BERLIN

Mike and I had a few days in Berlin, somewhere I’d always wanted to explore. It didn’t disappoint.

The bear is on the flag of Berlin city which took me a while to realise. The Trebant car can be hired but I passed on that. Checkpoint Charlie is a bit of a disappointment .

Remember you can click on the photos to see enlargements .

The Wall museum just further along from here is really interesting and I love the way  that the Germans don’t shy away from the horrors of the past.

I learnt so much about the second world war in Germany, Hitler and the Nazi Party, the Holocaust and how things came to be the way they were.  It was so sobering and in Hitler Bunker, I found myself crying at the images I beheld.

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A place steeped in history: the Deutscher Dom graces Gendarmenmarkt. But you ought to visit the exhibition inside – it’s definitely worth it.                       For many locals and visitors, the neo-classical Konzerthaus hall is Berlin’s most attractive venue for top-flight classical music. Here, right at the heart of the stunning Gendarmenmarkt square, you can enjoy an unforgettable classical concert experience.

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most iconic sights in today’s vibrant Berlin. More than just Berlin’s only surviving historical city gate, this site came to symbolise Berlin’s Cold War division into East and West – and, since the fall of the Wall, a reunified Germany. Architecturally, the sandstone Brandenburg Gate also represents one of the earliest and most attractive examples of a neo-classical building in Germany.

When the decision was made to move the Federal Government to Berlin, it was time to reawaken the Reichstag building from its long years of slumber on the Mauerstreifen, the military zone between the two sides of the Wall. The building has since been completely modernised, and today’s visitors to the Reichstag can look out from the building’s glass dome to get a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle in the city.

The River Spree runs through Berlin and it is a lovely stroll alongside.

The Holocaust Memorial consists of an undulating field of 2711 concrete steles, which can be passed through from all sides. While walking between the columns of different heights and the labyrinthine corridors, visitors may experience a brief moment of disorientation, which should open up space for discussion. Beneath the memorial is the Information Centre, which documents the crimes of the Nazi era in themed rooms.

The memorial at first seemed a bit weird, but it is very effective.  I have to admit I found the accounts of survivors of the holocaust rather overwhelming and didn’t spend long in the information centre.  

At night Berlin was bustling.  We found some good craft beer bars.

The people were friendly, the atmosphere open and the public transport was cheap and regular.  Definitely recommend a visit.