Berlin mom

Berlin has one of the best mass transit systems in Europe, if not the best. Everything runs on time or very close to it. (I get a big kick out of the Berliners who start tapping their feet and 'harumphing' when a train is five minutes late--where I live we get pretty excited if a bus is ONLY 15 or 20 minutes late!) There are two types of local trains in Berlin: the S-bahn which us supposedly the fast train system and the U-bahn which supposedly is the underground system. I've found that the S-bahn is often slow and the U-bahn often runs above ground so perhaps the names of these two systems came from a time when their descriptors were more accurate. Anyway, unless there is a strike (which rarely occurs in Germany) or ... read more

I've been to Berlin so many times that I've begun to think of visiting my favorite sights as 'pilgrimages.' My favs have almost taken on distinct personalities like old friends I've grown to know and love with all their warts and foibles. My dearest 'old friend' in Berlin is the ultimate tourist cliche--the Brandenburg Gate. I somehow feel the necessity to launch each visit with a trip to this enduring monument to the strength of the German spirit. I feel the need to say 'hi' and 'bye' to the Gate. It's a silly ritual, I know, but no visit to Berlin would be complete without it. I'm always a little frustrated when I get to the Gate to see that it never seems quite finished. There often seems to be some sort of construction project ... read more

Whenever I visit Berlin (twelve times and counting!), I am struck by the amazing contrasts of this diverse city. A beautiful ornate apartment building looms over a modern glass-and-chrome office building; a street sign in old German script above a splash of grafitti-ed wall 'art.' Berlin's history is always standing side-by-side with its future. I recently watched an episode of Passport to Europe on the Travel Channel where the host, Samantha Brown, was visiting Berlin for the first time. She confessed that she hadn't really 'gotten' Berlin for years. Consequently her show focused on only one aspect of Berlin--its quirky, artsy weird side. She totally missed its beautiful architecture. By confining herself to only the trendiest Berlin districts--Mitte, Prenzlauerberg--she portrayed Berlin as dangerous, "out there" and not a place where the older traveler wanted to venture. ... read more

I'm so sad! No one has commented on my blogs about Berlin. I have to conclude that it's me you don't find interesting, not Berlin, because Berlin, in my opinion, is the most exciting city in Europe. Here's an example of how Berlin often leads the way when it comes to trends and defining what's cool: I just heard a story on Michigan Public Radio (MPR/NPR) about the homeless population in Washtenaw County where my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is located. A group of homeless people have started a monthly newspaper and will be selling it on various street corners around the county. The majority of the proceeds will go directly to support services to the homeless with some going to the homeless person him/herself. The newspaper will contain articles on different aspects of ... read more

For all of you who love Berlin, write me and let's compare notes. I've taken at least a dozen trips to Berlin and I think I know the city pretty well but you may have a different perspective. If so, I'd like to hear about it. If you're younger than me (under 60), you are most likely to be attracted to hip, trendy parts of Berlin, like Mitte or Prenzlauerberg. These areas, although mildly interesting to me, and not the parts of Berlin in which I feel most comfortable. I love the pretty neighborhoods of Zehlendorf, Schlactensee, Fronau, and the like. My friend Thomas who grew up in Berlin describes these neighborhoods as "posh." They are certainly more upscale than the neighborhoods in Mitte or Prenzlauerberg but they're also much lusher with beautiful old trees ... read more

Hello fellow travelers! This is my first entry and I'm excited to share my thoughts about travel, the challenges of traveling when you're older, and my love of Europe's most interesting city, Berlin, Germany. First my initial thoughts about Berlin before I got to know its very complex ins and outs. Before I experienced it, Berlin scared the beejesus out of me. I saw it as the heart of the Nazi experience and feared that this ugly stain lingered on its current complexion. I also suspected that Berlin's sad history had left it with an ugly facade that reflected an unsightly past. I feared, too, that the people who populate Germany's capitol would be as brusque and rude as the New Yorkers with which they're often compared. A little of this proved true. Most did not. ... read more