"Berlin" a Berlin Travel Page by Jgiii

Berlin is the most fascinating and culturally rich city I've visited in Europe. The city's tumultuous past oozes out of the smallest apartment buildings, just as it does it's major landmarks such as the Berlin Wall (what is left of it at least), the Reichstag, and the Fernsehturm. Between my exploration of the dense history, happening contemporary art scene, and hipper than hip neighborhoods, I spent my time relaxing in the cafes and restaurants sipping on those wonderful German beers.

One of the best ways to spend time in Berlin is by exploring all of the different neighborhoods. They are all quite attractive in their own ways, even the touristy ones. My favorite neighborhood, and the one in which I stayed, was Prenzlauer Berg. Full of pretty, leafy streets lined with cafes, bars and shops, I spent most of my down time there. My top two restaurant recommendations are Cafe November (Husemannstr. 15), situated on my favorite block in all of Berlin, and I Du Forni (Schonhauser Alle 12), a great, grungy pizza place, atop a hill closer to Mitte. I also suggest spending some time in Friedrichshain, the neighborhood where Berlin bohemia lives on. I had a great lunch at an outdoor cafe and spent some time in the indie shops that line the streets. Just across the bridge from Friedrichshain is another hip 'hood, Kreuzberg. I didn't spend as much time there as I wish I did, but I did wander around and stop in some of the shops. Lastly, an afternoon or two spent in Mitte, hitting all of the galleries and shops is a must for any contemporary art fan. Here is where I saw some of the best contemporary art in some of the best galleries in europe.

One cannot visit Berlin without taking in some of the historical sights, even if they don't want to. A must for everyone is the East Side Gallery, in Friedrichshain. One of the few remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall that has survived destruction where world renowned artists painted murals in the early 1990s. Another must, as cheesy as it may be, is a stop at Checkpoint Charlie. This was the major checkpoint at the crossing between East and West Berlin, and now it is a major tourist attraction where regular citizens who are dressed liked guards stamp your passport for a fee (as much as I wanted to have this done, I just couldn't allow myself). Just down the street from the checkpoint, is the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, which is a must for all cold war obsessives like myself. The true accounts of people trying to escape through the checkpoint and across the wall are both saddening and inspiring. My favorite monument was the Siegesaule (located in the middle of the Tiergarten and made famous by its appearance in the wonderful film, Wings of Desire), a victory column that Hitler had moved from its original spot in front of the Reichstag in 1938. On top is a beautiful angel that can be reached by walking to the top. Once there you will be rewarded with an excellent view of the whole city. Some other great historical sights are The Reichstag, Sachsenhausen concentration camp (located 45 minutes outside of the city, but worth the trip), and the Topography of Terror.