Author: gatrooms

“Foreign Countries” – art exhibition

At Gat Point Charlie Hotel we are hosting an art exhibition called “Foreign Countries” by Núñez del Prado y Eriván Phumpiú. Come to the Hotel Gat Point Charlie (Mauerstrasse 81-82, Berlin) to check it out!

 

About the authors:

Alonso Núñez del Prado and Eriván Phumpiú Cuba grew up in Lima, Perú, but currently, they call Berlin their home.

Their art is performed with an own creation, personal and intimate language, that, yet, connects directly with its society.

The common links in their works are the intense colours and spontaneous movements, which reflect their personalities.

Nonetheless, each artistic proposal is different since the colour and the movement is used for independent purposes.

 

Travel Smart in Berlin: Prenzlauer Berg

@Tripsavvy
After the reunification of the two Berlins, working-class citizens settled in Prenzlauer Berg, transforming it into a hub of political resistance that soon became the city’s bohemian quarter. Although the area has grown and matured since then, it retains this alternative spirit even today.
In terms of architecture, it is dominated by old buildings, large squares such as Helmholtzplatz –which houses cosy little restaurants such as Wohnzimmer, which means “living room”– or the green spaces such as Volkspark Prenzlauer Berg, 28 hectares of parkland that has a great kids’ play area and is ideal for jogging, flying kites and even sledging in winter.

@visitberlin

Legendary coffee houses such as Anna Blume, Café Liebling or No Fire No Glory are a testimony to the culture of “coffee and a good book” that has taken root in this neighbourhood.

@visitberlin

The vibrant cultural offering here is camouflaged among industrial buildings such as the Kulturbraurei (a beer factory that was converted into a nightclub), shops and performing arts schools or the circular Singuhr-Hoergalerie, a sound art gallery housed in a former water tower.

@cntraveler

The Berliner Prater Garten, one of the oldest and nicest beer gardens in the city, can be found on Kastanienallee avenue.

@ bowiesberlin

In terms of markets, Prenzlauer Berg has several to offer, including the one held on Kollwitzplatz, which specializes in mostly organic produce on Saturdays, or the Sunday flea market in Mauerpark, which also hosts the city’s biggest outdoor karaoke party from spring to autumn.

To make your exploring of this northern part of the city all the more exciting, we recommend renting one of bikes for a true “Gat Experience” in Berlin–the first stop on this route is only 20 minutes from Gat Point Charlie. You will find all the information you need on this service at Reception.
We wish you a happy day of discovery!

Photography contest: #mygatmoment

Contest rules #mygatmoment

1. Objective
Gat Rooms will hold a photo contest on Instagram from 1-30 June 2019 with the aim of encouraging people to take creative pictures at Hotel Gat Rossio in Lisbon. The winner will enjoy the prize of a two-night stay for two people at Hotel Gat Point Charlie in Berlin.

2. Organization
The contest is organized by Gat Rooms Hotels and is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Instagram.

3. Entry restrictions
To enter, participants must:
– be aged 18 or over;
– follow @gatrooms on Instagram or Facebook;
– be a current or former guest at Hotel Gat Rossio or a current or former Gat Rooms employee.

4. Entry instructions
1. You must follow @gatrooms on social media to be eligible for entry in the contest.
2. Take an original, creative photograph of a memorable moment at Hotel Gat Rossio.
3. Post your picture on Instagram or Facebook between 1-30 June 2019.
4. Add the hashtags #mygatmoment and #10yearsgatrossio and tag @gatrooms. Make sure your post is public so that we see it.

Contest Winners

There will be two winners: one former or current employee and one former or current guest.
A jury appointed by Gat Rooms Hotels will select the winning photographs from among those posted correctly according to the instructions listed above in point 4 and taking into consideration the originality, creativity and quality of the image.
The winners will be announced and contacted on @gatrooms social media accounts on 8 July. They must accept the prize by responding to the first message by no later than 22 July 2019.
The names of the winners will then be published with their photographs on @gatrooms social media accounts.

5. Prize
Two prizes of a two-night stay for two people in our hotel Gat Point Charlie in Berlin will be awarded.

6. General terms

– Gat Rooms will assume that any photograph that features a minor will have been taken and published with express parental consent.

– Gat Rooms reserves the right to use any photograph shared by any participant in the contest for future promotions or publication on its social media accounts.

– Gat Rooms reserves the right to disqualify any participant who fails to comply with the entry restrictions and contest rules.

– Gat Rooms reserves the right to delete submissions that are shared from fake or questionable profiles. Photographs with a clear promotional purpose or that fail to comply with current legislation will not be accepted.

7. Other specifications
– The Gat Rooms jury reserves the right to select and alternative winner if the winner announced does not confirm their desire to accept the prize, rejects it or fails to comply with any of the conditions set out in these contest rules.

8. Acceptance and publication of the contest rules
– Participation in the contest implies the acceptance of its terms. The invitation to enter indicates the website address at which these rules can be accessed, and a copy will be made available at Reception in Hotel Gat Rossio.

Travel Smart in Lisbon: Mouraria

@suitecasemag

Some say that Mouraria is Lisbon’s forgotten neighbourhood, but here at Gat we could never let our guests overlook it! Located in the heart of the city, it is an oasis of traditional Lisbon culture. The iconic fado music was born in these streets, where it also became popular among the upper classes thanks to Maria Severa, a prostitute said to have introduced it to the aristocracy during an affair with a blue-blooded lover at the beginning of the 20th century.

