Cabaret
Divine Decadence of Northern Germany
July 20 - 30, 2006
BERLIN STORIES
From 1929 to 1933, British expatriate Christopher Isherwood lived almost
continuously in Berlin, Germany, teaching English to pay the bills while
writing about the people he lived with and others he met during his
stay. His detailed diary became the basis for two books that would eventually
be combined into what is now known as The Berlin Stories.
That, in turn, became the inspiration for the Broadway
musical Cabaret and its subsequent film version.
His flamboyant heroine, Sally Bowles, would come to symbolize expatriates,
like Isherwood himself, who fell in love with Germany even as it hovered
on the brink of extinction on the eve of World War II.
Returning to Berlin after the war, in
1951, Isherwood not only found a country divided, but his cherished
city was literally cut in half. He wrote of the Berlin Wall as a type
of “shadow barrier,” evident from every corner of the city.
Not only did it separate East from West, democracy from communism, it
served as the demarcation of past and present. In the years since 1989
when the Wall came down, Germany has shown that it understands the importance
of acknowledging both its rich cultural heritage and the most shameful
aspects of its past as it moves forward into the future.
While Berlin may be much changed today,
a visitor will find a much remaining of the flavorful, chaotic, bohemian
experience that so fascinated Isherwood. Berlin is a place of sharply
contradictory images from Prussian splendor to divine decadence, from
remnants of the tragic, oppressive Nazi rule and the Cold War’s
walled city to today’s reunified, vibrant metropolis. Berlin has
been built upon the foundation of successfully integrating distinct
groups of people and cultures, and in doing so turns good, solid German
virtues upside down. The spirits of Mendelssohn, Einstein, Humboldt,
Weill, Brecht, Dietrich, and of course, Isherwood pervade the place.
Following our introduction to Berlin,
enjoy the beautiful rolling hills of Saxony and Thuringia and the gentle
rippling terrain of Brandenburg and Schlesswig-Holstein as we travel
to other famed cities in Northern Germany. In the Baroque center of
Leipzig, home of Johann Sebastian Bach, tour the Bach Museum, the historic
center, and the renowned Auerbachskeller, made famous by Goethe in Faust.
From there, it is on to small baroque town of Weimar, the heart of Germany,
city of Goethe, home of the Weimar Republic, and one of the select places
to carry the coveted European City of Culture title. Finally, no trip
to Northern Germany would be complete without visiting Lübeck on
the Baltic Sea, a small island city which was once the medieval capital
of the Hanseatic League. For those with a sweet tooth, Lübeck is
the home of marzipan creations to die for—true decadence.
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play! Travel with Toto Tours to revel in the divine
decadence of a Germany reborn. Come to the cabaret!
ITINERARY
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Depart from U.S.
Today is a travel day. Take an overnight flight from your home city
which will enable you to arrive in Berlin, Germany, early tomorrow morning.
If you wish to arrive one or two days early, Toto Tours will be happy
to help you make hotel arrangements.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Arrival in Berlin, Germany
Berlin has three major airports. We suggest you try to arrive at Tegel
Airport, which is only a short cab ride from the center of town. Templehof
Airport is the second choice, and is what you will probably use if you
connect through another European city. Schoenefeld Airport is the third
alternative, and has a high-speed express train into the city that takes
about 35 minutes.
Upon arrival, clear customs and make your
way to our hotel. With our final documents mailed before the start of
the tour we will send out information on various ways to get from the
airports to our downtown hotel via public transportation. You have the
remainder of the day free to explore on your own, or rest up from jet
lag. This evening our group gathers for the first time in our hotel
lobby for a cocktail and introductions all around, followed by a Welcome
Dinner. Afterwards we may organize a group to venture out and sample
one (or more) of the many bars and clubs in Berlin’s lively gay
community. (Dinner included)
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Berlin
After breakfast at our hotel, enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of
Berlin. We visit the Wall Museum, Daniel Liebeskind’s Jewish Museum,
the Brandenburg Gate, a view of the Reichstag with its new glass dome
by architect Richard Foster, a view of the Victory Column with its golden
statue of Victory. Tour the Knobellsdorff Wing of the Charlottenburg
Palace; see the Berliner Dom (the main cathedral in Berlin), and visit
the Neue Wache—now a memorial to the victims of fascism and tyranny.
