24 February 2011 - 27 February 2011
Berlin in February was absolutely Freezing!!! It was about 2 degrees outside, but we trooped through it, or rather I trooped through it. My husband seems to be a walking, talking heater; not me! I don't know if it is because I grew up in California or what, but I just am so bad at handling the cold. However, I learned my lesson in Italy. I almost missed out on the best thing I did because I was "too cold". I will never make that mistake again!
I was so excited to get to Berlin as I studied history and government in university and had studied World War II and the Cold War. I knew Berlin would be a site to see, and it was.
Berlin is a city filled with culture. New and old buildings are just around every corner. East Berlin and West Berlin were very distinct, but yet blended perfectly.
It was absolutely horrific to visualize Berlin split into 2 cities, or rather two occupations. You could see where there was the divide as there were pieces of the Berlin Wall up around the city. You would be walking, and look down, and even if the wall was not there, it was clearly marked in memory. I walked over the marked wall so easily, it was hard to believe that just 30 years earlier, Berlin was not as open or free.
One of the best things to do in Berlin is to take advantage of all the free museums and monuments. The city did not shy away from its history, its goal was clearly to educate people on its colourful past. The open air Berlin Wall Museum was one of my favourites. We were able to see footage of when the wall was put up and a bit of visual history. We also go to climb to the top of the museum and look over an old Berlin Wall Lookout Point. Even with all I know about Berlin during the Cold War, I just couldn't imagine all the people who risked their lives, just trying to get to another part of the city.
Another touching point was the Holocaust Memorial. It was this amazing memorial set up in memory of those lost during the holocaust. It was beautifully done. It was a sort of iron maze. It was representative of the lives lost, but I found it ironic that the memorial was a maze and actually so fun to walk through. I know that sounds horrible, but I couldn’t help playing a bit of hide and go seek with my husband in the maze.
I found this to be quite ironic, but I imagine that was the point. When we first arrived at the memorial, knowing the tall blocks represented graves of those lives lost. It was horrendous, but then walking through it, we began to have a bit of fun and relax. It was scary how quickly we forgot! It just goes to show that with time, things begin to heal and things can be forgotten, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I knew that the symbolism of this outdoor museum was to remember the importance of not forgetting the past. After you walk through to the other side and turn around and see what you have walked through, you instantly feel guilty for having fun. You remember what has happened and why that memorial was there. The artist of the memorial got this message across beautifully. When something tragic happens, it is horrible, but life does go on. However, it is important not to forget the things that have happened. To not be ignorant, one must learn from the mistakes of the past. Embrace this knowledge, no not ignore it.
The Maze of the Memorial did just that. It teaches people how easily it is to turn a blind eye and forget, but how significant it is to remember the horrors and the lives lost from previous mistakes.
Another, way Berlin mixed the new with the old and the past with the present was the outdoor Berlin Wall art gallery. The amazing street art that covered it dealt with cold war politics, as well as new politics affecting the world today. I find it fascinating that after WWII and the Holocaust, the Berlin Wall's outdoor street gallery addresses horrible things are still happening in the world today; is truly satirical. It seems that the human race never seem to learn from their mistakes.
The art was gorgeous, and very touching. I loved that these artistic statements were on one the most well-known pieces of architecture that demoralized human nature and took away human rights. These new problems coincided so perfectly with the old. It truly amazed me how Berlin was a city that embraces its history, the good and the bad. This city, this country, is such an archetype for how a country should move on and move forward and how to deal with mistakes from the past.
They do not hide away and not teach their citizens about the bad like most countries. For example, the USA did not have a war in Vietnam, but only a "conflict". History is written by the winners, and unfortunately the American Government happens to think they are always the winners. The US schools do not teach what really happened in Vietnam or take responsibility for single handily abandoning the South East Asian countries after this war and leaving Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge. No, it never happened. Why can't America embrace its mistakes like Germany? Germans educate to make sure that their citizens are well rounded free thinkers. It truly is amazing and was one of the best things to see. I loved that a city embraced its past.
To say the least, I enjoyed my caffeine "high" very much, as it gave me the energy and warmth to carry on my exploration of Berlin. I was sad to leave the cosiness and warmth of the café (and the people watching), but it was time to head back to our hotel and get ready for our flight home.
