Never Met A German

For those of you who aren't fans, the title of this post is a reference is a Brazilian Girls song that was stuck in my head the entire time I was in Berlin, and really kind of goes to show how little I actually knew of Germany before heading over there.

Berlin was probably the most spontaneous random thing I ever booked. One day while Kara and I were browsing cheap flights at 2 in the morning in February, we found a flight headed to Berlin that was cheap (it is impossible to get to Berlin from Florence for under 200 euro) and we booked it immediately. It was the sort of trip you booked so far in advanced that, once the Easter/Birthday hysteria was over I suddenly remembered that I had to leave to the country.

So I did.

Now, even though I said that I didn't know a lot about Germany before I left, I was referring to the personality of Germany. I had an idea of what the people and culture of Italy would be like, and the same went for France, but Germany? Not so much. I am well acquainted with the history of Germany, especially of Berlin itself, but I can't say knowing that history was really that assuring. It also didn't help that the only things I could say in German was 'do you speak English' and 'thank you'.

As it turned out, I didn't need to worry at all. The Germans are, next to the Irish, the friendliest Europeans I've met. Though this might have something to do with the fact that living in a country where I'm essentially illiterate for the past three months is finally getting to me.

Anyway, upon arriving in Berlin, Kara and I soon realized that we weren't in Kansas anymore. Unlike Florence, where 400+ year old buildings are the norm, few things in Berlin looked older than 20, and those that were older had the mark of the city's hardships. Like, I'm talking bullet holes in the side of museum walls. It was insane.



Kara and I were staying in east Berlin (ie, former communist Berlin) in the shadow of this communist landmark. It's the tv tower, but the locals had dubbed it the death star. Also, in the sunlight, a cross shines on the metal of the death star which the people have called 'the pope's revenge' since the communists also took down all the crosses from the churches at around the same time. Karma's a bitch, isn't it?


See how the stone below the copper dome is sort of blackened? That's smoke damage from when the original dome was bombed during WWII. They couldn't clean the smoke from the stone because it would damage the building.



A re-creation of Check Point Charlie.



The Berlin Wall, or part of it at least. There were actually two walls, with mines and barbed wire and snipers in the 'death strip' between them.


This is a parking lot, but not just any parking lot. This is the location of Hitler's Bunker, where he lived the last few months of his life and where he killed himself. There's no marker of the site except for a little board near the side of the road- the German government didn't want neo-nazis making pilgrimages to the area. But they do anyway. Creepy.


The Brandenburg Gate. It used to be a war monument, but now they saw it's a monument of peace. It's also on the back of the German minted five cent pieces!


Part of the East Side Gallery- a free standing art gallery painted on the Berlin wall. The murals started as a spontaneous art movement in 1989 and a kilometre portion of the wall has been preserved of them.





The second day we were in Berlin, we went to the zoo because Berlin is supposed to have one of the best zoos in Europe, and because those of you who know me well know I will not pass up the zoo, ever. Luckily, Kara was a good sport about it, and we both had way too much fun there!


Tiger!! My favourite.


This is an Arabian sand cat, and is the cutest kitty I have ever seen. Except for mine obviously.



Wolves, my other favourite.



I dropped at least 25 euro in this chocolate store. This is a chocolate re-creation of a bombed church in the city.


The church in non-chocolate form.


The third day, we went on a tour of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. I have pictures of the camp uploaded to facebook, but I didn't feel like explaining them here. If you're curious, message me about them or ask me when I'm back in New York. I felt like this quote said enough on the topic.


The fourth day (coincidentally, the coldest day, meaning the day that I refused to romp around outdoors) we went to a few of the Germans musuems. We were only going to go to one, but the 5 euro entrance fee at all of them was jaw-droppingly amazing, and it kept us out of the cold. These are the gates of Babylon in the architecture museum.


Berlin's mascot is the bear, because Albert the Bear was the man who founded the city 800 years ago. For the record, you know you've been in Florence too long when someone tells you a city was founded 800 years ago and you don't think that's old at all.




Soviet War Memorial.



And that was our epic trip in Berlin! In addition to the above, there was much Kindl drinking, annoying boys snoring in our eight person hostel room, and guilty oh-so-good french fries eaten at McDonald's. Let me tell you, if you ever get a chance to get to Berlin, go for it. You won't regret it.

As usual, more pictures if you care to stalk my adventures more fully.

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