We also do a walkabout in Prenzlauerberg, central Berlin’s main
gay area, to scope out likely venues for this evening’s revelry.
The evening is free to do with as you
please. Whenever the evening meal is not already provided as a part
of the tour, your Toto Tours host will organize an outing to a nearby
restaurant for those who would like to dine together with other members
of the group. (Breakfast)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Potsdam
After breakfast at the hotel, we’re off to the posh city of Potsdam—a
short drive from central Berlin. Situated near some of Berlin’s
most beautiful lakes, it has historically been the home of the aristocracy.
Today it is the residence of such luminaries as Hugo Boss. Our visit
includes a guided tour of perhaps the most famous of the many palaces
in Potsdam: Sanssouci. It is like a mini Versailles, and the gardens
are simply gorgeous.
Return in the afternoon to Berlin and
visit the most famous of all the city’s museums, the Pergamon.
It rivals the British Museum with its collection of ancient archaeological
wonders. (Views of some works may be restricted by ongoing rennovation
work.) The evening is free to enjoy another night on the town! (Breakfast)
Monday, July 24, 2006
Leipzig
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we depart the hotel and transfer
to the famous Berlin Zoo train station for the short trip to Leipzig,
commencing a four night stay away from Berlin. We return to the same
hotel in a few days, so you can arrange to leave some of your things
behind in the hotel’s secure luggage check room if you wish.
Arriving in Leipzig we embark on a walking
familiarization tour of the old center, including entrance to the Bach
Museum. Next we visit the historical rooms of the Auerbachskeller where
we hear a short presentation about Goethe’s Faust while enjoying
coffee and Mephisto cake. After checking in at our gorgeous, centrally-located
hotel, the remainder of the day is free. (Breakfast)
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Leipzig
We continue touring the city on foot this morning with a visit to the
Fine Arts Museum (Museum der Bildenden Kunst). We will also view the
Neues Gewandhaus, home of the world famous Gewandhaus Orchestra and
of Kurt Masur, who until 2002 was the conductor of the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra. The afternoon is free for personal explorations in this amazing
cultural mecca. (Breakfast)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Weimar
One of the highlights of our German adventure will be the full-day
tour to Weimar
today. Here we explore many of the attractions that earned this city
the designation of “European City of Culture” in 1999. We
travel there and back by train. The tour includes visits to the Bauhaus
Museum and the Goethe House. Weimar is not only the birthplace of Goethe,
but also of the Bauhaus design movement. Next we visit the home of the
great German poet, Schiller. Capping the day is our tour of the Belvedere
Palace. (Breakfast)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Lübeck
Transfer to the rail station after breakfast this morning for our journey
to Lübeck via Hamburg. This afternoon we tour historic Lübeck,
with its massive medieval brick towers punctuating the skyline with
dramatic shapes straight out of a fairy tale. Lübeck is home to
two Nobel Laureates in Literature, Thomas Mann (whose son Klaus traveled
in the Isherwood circle) and Günter Grass, author of The Tin Drum
among many other novels. We will visit the Mann’s famous Buddenbrook
House, as well as the Günter Grass House. The town hall was built
in 1250 and remains in use to this day. The remainder of the day is
free at your leisure. The city is at your footsteps, as our hotel is
located next to the Holsten Gate and close to the historical old town. (Breakfast)
Friday, July 28, 2006
Lübeck / Return to Berlin
The morning is free to do some more exploring on your own in this charming
city. Returning to the hotel at midday, we check out and transfer to
the train station to catch the train to Berlin. With your previously
accumulated knowledge of the city, and perhaps enough phrases of the
German language to be dangerous, you have a Friday night free to prowl
about in this decadent city! (Breakfast)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Free Day
Today is completely free for personal exploration. Your host and guide
will be happy to offer suggestions of places to see that were not visited
previously, or help you return to favorite places you glimpsed earlier
in the week. This evening Toto Tours hosts a festive Farewell Dinner,
perhaps featuring our own cabaret performers? You won't want to miss
it! (Breakfast / Dinner)
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Departure
The tour ends officially after breakfast this morning. Arrange your
return flight home for any convenient time today. We provide one group
transfer to the Tegel airport today, timed to accommodate the greatest
number of departing group members. If you would like to stay a few additional
days in Berlin we will be happy to extend your stay at our group hotel. (Breakfast)
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