When I was planning my trip, I was told time and time again that I absolutely HAD to see Berlin. I had been to Germany before, namely Frankfurt and a few other lesser known stops during my post-college tour of Europe in 2001. But I'd never been to Berlin and I decided it was about time I changed that.
The capital city of Germany is home to about 3.5 million people and although I would categorize it as a mostly modern city, it's known for it's tumultuous past. We're talking Nazis, fascists, a revolution, bombs, being ripped in half and then reunited and this is all in the fairly recent history!
I was staying at the lavish Ritz Carlton, which again, was a splurge on my part and not necessarily how everyone needs to experience this incredible city. But believe me, it doesn't hurt! This was one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in and I was sad when I had to leave it. Calling it luxurious is an understatement, and who doesn't love a little (or a lot) of luxury once in a while!? The Ritz offers high tea, so of course I had to partake one afternoon, because when it comes to tea and crumpets, I'm totally a wanna-be Brit.
The capital city of Germany is home to about 3.5 million people and although I would categorize it as a mostly modern city, it's known for it's tumultuous past. We're talking Nazis, fascists, a revolution, bombs, being ripped in half and then reunited and this is all in the fairly recent history!
I was staying at the lavish Ritz Carlton, which again, was a splurge on my part and not necessarily how everyone needs to experience this incredible city. But believe me, it doesn't hurt! This was one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in and I was sad when I had to leave it. Calling it luxurious is an understatement, and who doesn't love a little (or a lot) of luxury once in a while!? The Ritz offers high tea, so of course I had to partake one afternoon, because when it comes to tea and crumpets, I'm totally a wanna-be Brit.
The hotel is located in a great area that's walking distance to some of the most famous landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial. I also found the Sony Center, which is a giant shopping center with restaurants and a movie theater right across the street. I suddenly realized a chick flick I'd been wanting to see was playing there in English and I have NEVER been to the movies alone, so I figured what better time than now? So one afternoon, I went and saw "The Other Woman" by myself and it was great! I can check 'going to the movies alone' off my list now. I also sat down at one of the Sony Center cafes and had a traditional German meal of veal schnitzel (politically incorrect meat, I know) and warm potato salad. The big vegetable of the season right now is asparagus, and not the normal green asparagus I'm used to but the white albino asparagus I've only seen a few times in the states. And here I am thinking, ok, finally a vegetable among all the fried stuff and carbs. Great! Um, well, it's covered in hollandaise sauce. EVERYTHING here is covered in hollandaise sauce. But who am I to question it, right? I don't see too many morbidly obese people walking around. Whatever, I'm in 'I refuse to care, I'm on vacation' mode.
I started walking around Berlin and there were lots of great things to do and see, such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church which is still in partial ruins after being destroyed during World War II. I also stumbled across some beautiful fountains (why don't we have more fountains in the US?), some great architecture and beautiful views of the river.
Some of my other favorite highlights of Berlin were:
Holocaust Memorial
This memorial pays tribute to those murdered during the Holocaust and takes the form of 2,711 blocks of varying heights arranged across the area of a housing block. The first time I saw it I didn't even know it was a Holocaust memorial. I just thought it was cool public art. Basically it's both.
Holocaust Memorial
This memorial pays tribute to those murdered during the Holocaust and takes the form of 2,711 blocks of varying heights arranged across the area of a housing block. The first time I saw it I didn't even know it was a Holocaust memorial. I just thought it was cool public art. Basically it's both.
Shopper's Paradise
I found my happy place in Berlin, KaDeWe, Europe's largest department store. It basically makes Saks and Neiman's look cheap. (Yes, that's possible.) It's beautifully decorated and there's this great gourmet cafeteria on the top floor that features stations each specializing in a particular kind of food. I chose the potato station and had baked potatoes and a chicken and albino asparagus stew. Delicious! I could've spent hours in there, window shopping, dreaming and being jealous.
I found my happy place in Berlin, KaDeWe, Europe's largest department store. It basically makes Saks and Neiman's look cheap. (Yes, that's possible.) It's beautifully decorated and there's this great gourmet cafeteria on the top floor that features stations each specializing in a particular kind of food. I chose the potato station and had baked potatoes and a chicken and albino asparagus stew. Delicious! I could've spent hours in there, window shopping, dreaming and being jealous.
360 Views of Berlin
I love seeing cities from aerial views so I had to go to the Berlin Fernsehturm (the Berlin TV Tower). From 206 meters high, you see all of Berlin and there are guides and maps printed to show you what you're looking at from every angle. You never really know how big a city really is until you see it from above!
I love seeing cities from aerial views so I had to go to the Berlin Fernsehturm (the Berlin TV Tower). From 206 meters high, you see all of Berlin and there are guides and maps printed to show you what you're looking at from every angle. You never really know how big a city really is until you see it from above!
