Europe

Berlin, Germany: City of Street Art

Welcome to Berlin, a city built on history but still very modern. Taking an overbooked train and overheating in the back of the car with 20 other passengers wasn’t my favorite mode of transportation. However, it definitely beat walking. Unfortunately my train troubles wouldn’t end there. After mistakenly hopping on the wrong train I wound up on the wrong side of town and had to wait 40 minutes to go to my actual destination. Being blonde is a curse some days. So, besides the my plunders and pitfalls with trains, Berlin was a very lovely city. This is especially true if you enjoy history or want to make your own candy bar, but please stay away from the cotton candy bits.

Day 1: After taking the wrong train and bumbling through a language barrier, I found myself in the center of Berlin closer to 1pm than the 10 am I was hoping for. Renting a bike from any shop is incredibly easy and cheap. The maps they give you are also a big help. Following the map, I made my way to the Victory Column. Looking at the golden statue of a woman, I eagerly paid the 3 Euros to hike to the top.  Around and around the stairs I went, until I emerged upon the beautiful sight of the city of Berlin. #GLAMOROUS

Trekking back to my bike, I peddled my way over to the Brandenburg Gate for a quick picture.

After that I made my way to the Holocaust Memorial Site. Grey pillars of different heights covered the hilly stone-covered ground. It was rather impressive, however I was under the false impression that names would be carved into them. 

While the sun began to sink and storm clouds emerged, I headed to the Topography of Terror. Here, I discovered the horrors of the Berlin Wall and World War II. Nazi’s escaping persecution, Nazi propaganda, and the treatment of the Jews were only a few of the things discussed. 

While the rain was holding off, I power-biked to Checkpoint Charlie. This is where the Allied Forced checkpoint was for the Berlin Wall. I then easily biked through Museum Island (It’s rather expensive to go in and look, so I didn’t).  They are all large and regal looking with gold, grey, and teal everywhere. To me, the most beautiful was the Berlin Cathedral. 

Returning my bike, I grabbed dinner at an awesome Mexican food place and enjoyed a well deserved Pina Colada. After all, I did bike all day…

Day 2: Renting another bike, I rode all the way to the East Side Gallery, which was my favorite part of Berlin. A huge expanse of the wall was painted and I even watched as an artist painted a section. There were paintings for peace, ones in memory for the 136 that died, and so much more. There was even a sign about Donald Trump and his Mexican wall. 

After this I biked to the Black Cat where I got my new tattoo. In memory of my time in Greece, I decided upon a Greek Tattoo in Berlin… Biking back to my hostel after, I made new British friends and grabbed burgers and beverages. Hostels make it so incredibly easy to make friends at hostels!

Day 3: My last day in Berlin, I headed to the East Berlin Memorial. Learning facts about  wall I didn’t know was mind-blowing enough, however remembering it was only torn down in the 90s was a whole other level of INSANE! Here I met a couple from Colorado, and the husband was stationed here during the time of the wall. He had his original picture and was going to get another one holding it up at the actual Checkpoint Charlie. 

Finally making my way to Ritter Sports was an uphill battle, literally. Rain made the hike even more difficult! It is here that I made my own chocolate bar. Coconut flakes, sprinkles, and pop rocks for a taste bud explosion and best candy bar ever!

Catching a break in the storm, I peddled to the Jewish Museum. I spent two hours reading survivor stories, gawked at household remnants, read about the Jewish religious history. Unfortunately, the rain wasn’t letting up so I biked back in a monsoon! Sopping wet, I made it back to the hostel to grab a bite with my friends form yesterday and new bunk mates. 

Overall, Berlin is a city packed with monuments to see and full of rich history. It’s easy to bike to the center of the town and see everything. Just remember to grab a RELIABLE map. Also, if you aren’t comfortable with the language or routes, then the buses can be tricky. The best form of transportation truly is a bike! Until next time my traveling friends!

 

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