dresses, along with silk and jersey dresses; all at very affordable prices. After some shopping, a must-do on our list was to have a Doner Kebab. What’s a doner kebab you ask? It’s a Turkish dish made of lamb meat (mainly) cooked on a vertical spit and sliced off to order. With a large Turkish population in Berlin, this is a popular meal, especially in the area referred to as Little Istanbul. Thank you Hasir Restaurant for my very first Doner Kebab!

One of the most unique and interesting parts of our trip was the Urban Living Tour, which allowed us to see inside the homes of several Berliners. Our first stop was to Edwin’s apartment. He is from Los Angeles and fell in love with Berlin during a visit here several years ago. An avid art collector, he entertained and informed us during the art tour around his apartment. We also visited a young family who had moved to Berlin from London in order to find a more affordable house. They raved about the city as well and showed us meaningful items they collected from around the world and used to decorate their flat. As more people visit the city, tourists are becoming residents. In fact, tourism in Berlin has increased 50% each year since the 2006 World Cup took place in Germany.

Dinner that night was at Hotel Concorde Berlin’s Brasserie Le Faubourg, the French restaurant located inside the hotel offering traditional French cuisine with a Mediterranean accent. As expected, the food, company and conversation were all wonderful. How about that kick stand, Katy?

PHOTO: C’est tout fashions.