Berlin, Germany

          Rounding out my three week whirlwind circuit around Europe was a quick stop in Berlin, Germany.  The enjoyable four hour train ride from Prague to Berlin took us through some beautiful country and the historic city of Dresden along the Elbe River.  Ending up in the capital of Germany would put me in a good position to complete the final leg of my trip back to Frankfurt for the flight home.  That night in Berlin I stayed at a very nice hotel called Motel One (an ingloriously named chain of budget hotels in Germany) for the equivalent of $107, including a great breakfast.

A Big, But Walkable, City

          While reunified Berlin is a huge city, it is still very possible to see a good deal of it on foot.  Berlin is actually composed of numerous boroughs or districts, each with its own distinct personality.  It is traversed by several famous avenues such as the Kurfurstendamm (known as the Ku’ Damm) and Unter den Linden, both large boulevards lined with historic buildings, chick boutiques and snazzy hotels.  Many of the most important sights lie in the Mitte or central part of Berlin, once divided by the infamous wall.  Berlin boasts a large zoo, know as a Tiergarten (animal garden), the famous Olympic Stadium of the Nazi era and numerous galleries, museums and cathedrals, such as the Berliner Dom, as well as the Charlottenburg Castle.

The Brandenburg Gate

          Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate, dating back to the 1700s when it was built as a symbol of victory by Friedrich Wilhelm II.  Located in the center of the city, it once formed part of the Berlin Wall, but has now been returned to its former glory as a symbol of the newly reunited Germany.  The Brandenburg Gate is also the sight of one of the most important speeches of the 20^th Century.  It was there on June 12, 1987 that U. S. President Ronald Reagan implored Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear Down This Wall”!

The Reichstag

          Originally opened in 1894, the historic Reichstag building currently houses the reunified German government or Bundestag.  A fire in this building in 1933 became the excuse for Adolph Hitler to declare a state of emergency, enabling his Nazi Party to seize control of Germany.  In 1997 a glass dome was constructed on the top of the Reichstag, providing visitors with a thrilling 360 degree view of the city below.  Best of all, entrance is free!

The Berlin Wall and Check Point Charlie

          The construction of the Berlin Wall was instigated by the Soviet Union in 1961 as a way to keep ‘captives’ in East Berlin from escaping to the West.  Every student of history will want to visit the last remaining evidence of the Berlin Wall and check out ‘Check Point Charlie’, the best known crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.  Now a museum, Check Point Charlie (for Check Point ‘C’) was featured in many movies set during the Cold War.  Anyone who watched on TV as the young people of Berlin occupied the wall when it finally came down in November 1989 will experience the thrill once again as they visit the actual site.

Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe

          The abstract ‘Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe’ which occupies an entire block in the Mitte was opened in 2005.  Visitors can walk through an irregular field of concrete slabs designed to give one the feeling of uncertainty, instability and confusion, evoking some of the emotions prevalent during the time of the Holocaust.  Beneath the memorial is an information center and Holocaust museum.

Last Stop, Frankfurt

          I have shared some of the things I enjoyed most about Berlin, but every visitor to a ‘city of the world’ like this will come away with a different perspective and have their own list of favorites.  The morning after my visit to Berlin I ‘completed the circle’ of my 18 day train trip around Europe by returning to Frankfurt Germany.  With its central location, great shopping, interesting sights and convenient airport where I would catch my flight home the next day, Frankfurt is one of my favorite ‘gateway cities’ (see our article on Gateway Cities).  In my next article I will give a quick round up of this fantastic trip with an overview of the itinerary and total costs, showing that you, too, can see some of the best of Europe without spending a lot.