Berlin Mitte: Walk with me
Walk with me on this fantastic day to see the hart of Berlin.
My day started off quite early with meeting my old neighbor from Sint Martin here in Berlin. She had fled after the hurricane with her son (which was smart at that moment), and is all settled in in Berlin at this moment. Our last conversations back then were on the day before Irma and ended with a 'stay safe'and a hug on our mutual driveway.
You can imagine it was good seeing each other again! While arranging this meetup I asked her what was convenient on where to meet up. She responded with the 'Weltzeit Uhr aber natuhrlich!', which means 'the worldclock ofcourse!!'
For me this was not so super ofcourse because I had to look it up, but it is on Alexanderplatz and is actually a famous piece of art. It has all different timezones on it, and lots of tourists gathering around it.
That might even be the returning topic of the day, tourists
Because wow, I always thought I was used to living amongst tourists, but being in the center of Berlin has a whole new dimension of the amount of tourists. Especially on a sunny day like this eveybody seems to be outside with a selfiestick. (I admit, I made some selfies as well :D)
Okay back to walking: Alexanderplatz
This gigantic square has shops on it, a small beachclub even but apart from that, to me it is not that nice. Its convenient yes! But talking in terms of looking good, I would say go somewhere else maybe for nice views. One of the reasons for the square not having an identity is because it was extirely bombed back in WW2. It had a a shelter underneith the square and this made it a big target.
Do you see the tower in the background there? This is the TV tower of Berlin, and apparentely you can even go inside. Im not really a person of heights so I skipped this one :D
Brandenburger Tor
Going over the Unter der Linden Strasse towards the Brandenburger Tor you really find yourself in a piece of history (and yes this means you and the thousands of people around you). So many films/documentaries were recorded here, and I think it is safe to safe that 'everybody' know the Branburger Tor from a picture or two right?
At this moment the Unter der Linder Strasse is under construction, because a subway is being built underneith. Good for in the future, but not so nice to see now actually. So you could skip this maybe and take a bus to Branderburger Tor, it will save you a lot of walking ;)
Anyway, this citygate also suffered a lot during WW2 with only one of the horses still standing, but it was rebuilt after again. An iconic place to be!
Walking through
Walking through Branderburger Tor and taking a left you will pass the holocaustmonument. I didnt take any pictures of this because I find the monument hideously ugly and not at all reflecting the losses that were suffered. If you want to see how it looks like? Google it, it aint aint flashy.
On the other hand it was a perfect place for hide and seek with the 3 year old that was with us. Also maybe not to respectful, I know
Potsdammer Platz
Quickly you will reach the Potsdammer Platz after this. This is a place I do actually like a lot.
A piece of wall reminds us of that not too long ago this city was still divided into two parts, with not too much access of crossing and visiting your loved ones. Imagine, this isnt even 20 years ago. Berlin has changed so much afterwards.
In some streets they also left some remaining pieces of wall, just to remind us that this wall was just randomly set. Strange to see right?
The Potsammer Platz now is actually 'just'a square but to me it is mostly the Sony Center. This is a half indoor, half outdoor square with highrisers all around it. Inside some terraces have been made, a really chill place to sit. In between the high risers a roof is made. I find it super impressive to see how much effort is made 'just' to make a closed off square.
Here you also have the Linderbrau Brewery. At this moment is more of a restaurant/bar with Linderbrau Beer, but my neighbor told me back in the days the kettles were also outside there. Now with all this activity here this isnt possible anymore. I had a fantastic ginger beer here, and these Germans understand the quality of having a good afternoon beer ;
Walking back up north
Walking back to the north you will find on the 'musuemisland' the big Dome, currently under construction(isnt it always?), with the TV tower in the background. You can see it was a lovely day with so many people just chilling in the grass, reading a book, socializing. My fellow Asian students say that this is a weird habit of Germans, lying down into the grass when the weather gets nice.
I like the habit I guess ;)
Art
One of the cool things is that you will always find some art in the streets somewhere. In the areas of Friecrichstrasse I found this statue.
Actually it is a beautiful statue made out of bronze, but the story symbolizes again a horrific scene of children being deported to camps. You can even see on the statue the kids holding stuffed animals thinking ther are going on a nice trip. The positive thing about this statue is that in the end it is made to recognise the Kindertransport. A mission to save kids from camps, and secretly send them to safe places in London. The first train left Friedrichstrasse station with 196 saved kids.
I saw a lady sitting down on this statue and taking a super happy selfie. I was bugged a bit by the fact that she wasnt thinking about what this statue stands for, and that it is very direspectful. On the other hand, I was playing hide and seek myself with a 3 year old in the holocaustmonument. Apparentely I am also that person then I guess?
All in all
Mitte is a fantastic area in Berlin to have a good walk. But Berlin also has so much more than just these city icons. Dont forget to get out of Mitte and enjoy all the other parts of what Berlin has to offer you, and see how the actual Berliners live.
Thank you for walking with me!!
Do you want to see other stuff in Berlin I wrote about? Check out this beautiful but super sad musuem at the Wannsee
This post was made on masdacs which allows you to crosspost on Steemit, the Whaleshares page and Golos. With only one button click posting on three pages at the same time. Cool right??
Hahaha I have seen people sitting on graves of freedom fighters, making a happy face and clicking selfies xD
I swear I don't know if I have to laugh at their stupidity and tell them it's wrong or beat the pulp out of them till they get it lol
That was a nice walk with you :)
Exactly that is my same internal conflict.
Teach them a bit of respect or join them having a good time, difficult haha!
hahaha its easy to whoop asses
Really good Berlin Post !!!
That coming from a Berliner I will see as a compliment dude! :)
Let me get you guys a beer today at the parade for all the good Berlin advices !
I really love Berlin in spring. I will be in Germany in June but not in Berlin, in Hannover...missed the beers :)
hahaha, German Beers is really something else. Id even dare to call it culture ;)
Hannover is also nice they say, more modern I believe?
Where is your homebase @firedream ?
Wow - the fall of the Berline Wall?! Saying "I remember it like it was yesterday" shows my age - and my incredible rich-life-travel experience. Lovely post, Karin. :)
Now you sound really old ;)))
I was living in the States as a kid when this happened so this was not such a hot topic as that it would have been if I were in Holland.
(yeah i lived all over the place)
Thx for the visit madame! Kus!
What a wonderful tour you have given us! The "World Clock" is a fabulous thing! That, and the photograph of the Berlin Cathedral were my favorite shots! But I enjoyed reading and seeing it all! Thank you for taking us on this historical adventure! 😊
Thats for giving it some attention and loving. I am really so fascinated by the history of this city and you see it back everywhere around you.
Whether if it is WW2 related or DDR related, so much has happened here!
Wow - very cool tour of Berlin! Yes, the Germans love sitting and lying in the grass - one friend told me it keeps him grounded to earth and nature.
Ow yeah is that the deal? :D
Cool I didnt know that, but really with this weather Germans are everywhere in the grass haha
amazing photos, funny you skipped the tower XD
I am afraid of heights I have to admit, so I am happily skipping that any time :D
Beautiful city, been there a long time ago
Always worth the visit.. such a diverse city!
This makes me want to visit Berlin even more! Awesome pictures. Upvoted :)
When you have a chance, really do..
The streets are super wide here, so your future RV will not have any problems here :)
Wow Berlin is actually the next German city of love to visit. It looks so interesting. I may just visit in November 👍🏾
It is a perfect place for a weekend get away. When you go in the end of november you will have all kinds of cool Christmas markets as well. Lights everywhere!