Fragrances Bar at the Ritz
On the way to find the bathroom during dinner at the Ritz one evening, I accidentally came across a bar called Fragrances. I knew I had to go in there because the concept was out-of-this-world cool. The bar's premise combines the sense of smell and taste. Basically, perfumes are paired with cocktail creation. You use your sense of smell to pick our drink. And no, there's no scratch-n-sniff paper menu. Upon walking in, the menu is laid out visually in a lineup of perfume bottles. In order to pick your drink, you smell the perfumes and find the one you like the most and the mixologist will make your drink to smell and taste like the perfume you chose. I know what you're thinking, I don't want to drink perfume. Well, the concept doesn't mean you'll be sipping on Drakkar Noir but the essence of it. (And no, Drakkar Noir isn't one of the choices sadly… or thankfully.) As the mixologist explained to me, through a number of trials they were able to find the combination of ingredients that replicated the smell of each of the featured perfumes which ranged from YSL to Guerlain to Armani. I was absolutely fascinated!! Each drink is served in a unique way, from glasses in buckets and birdhouses to those that resemble baby bottles. The one I chose was based on a YSL fragrance and it was served in a bottle that said Toilet Water and put into a giant bamboo pole. (No clue why.) I was told I could either take it out to drink it or drink it in the pole. After my first sip through the pole, I decided the risk of hurting somebody (or myself) with each sip was too high so I took the bottle out to enjoy it. Be warned that it's like $20 for a drink, but definitely worth the experience.
On the way to find the bathroom during dinner at the Ritz one evening, I accidentally came across a bar called Fragrances. I knew I had to go in there because the concept was out-of-this-world cool. The bar's premise combines the sense of smell and taste. Basically, perfumes are paired with cocktail creation. You use your sense of smell to pick our drink. And no, there's no scratch-n-sniff paper menu. Upon walking in, the menu is laid out visually in a lineup of perfume bottles. In order to pick your drink, you smell the perfumes and find the one you like the most and the mixologist will make your drink to smell and taste like the perfume you chose. I know what you're thinking, I don't want to drink perfume. Well, the concept doesn't mean you'll be sipping on Drakkar Noir but the essence of it. (And no, Drakkar Noir isn't one of the choices sadly… or thankfully.) As the mixologist explained to me, through a number of trials they were able to find the combination of ingredients that replicated the smell of each of the featured perfumes which ranged from YSL to Guerlain to Armani. I was absolutely fascinated!! Each drink is served in a unique way, from glasses in buckets and birdhouses to those that resemble baby bottles. The one I chose was based on a YSL fragrance and it was served in a bottle that said Toilet Water and put into a giant bamboo pole. (No clue why.) I was told I could either take it out to drink it or drink it in the pole. After my first sip through the pole, I decided the risk of hurting somebody (or myself) with each sip was too high so I took the bottle out to enjoy it. Be warned that it's like $20 for a drink, but definitely worth the experience.
Berlin Wall Memorial
Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (The Berlin Wall Memorial) is the central memorial site of the division of Germany, located in the middle of the city. Situated at the historic site on Bernauer Strasse, the memorial contains the last piece of Berlin Wall. The preserved historical remnants and traces of border obstacles on display help show the history of Germany’s division. I walked around and imagined people of older generations standing behind them, probably wondering when the division would end or if the wall would ever come down. I can't imagine living in such turmoil. Those of us fortunate enough to live in a more peaceful time and place often take it for granted, and when we see memorials like this one, we truly start to realize that despite all the chaos going on in the world right now, we really have it good. Imagine living in a country divided. Better yet, imagine living in a city that's divided. I vaguely remember the fall of the Berlin Wall. I was in the 5th grade. At the time, I couldn't grasp how important this was for Germany and for Europe. We have to remember how fortunate we are to live in place where we're not suffering from the direct effects of war, and how often we forget how quickly and easily that could change. My heart was breaking for all of those who have suffered in the world, past and present.
Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (The Berlin Wall Memorial) is the central memorial site of the division of Germany, located in the middle of the city. Situated at the historic site on Bernauer Strasse, the memorial contains the last piece of Berlin Wall. The preserved historical remnants and traces of border obstacles on display help show the history of Germany’s division. I walked around and imagined people of older generations standing behind them, probably wondering when the division would end or if the wall would ever come down. I can't imagine living in such turmoil. Those of us fortunate enough to live in a more peaceful time and place often take it for granted, and when we see memorials like this one, we truly start to realize that despite all the chaos going on in the world right now, we really have it good. Imagine living in a country divided. Better yet, imagine living in a city that's divided. I vaguely remember the fall of the Berlin Wall. I was in the 5th grade. At the time, I couldn't grasp how important this was for Germany and for Europe. We have to remember how fortunate we are to live in place where we're not suffering from the direct effects of war, and how often we forget how quickly and easily that could change. My heart was breaking for all of those who have suffered in the world, past and present.
As I was walking around the memorial sight, I came across a cemetery. I decided to walk inside and it was one of the most beautiful cemeteries I've ever seen. So many of the graves were decorated with flowers and plants. If I'm ever buried (for the record I much rather prefer to be cremated) I would want my final resting place to be this beautiful. Needless to say, this was a very heavy day, but it can't all be fun and cocktails all the time. It's experiences like this that make us realize how important gratitude really is. I'm blessed and I know it...
Berlin is so vibrant and alive, I absolutely loved it. I would definitely jump on the chance to return someday… Now, on to Munich!