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Berlin Travel Blogs

Background: As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

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By Rilla
November 9th 2008

1. Brandenburg Tor

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

Brandenburg Tor in Pariser Platz

This is perhaps the quintessential symbol of Berlin. And was actually one of several gates to enter the original city. (By the way, the word BERLIN is Slavic and means "swamp city." It was literally built on a swamp and often stinks like one as well!) The chariot rider was built in the late 1700s, commissioned by Fredrick William II of Prussia. It was built as a symbol of peace and the lady had an olive branch in her hands. Until... Napoleon came conquering and stole the lady, taking her back to Paris where she stayed for a while. Eventually she [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 9th 2008

2. The Reichstag (Germany's Parliament)

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

The Reichstag

Just a couple blocks from the gate is the Reichstag, the parliament building of Germany. It has a see-through glass dome right above the chamber. You are able to walk up in and around it in a spiral, and look down on those making the laws, governing the land, etc. It's symbolic because the workings of the government should be transparent for citizens to see. Also, as the politicians are working and deciding things they only have to look up and see the people of the land looking down on them, reminding them of who they're working for. Of course, as [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 9th 2008

3. Holocaust Memorial

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

Holocaust memorial

To the other side of the Brandenburg Tor is the Holocaust Memorial ... which, unless someone had told me that I probably would have passed by wondering what it was, or putting it to modern art. Em explained that there was some controversy over constructing this memorial. For one thing it's only dedicated to the Jews that died and were persecuted, rather than to everyone. The point was also raised that it would be better to have a free bus that would take people to the concentration camp that's just outside Berlin so that people could really have a better understanding [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 9th 2008

Hitler's Bunker

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

The site of Hitler's Bunkers

If Em hadn't have told us, we would have assumed that the empty corner across the street from some ordinary apartment buildings held any significance. In fact, this was the site of Hitler's Bunkers and where he spent his last days. He was hidden away in one of his bunkers as the city was being bombed. To the end, Hitler truly believed that they were going to win the war. Hitler was on a concoction of about 30 different medication prescribed by his physician, including some pretty heavy, mind-altering stuff. So whatever other health/mental issues he had, we sure his meds [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 9th 2008

June 17, 1953

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

The Fantasy

WWII is over ... it's the Cold War now. Red Berlin. Eastern Europe/Western Europe. East Germany/West Germany. East Berlin/West Berlin. And for an East Berliner, life is pretty miserable. You do what you're told to do. You work where you're told to work and when you're told to work. You have quotas you have to meet. And then your quotas are raised by 15%, but you get paid the same pitiful wage. Fair? Right? Are you gonna just let it happen? Well, on June 16, 1953, a group of about 70 construction workers decided to strike after being told they'd get [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 9th 2008

Babelplatz

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

Babelplatz

Remember pictures, documentaries or stories of the book burning by the Third Reich on May 10, 1933? Well, that was here, in Babelplatz. 25,000 titles were burned. Many were original first editions. Irreplaceable. The titles chosen were pretty much anything that the Third Reich didn't agree with. Books and journals were taken from the university library by students and fed into the bonfires. Today there is a fascinating memorial. Underground in the middle of the platz are empty, white shelves, with room enough to hold 25,000. The room is unreachable, but you can see it through a "windo [View Full Entry]

By Rilla
November 8th 2008

Berlin, The Wall, and How it Inspires Me

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

The Berlin Wall
... one of 3 pieces that are left in the city as memorials.

SATURDAY!!!! OK, my blogging abilities are wearing thin. We'll see how many more of these I can pull out today. We made it to the Dresden train station kein problem (without problem) and had a direct ride to Berlin, about a 2 hour trip. Our first order of business was to find out hostel, which took a bit more work since I had gotten directions from a different train station in Berlin, not the main one. Oops. But Amazing-Beth to the rescue figured out our route in short order and we were on our way! It was a bit of [View Full Entry]

Going from West to East Berlin at Check Point Charlie

By Kaitlin Bailey
November 6th 2008

A Taste of Berlin

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

Brandenburg Gate

Keeping a journal has been a great way to refresh my memory about our trip. Our train from Munich to Berlin was delayed pulling into Berlin and so Dani and I had a fun adventure of finding our hostel in the dark. We ate some fresh mozzarella pizza and drank some Beck's for dinner. Our hostel was at the Ostabanhof metro stop on the east side of Berlin. We went on a free walking tour in the morning, met some french students and two Australian girls who we went out with that night on the tour-sponsored pub crawl. We didn't even [View Full Entry]

By shiplorian
November 6th 2008

Election night in Berlin

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

The tour guide to the Concentration Camp told me about a couple election night parties that were going on in the city if I wanted to try and get in. So, I set off around 9:00 PM to get an all-american hamburger (OK….it was covered with warm goat cheese) at my favorite eclectic restaurant…White Trash Fast Food. Its sort of a punk place set in what had once been a Chinese restaurant. The early customers are all ages who simply like the atmosphere, service and American style food. Actually, they were playing country, blues with live music and song. After dinner, [View Full Entry]

By shiplorian
November 4th 2008

Berlin is always Berlin

Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin

Berlin bleibt Berlin. There are still quite a few leafs still on the trees and at the same time Its been a while since I’ve seen leafs so big !!!! The apartment turns out to be quite nice and large in a pre-WW2 building….probably with the original elevator. The kitchen is well equipped with a 2 burner hot plate, a microwave, coffee maker, pots & pans, dishes and cutlery. The bathroom has a nice large tiled shower. Usually, there are a few staples in the kitchen, but not this time. After meeting Stuart at his apartment, we went to Tims Canadian [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Germany » District of Berlin » Berlin