"Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin..." Berlin by challenger

Berlin Travel Guide: 6,866 reviews and 15,332 photos

I'VE JUST STARTED THESE PAGES. THEY ARE NOT YET COMPLETE. PLEASE CHECK BACK AGAIN AFTER A WHILE.

First time I went to Berlin I was 16 or so and visited a grand-uncle of mine in the East. I do remember that I thoroughly enjoyed the Pergamon Museum then, though was mighty miffed when a local kept harassing me outside and begged that I’d change some hard currency that I honestly didn’t have on me.

My abiding memory was when my grand-uncle showed me the Brandenburg Gate and then loudly started cursing the soldiers underneath it as lazy No-Gooders who never did a single honest day of work in their life. I just prayed he’d shut up. Needless to say that by the time we reached the Russian Embassy area he had already drawn enough attention to himself and was asked for his ID which was mandatory for every citizen… and which he of course never carried around as a matter of principle.

We quickly got separated and interviewed in different areas to verify that his story about his name and address was indeed correct. I saw myself being escorted away by the Stasi, but after what felt like an interminable time I was released and reunited with him.

I did say I was only 16, didn’t I?

About two or three years later right after I finished school, I went to visit some friends from school in the Western part of the city. They belonged to some alternative commune and ended up boring me stiff. All I wanted was a night out in town and I soon bid them adieu and went off on my own and was glad to see the back of them.

After these two visits I can’t say I was incredibly keen to ever come back again to either side of it. Berlin had left me absolutely unimpressed and I thought I could comfortably live for the rest of my life without ever setting foot into it again.

Boy, was I wrong…

After nearly two decades away the opportunity finally arose to visit the old/new capital of Germany again and it left me absolutely invigorated. It’s pretty much the only German city I would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone. It’s a work in progress. Can’t say I could name another city that is changing so fast and so rapidly for the good . It felt cosmopolitan and – especially amazing if you consider the current dire state of German affairs – positive and optimistic about itself.

It’s a love that took a long time to develop. Can’t wait to come back.

  • Last visit to Berlin: Sep 2004
  • Intro Updated Sep 16, 2004
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (12)

Comments (4)

  • Oct 25, 2006 at 3:04 PM

    Hey i also lived in Berlin when i was about 9 years old,i lived in Minden Munster and Dachau,i remember the Brandenburg gate very well and the wall..small world eh?

  • ForestqueenNYC's Profile Photo
    Oct 23, 2005 at 7:15 AM

    My son, living in Dublin at the time, spent New Year's Eve last year at the Brandenburg Gate. He said Berlin is an incredible city. Good tips.

  • jenniferchin's Profile Photo
    Oct 31, 2004 at 11:14 PM

    Great pages and beautiful pics !! We were there almost the same time ...or during September 2004 at least :-))

  • pepples46's Profile Photo
    Sep 16, 2004 at 3:48 PM

    ich habs noch nicht geschafft, frei und ungebunden durchs Berliner Tor zugehn. mein Koffer muesste laengst vermodert sein LOL..wirklich schoene Seite, travelouge is fantastic too tks Holger

challenger

“Life is short and the world is wide.”

Online Now

Male

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 1 3 6 3

Badges & Stats in Berlin

  • 12 Reviews
  • 36 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 4 Comments
  • 6,422PageViews

Have you been to Berlin?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Berlin

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (4)

Latest Berlin hotel reviews

Motel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz
153 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Hotel Amano
188 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Upper Room Hotel
20 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 6, 2013
Melia Hotel Berlin
751 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2013
Steigenberger Hotel Berlin
286 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Rocco Forte Hotel De Rome
160 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 7, 2013
Berolina Airport Hotel
13 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 12, 2012
Axel Hotel Berlin
429 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013
Mercure Hotel Berlin Mitte
76 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
AGON Olivaer Apart Hotel Berlin
78 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 30, 2013
Arcotel Velvet
267 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Best Western Hotel Boulevard
3 Reviews & Opinions
Hotel Atlanta Am Kurfurstendamm
18 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 3, 2013
Ringhotel Chateau Berlin
68 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013