Mouraria is also the most multicultural area in the Portuguese capital. After the conquest of Lisbon in the Middle Ages, King Afonso Henriques created a Muslim ghetto in this area near the castle, which became known as “La Mouraria” or the “Moorish quarter”. Since then, it has been the city’s major centre of immigration and cultural diversity.

 


@annekadotes

Above and beyond the unmissable Praça Martim Moniz, chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, narrow streets of Beco do Jasmim, Rua dos Trigueiros and Beco das Farinhas, which lead to the Escadinhas de São Cristóvão stairs, here is a list of our favourite restaurants, fado houses and bars.

 


@guianomadas

Cozinha Popular is the place to head for a culinary tour of Angola, Cape Verde and Brazil. If Mozambican cuisine is more your thing, don’t miss Cantinha do Aziz, but if Portuguese food is what gets your taste buds going, O Trigueirinho has you covered.

 

@visitlisboa

Maria de Mouraria is undoubtedly Lisbon’s greatest fado house. This former brothel is where Maria de Severo, a popular local singer, worked until her lover, the Count of Vimioso, bought it for her to live in.

 


@suitecasemag

Our favourite watering holes are Renovar Mouraria and Boutique Taberna, which are both popular with locals keen to enjoy a crisp white vinho verde or a barbecue to the rhythmic beat of African or Brazilian music.

 


@guianomadas

Last, but definitely not least, don’t forget to visit the smallest book shop in the world, the Livraria do João (take a look at our post).

Easter in Berlin: hop on a bike!

During the Easter period, Germany’s capital city is a treasure trove of cultural events, including spring festivals, bonfires on Easter Saturday or the popular markets with their giant chocolate eggs (check them out here).

However, if you are looking for a gentle jaunt to complement this hectic spring agenda, grab a bicycle at the Hotel Gat Point Charlie and set off to explore the city and its surroundings at your own pace.

Landwehrkanal, Kreuzberg


@culturetrip
The picturesque Landwehrkanal is less than a 10-minute ride from the hotel and passes through the beautiful Kreuzberg and Maybachufer neighbourhoods. Enjoy the picnic areas set alongside the canal and in Görlitzer Park, which is also a great place for a barbecue on a sunny day.

The Berlin Wall

@visitberlin
If alternative activities are more your thing, but you don’t want to leave the city, why not ride the 159 km Berlin Wall trail? If you are short for time, choose the most artistic stretch which goes from the East Side Gallery to Bernauer Strasse via Potsdamer Platz.

For anyone keen to go a little further afield:
Glienicker Brücke

@visitberlin.de
This bridge crosses the Havel river, which connects two lakes–Groß Glienicker See and Jungfernsee–and separates the city of Berlin from Brandenburg. Apart from the spectacular beauty of the landscape, the area’s rich history also makes it an iconic attraction. You’ll pass the castle on your way to the bridge, and you’ll be tempted to have a quick dip in the lakes on a warm spring day.

The banks of the river Dahme


@visitberlin.de

This itinerary begins at the East Side Gallery, just a few metres from the hotel. Enjoy the idyllic landscape as soon as you start to follow this tributary of the River Spree and discover the localities of Grünau and Müggelheim or the famous Müggelturm observation tower. When you think you’ve explored enough, simply follow the river back to the city!

Easter in Lisbon by Gat Rossio

As the capital of a Catholic country, Lisbon opens up its chest of enchanting customs and traditions during Easter Week. In this post, we share some of our favourites with you.

One of the unmissable culinary treats over the Easter period is the Folar da Páscoa, a sweet or savoury bread that represents the bread eaten at the last supper, and is baked with hard-boiled eggs in the dough to represent the resurrection of Jesus.


@buendiatours

As tradition dictates, meat is off the menu on Good Friday, and is replaced with another culinary great: bacalhau (cod). Why not order yourself some delicious, creamy bacalhau com natas? However, Easter Sunday more than makes up for the abstinence observed on Good Friday with succulent roast lamb, which represents Jesus himself, the Lamb of God.

To cap off your Easter feasts, Lisbon also offers a host of mouth-watering sweet treats, such as chocolate eggs and caramelized almonds.

@discoverlisbon

In terms of cultural traditions, some that catch every visitor’s interest are the compasso pascal, or Easter walk, during which a priest visits the home of any parishioners who have laid flowers at their door; theatrical productions of the Passion of Christ; Easter Sunday Mass at Lisbon Cathedral; and the popular Easter processions (the ones held in Óbidos are the most impressive).

Beyond these traditions, visitors should also enjoy some of the everyday aspects that shape Lisbon’s soul, such as the weekly markets, the classic and sometimes unusual bookshops, bars at which to take in spectacular views over the city, or popular venues for an evening of traditional fado music.

Make time to discover some of Lisbon’s varied neighbourhoods as you take a gentle stroll through the quaint streets of Rossio, Baixa, Bairro Alto or Alfama, for example.

If you’re looking for the perfect base during your stay, remember that Gat Rossio has everything you need. Take a closer look at our hotel and book your room online at https://hotelgatrossio.com/en.