Berlin is a city filled with history around every corner. It is a great little city break, especially for the history buff. There are a ton of things to do and a ton of things to see. Going in winter was fabulous because there were no crowds and it didn't feel TOO touristy, but I was freezing my arse off!
Berlin in February was absolutely Freezing!!! It was about 2 degrees outside, but we trooped through it, or rather I trooped through it. My husband seems to be a walking, talking heater; not me! I don't know if it is because I grew up in California or what, but I just am so bad at handling the cold. However, I learned my lesson in Italy. I almost missed out on the best thing I did because I was "too cold". I will never make that mistake again!
I was so excited to get to Berlin as I studied history and government in university and had studied World War II and the Cold War. I knew Berlin would be a site to see, and it was.
Berlin is a city filled with culture. New and old buildings are just around every corner. East Berlin and West Berlin were very distinct, but yet blended perfectly.
It was absolutely horrific to visualize Berlin split into 2 cities, or rather two occupations. You could see where there was the divide as there were pieces of the Berlin Wall up around the city. You would be walking, and look down, and even if the wall was not there, it was clearly marked in memory. I walked over the marked wall so easily, it was hard to believe that just 30 years earlier, Berlin was not as open or free.
 |
| Berlin Wall Look Out Point |
 |
| Holocaust Memorial |
Another touching point was the Holocaust Memorial. It was this amazing memorial set up in memory of those lost during the holocaust. It was beautifully done. It was a sort of iron maze. It was representative of the lives lost, but I found it ironic that the memorial was a maze and actually so fun to walk through. I know that sounds horrible, but I couldn’t help playing a bit of hide and go seek with my husband in the maze.
I found this to be quite ironic, but I imagine that was the point. When we first arrived at the memorial, knowing the tall blocks represented graves of those lives lost. It was horrendous, but then walking through it, we began to have a bit of fun and relax. It was scary how quickly we forgot! It just goes to show that with time, things begin to heal and things can be forgotten, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I knew that the symbolism of this outdoor museum was to remember the importance of not forgetting the past. After you walk through to the other side and turn around and see what you have walked through, you instantly feel guilty for having fun. You remember what has happened and why that memorial was there. The artist of the memorial got this message across beautifully. When something tragic happens, it is horrible, but life does go on. However, it is important not to forget the things that have happened. To not be ignorant, one must learn from the mistakes of the past. Embrace this knowledge, no not ignore it.
The Maze of the Memorial did just that. It teaches people how easily it is to turn a blind eye and forget, but how significant it is to remember the horrors and the lives lost from previous mistakes.
Another, way Berlin mixed the new with the old and the past with the present was the outdoor Berlin Wall art gallery. The amazing street art that covered it dealt with cold war politics, as well as new politics affecting the world today. I find it fascinating that after WWII and the Holocaust, the Berlin Wall's outdoor street gallery addresses horrible things are still happening in the world today; is truly satirical. It seems that the human race never seem to learn from their mistakes.
 |
| Berlin Wall Street Art |
The art was gorgeous, and very touching. I loved that these artistic statements were on one the most well-known pieces of architecture that demoralized human nature and took away human rights. These new problems coincided so perfectly with the old. It truly amazed me how Berlin was a city that embraces its history, the good and the bad. This city, this country, is such an archetype for how a country should move on and move forward and how to deal with mistakes from the past.
They do not hide away and not teach their citizens about the bad like most countries. For example, the USA did not have a war in Vietnam, but only a "conflict". History is written by the winners, and unfortunately the American Government happens to think they are always the winners. The US schools do not teach what really happened in Vietnam or take responsibility for single handily abandoning the South East Asian countries after this war and leaving Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge. No, it never happened. Why can't America embrace its mistakes like Germany? Germans educate to make sure that their citizens are well rounded free thinkers. It truly is amazing and was one of the best things to see. I loved that a city embraced its past.
To say the least, I enjoyed my caffeine "high" very much, as it gave me the energy and warmth to carry on my exploration of Berlin. I was sad to leave the cosiness and warmth of the café (and the people watching), but it was time to head back to our hotel and get ready for our flight home.
Berlin is a city filled with history around every corner. It is a great little city break, especially for the history buff. There are a ton of things to do and a ton of things to see. Going in winter was fabulous because there were no crowds and it didn't feel TOO touristy, but I was freezing my arse off!
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| Palace Charlottenburg |
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| Reichstag |
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