Berlin

Most Americans think of Europe and we hit the highlights, Paris, London, Rome. That is totally okay because those cities are all fabulous. However, I've always had a yearning to go to Germany- specifically Berlin. Why? I don't know. Just say its a calling.

Due to hectic schedules I only had one opportunity to take a three-day weekend and my friends were unable to join me. This meant if I wanted my dream of visiting Berlin this year, then I would have to take the bull by the horns and travel alone. Many of you may think this is just fine since I moved to Europe alone... however, I've always had friends or family on vacation and have never actually done it solo. it is a completely different experience- and although company is amazing, I would recommend it to everyone!

Spree River Canal Tour

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer

Day 1- I flew in Friday at 8am to make sure I had the full day- In order to go up to the Reichstag dome you have to register online ahead of time- this is the first thing anyone should do in this city- the dome itself was beautiful and it shows a great 360 degree view of the city, so its easy to envision what you can do for the duration of your stay. The architecture of the Reichstag is built to regulate the buildings temperature, natural light from above radiates down to the parliament floor. A large sun shield tracks the movement of the sun electronically and blocks direct sunlight which would not only cause large solar gain, but dazzle those below.

Inside the Reichstag

Afterwards, I walked past Brandenburger Tor, the iconic spot where East and West berliners celebrated the fall of the wall.

This was right next door to the Holocaust memorial. The memorial was a collection of concrete slabs which formed a maze that you could walk through and reflect. 

Following this hectic and emotional morning, I got myself an English breakfast and headed to Checkpoint Charlie. Once I got there, I realized that they still stamp passports and mine was at the hotel--utterly devastated I decided to go to my next stop and return the next day. On my way to the Gendarmenmarkt, I stumbled into a chocolaterie called Fassbender & Raush- little did I know this is the worlds largest chocolaterie. The perfect place for a beer and chocolate pitstop. 

Afterwards, I explored Pergamon Museum- full of antiquities from Egypt, Greece, and Rome; followed by a canal tour on the Spree river.

Did I mention all this was being done at 95F? In the burning heat??

Day 2 burned me out a bit from all the museums. I started off at Checkpoint Charlie, passport in tow....

then made my way to Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, the memorial to the berlin wall. This outdoor memorial consisted of several pieces of the wall, as well as the reconciliation statue and reconciliation church. The church previously stood between East and West Berlin, and was torn down during the walls construction.

Reconciliation Statue

(This picture was actually taken at Potsdamer Platz)

After this hectic morning learning about the wall, I ventured to Museum Island and had some curry worst- Berlins famous crispy sausage doused in curry ketchup- UMM Delicious. Then the heavy part began. I went to Neues museum- another antiquity gold mine, and Alte Nationalgallerie, where they were having a collection of impressionist and expressionist art. 

Doesn't she look like my Doppelganger??

After this, I was dead tired... But I still had to see East Side Gallery... it was more impressive than I was expecting. The graffiti on these walls really showed the angst and suffering caused by their presence, and also shows how far the city has come. Favorites:

After about 10k of walking all day, and being in the hot hot heat... I needed some ice cold German beer and a hearty meal. I had heard that the gourmet burger craze had headed to Berlin, and so glad I found "The Bird" berlin. This burger was Amazing... Amazing. Yes, I said it twice.

The final day started at Schloss Charlottenburg- a palace on the outskirts of the city from the Prussian era. This palace interior was beautiful, and the gardens were a mini Versailles- literally... The queens cousin was living at Versailles and recommended the landscape architects' apprentice to do the gardens at Charlottenburg. 

Belvedere Summer Cottage

Gardens

Porcelain Collection

Charlottenburg was a full day of walking- two castles, a mausoleum, the summer cottage, and a stop at the museum across the street- Museum Berggruen, this was a collection of Picasso and very beautiful.

After lunch, I headed to Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche and the Neues synagogue- and concluded my trip with room service.

This painting was hanging at the Jewish Neues Synagogue- it was painted in 1913 but it can really be seen as
foreshadowing, or a prophecy, of the suffering the Jews would go through in the future.

In all these adventures, I also had a lot of time to reflect. Being alone, let me truly spend hours in one museum, let me stop into whatever store I wanted, observe the locals while eating a slice of pie, read books in the parks while resting my feet between museums- and most of all, fulfil a dream and know I'm strong enough to be on my own when needed. It was a wonderful weekend!