Berlin, Germany

 

This photo of the Brandenburg Gate was taken in Pariser Platz right before we embarked on the quintessential free four hour tour. Pariser Platz itself is tourist central, and it is where many of the tour groups meet. Though it's hectic, it is essential viewing (for the Brandenburg Gate alone) and a number of the city's important landmarks (Holocaust Memorial, The Bundestag) are a stones throw away. We'd been told about the Sandeman tour (named after tour founder Chris Sandeman, also heir to the Sandeman port fortune - what a legend!) by a few different people, and it didn't disappoint. Over the course of an afternoon we were taken around the city by our energetic Irish tour guide Barry for an informative and interesting few hours. Because Sandemen is clearly struggling financially they've expanded the tours to include other popular European tourist destinations. Though the Berlin tour is the flagship, I would highly recommend one of these tours elsewhere in Europe as a great introduction to a new city.

I hold very dear memories of Berlin (even though we had temperamental, foreshadowing type weather while we were there). The city is a great hodgepodge of East (Europe) meets West (Europe), and walking around the historically-steeped streets reignited my love for the discipline I once studied (no easy feat). Honestly, I think you could rewrite 'We Didn't Start the Fire' using only Berlin history and landmarks and it would still be a great (and informative) four minutes that would make BJ proud!

If I remember correctly, Berlin was number two on my list of cities to visit while in Europe (right behind Croydon). To say it lived up to the hype would be an understatement. It was once described to me as the most 'edgy city ever' and I personally think it's probably one of the hippest places I've ever been. The travelers I've known often categorize the cities they've visited into places they could live in and places they'd simply want to be a tourist. Berlin is great for both. You could easily keep busy for the best part of a week with World War II related landmarks. But beyond the walls and memorials and platz' that are so important to our collective history, there are districts that are just begging to be explored. Beyond the Mitte district there are great areas like Prenzlauer Berg with it's atmospheric streets and vibrant cafe-culture. The too-cool-for-school Kreuzberg area is ground zero for Berlin's creative class, as well as the growing Turkish population. And beyond that there are countless other areas that are endlessly appealing, not just for a tourist, but for the many foreigners who now call Berlin home.