Friends and family told me Berlin was a great place, but I was still overwhelmed by how captivating it is. It helps that I am staying in a great quiet little pension just off one of the main streets and that I bought a multi-day transit pass so I get zip around the vast city at will. The transportation system here rocks; trains, subways, buses and trams. Overall the city is clean, inviting, and offers plenty to do.
I have traipsed through several museums. The Berlinische Gallerie was a great example of how Germans love their art. It was a lovely look at modern art via photography, impressionist paintings, graphical design and installations. I was also taken by the Jewish museum. If for not other reason than it shows the importance of the Jewish people to Germany´s rich history. It covers well beyond the atrocities of WWII. And finally there was the outdoor East-side Gallery. Local and International artists use one of the last remaining sections of wall as a canvas to showcase their work. There are highly detailed pieces with strong political views as well as basic statements asking the audience to simply appreciate life´s little wonders. What a great way to repurpose the past.
Outdoors East-side Gallery, Berlin
Berlin is also a green paradise. There are green spaces in every neighbourhood. The city centre surrounds an enormous park, Tiergarten. It acts as a refuge for the city dwellers and manages to create a climate bubble to keep the harshest temperature during the summer and winter at bay.
Berlin will be celebrating 20 years of being a wall free city next month. There are lots of activities underway to prepare for the anniversary of that historic event. I can recall seeing the news reports all those years ago. People dancing in the streets and swinging pick axes at the cement barriers. Both sides desperate to release the other. It is remarkable how important that event was on Europe´s preceding history, but yet it does not define this city today. Like so many other places I have visited this year, the place has moved on. Berliners acknowledge the past, but value the future more.
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
It is a great lesson for me to remember that not matter how impacting an event can be in my life, ultimately the rough edges will smooth over and the experience will give way to other moments. Hopefully the experience leaves enough residue that my future experiences have a richer tone. But the truth is, nothing lasts forever.
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