Last Thursday until Sunday Alex and I used the excuse of it being his 21st next week to forget life in Berlin for a bit. It was brilliant. Berlin's Alex's favourite city, and a place I have been dying to visit so that's why I chose it. It was great decision even if I do say so myself. Even though we went at a time that wasn't summer or Oktoberfest or Christmas, it didn't matter, there was such a natural, welcoming buzz about the place regardless.
In terms of organising the trip, I used all of my usual methods. I put all my money on the Travelex multicurrency card, while Alex had some cash which worked out rather useful as Berlin is a cash more than card city. The flights and hotel were all booked through Expedia. It was a bit annoying that there weren't any direct flights to Berlin as the airport there is a bit all over the place with them building a new one, but Munich airport was a very nice place to stop in. Our hotel was the Sofitel, Kufurstendamm and it was b-e-a-utiful. The toilet had a phone in it for some wonderfully bizarre reason, and we were each got the cosiest slippers and a dressing gown. In terms of booking things to do while there, I booked the city sightseeing bus for two of the four days we were there, and usual it got us round everything we wanted to see whilst teaching us something along the way. I also booked the guided tour of the Reichstag, which was incredibly interesting.
Much like when I visited Ellis Island in New York, there was a lot of personal eye-opening emotion in me when in Berlin. My dad went there in the 80s, while the wall was up, and the there was an East and West Berlin, 30 years later there I was viewing sections of the wall, and wandering through Checkpoint Charlie without a care in the world. It was quite astounding.
I think the historical thing that upset me the most was probably seeing sections of the wall. Especially in the current climate of fences against immigrants, the likes of Donald Trump wanting to build a wall across the American/Mexican border, it really disgusted me that the deaths of those attempting to cross the Berlin wall have barely affected politics. There were children shot by soldiers as their parents tried to take them to a better life. Absolutely foul. At one section of the wall (the one in the picture below), there was a cross to commemorate all of the graves that were either moved or built upon to create the wall. They literally built a wall on dead people, and then shot others at it. It upset me so much.
The thing most heart warming about this particular section of the wall was that very nearby is the Chapel of Reconciliation. It's a place for those of all or no faith to sit in quiet; peace.
Luckily, Berlin is a place of beautiful culture that cheered me up no end. Even politically it still has moments of strength, and happiness, particularly in the form of the Reichstag which is the parliament building.
The most impressive thing about the Reichstag for me, was that due to the fire there, only the facade is in the classic, older, stone style. Inside it is uber modern and really open, not at all stuffy and traditional. However, something that has been kept from the time of separation is some of the Soviet graffiti. The most offensive phrases have been removed, but the names of soldiers, the places they've been, even a love heart with two names in of a couple who are still married now, has all been carefully preserved.
Outside of the historical and political elements, Berlin has some fantastic food and beer. The first night we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, as we do in every place we can. Inside there was a guitar made out part of the wall, it was brilliant. Then we found a place called Zoo Bar, it was really cool inside and made some lovely cocktails. It looks out over the zoo from the top of a nearby hotel, but as it was late at night we couldn't see anything unfortunately. Though to be fair, Germany don't water down their alcohol in bars it seems so I was seeing all sorts by the time we left. For real German food, the next two nights we act in Restauration 1840 and Dicke Wirtins, I can't recommend either more. The currywurst in 1840 was delicious, and the steins were humongous and delightful. Then in Dicke Wirtins, everything was really cheap, really tasty, and absolutely massive! I couldn't finish my schnitzel.
To get to all of these places we used a mixture of the tour buses and the trains. The system in Germany meant that we could get on trains without paying, which we did. It all went well until the last day when ticket inspectors caught us as we were pulling into the station we were going to get off at anyway. This meant we finished our holiday with a lovely €120 fine...it's about £90 which is far less that an English fine would be, but still, not how one wishes to end a holiday, so buy tickets people!
In all, Berlin is now most definitely in my top 5 of favourite places. I could actually see myself living there, especially once I get my confidence back up with my spoken German. I really frustrated myself over the weekend because I kept speaking English instead, even though it really wasn't necessary. It's definitely something I'm going to work on for next time! That is after I've finished all of this university work, trying to have fun and take a week out in third year doesn't half create a backlog of things to be done.
In terms of organising the trip, I used all of my usual methods. I put all my money on the Travelex multicurrency card, while Alex had some cash which worked out rather useful as Berlin is a cash more than card city. The flights and hotel were all booked through Expedia. It was a bit annoying that there weren't any direct flights to Berlin as the airport there is a bit all over the place with them building a new one, but Munich airport was a very nice place to stop in. Our hotel was the Sofitel, Kufurstendamm and it was b-e-a-utiful. The toilet had a phone in it for some wonderfully bizarre reason, and we were each got the cosiest slippers and a dressing gown. In terms of booking things to do while there, I booked the city sightseeing bus for two of the four days we were there, and usual it got us round everything we wanted to see whilst teaching us something along the way. I also booked the guided tour of the Reichstag, which was incredibly interesting.
I think the historical thing that upset me the most was probably seeing sections of the wall. Especially in the current climate of fences against immigrants, the likes of Donald Trump wanting to build a wall across the American/Mexican border, it really disgusted me that the deaths of those attempting to cross the Berlin wall have barely affected politics. There were children shot by soldiers as their parents tried to take them to a better life. Absolutely foul. At one section of the wall (the one in the picture below), there was a cross to commemorate all of the graves that were either moved or built upon to create the wall. They literally built a wall on dead people, and then shot others at it. It upset me so much.
Luckily, Berlin is a place of beautiful culture that cheered me up no end. Even politically it still has moments of strength, and happiness, particularly in the form of the Reichstag which is the parliament building.
Outside of the historical and political elements, Berlin has some fantastic food and beer. The first night we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, as we do in every place we can. Inside there was a guitar made out part of the wall, it was brilliant. Then we found a place called Zoo Bar, it was really cool inside and made some lovely cocktails. It looks out over the zoo from the top of a nearby hotel, but as it was late at night we couldn't see anything unfortunately. Though to be fair, Germany don't water down their alcohol in bars it seems so I was seeing all sorts by the time we left. For real German food, the next two nights we act in Restauration 1840 and Dicke Wirtins, I can't recommend either more. The currywurst in 1840 was delicious, and the steins were humongous and delightful. Then in Dicke Wirtins, everything was really cheap, really tasty, and absolutely massive! I couldn't finish my schnitzel.
To get to all of these places we used a mixture of the tour buses and the trains. The system in Germany meant that we could get on trains without paying, which we did. It all went well until the last day when ticket inspectors caught us as we were pulling into the station we were going to get off at anyway. This meant we finished our holiday with a lovely €120 fine...it's about £90 which is far less that an English fine would be, but still, not how one wishes to end a holiday, so buy tickets people!
In all, Berlin is now most definitely in my top 5 of favourite places. I could actually see myself living there, especially once I get my confidence back up with my spoken German. I really frustrated myself over the weekend because I kept speaking English instead, even though it really wasn't necessary. It's definitely something I'm going to work on for next time! That is after I've finished all of this university work, trying to have fun and take a week out in third year doesn't half create a backlog of things to be done.
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