East Meets West: Berlin

Berlin loves The Smiths, so do I

Want culture? Want history? Want art in all its forms? Want to party in the best clubs in a world? Then head to Berlin. It is so rich in all of these. I only had two nights in this amazing city, which was definetly not enough. With over 200 museums, and more historical sites than you can ever imagine, it was difficult to even get a glimpse of everything.

Victoria stands at the start of that Avenue where live 8 was...

Sweet graffiti on a big wall

Berlin is a huge city, supposedly covering more than nine times the land area of Paris. I was only able to see around one section of Berlin called Mitte. Luckily this is where all the really important sites are located so I was able to very quickly cover a large number of places within my limited time.

Getting a bit reflective at the holocaust memorial

The holocaust memorial could represent German solders standing in formation while you the viewer might be a Jew being overwhelmed by them

Because of the short period I had here and the amazing story that goes in behind everything I had to do a guided tour. I chose the free bike tour done by newline tours which only asks for a tip to your guide at the end. Although technically a free tour, was actually really well run and the guide was very educated and thoroughly enjoyed her job which made it well worth the small tip I gave.

Self take on the corner...

Bullet holes straight from the Nazis in WW2

The sites visited were all very important, and maybe unknown to some readers so here is a bit of media that shows important events happening and some photos of me there just to give you a good idea of why they are worth seeing.

Reichstag

View from the Reichstag

From inside the glass dome on top of the Reichstag

The Reichstag

The Reichstag is the current parliament building for Germany. This was only recently moved into as West Germany had kept their parliament in Bonn until recent reunification. Yet this building was used as parliament prior to WW2 until Hitler got some communists to burn it down and therefore claim that it was very important he be given more power.

Brandenburg Gate

Me feeling kinda average outside of Brandenburg Gate


Horses are cool at the Bradenburg Gate

Big Bradenburg Gate

This is the symbol of Berlin and Germany. This gate represents a lot to the German people as is closely associated with victory over the city. Napoleon marched through this gate in 1806, the Soviets did the same in 1945, and after years of the gate being blocked by the wall Ronald Reagan stood nearby and said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall", then shortly after it was marched through with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Napoleon Enters Berlin Through Brandenburg Gate

The Berlin Wall

The bicycle tour goes past the Berlin Wall

August 13, 1961 East German troops are ordered to erect a wall that is to keep the people of East Berlin within their city after millions had moved to the west to escape the communist regime being pressed upon them. This wall then stands for the next 28 years until 1989 separating the western world from the eastern world, representing the border of freedom.

Square where a mass book burning was ordered on 20,000 books written by Jews.

Cost Updates:
Hostel 2 Nights @ Heart of Gold = $75 (kinda rude staff)
Tour with The Free Bike Tour (Newlines) = Free + $7 tip
Food = $40 (should have gone to the supermarket)
Transport on local S-Bahn = $8
Running Total = $4104