Travel recaps: Berlin


Berlin, with its young population - 23% of its inhabitants are under 25, is an electrifying and fascinating city. I was surprised to see how international it is. How do I know? Well the food on the streets is one indicator.We had kebabs, pho, pad thai, steak, burritos, pasta and lots of Wurst in the short three nights we were there for. Maybe because we were surrounded by same age, like-minded people that I had such a memorable time there. It was one of the few destinations where I didn't do research or have any maps ready for exploration and yet I was never more comfortable and relaxed. It's a hip city where something interesting is always waiting to be uncovered, like a little hole-in-a-wall German pub that serves British food but plays French music in the background. Neat right?

One of my recommended activities is to join a bike tour of the city. I had not cycled for 8 months prior and was quite worried about my skills. But I was reassured that it would be fairly easy. Well...they lied. There was this massive hill where we had to bike up to reach the beer garden for lunch and I had forgotten how to use the gears, so I was struggling and panting all the way up. Nearly died of thirst but being in a beer garden quenched that. Don't let the 'exercise' put you off. It was so much fun. The guide was also highly entertaining.

However there is one thing you have to be aware of - Gypsies. Even on bikes, they RUN after you, trying to sell you roses. Think zombies apocalypse movies. They can smell 'tourist' from a mile away.


16 comments:

Jane said...

Great photos. Looks and sounds like a wonderful city!

melody said...

wow i am so jealous of all your travels! i did a project on the eisenman memorial in the second picture, love your photo and wish i could have seen it!

Anonymous said...

Ah, I've heard about that sculpture park in Berlin - the minimalist blocks mimic the structure of the city, extending the expanse of the cityscape. I feel quite depressed looking at it, as if modern cities have become endless rows of undecorated cubes. It makes me appreciate ornamented buildings and good design more.


d a n i e l l e | daniellewu.com

Deidre said...

Wow! I loved hearing about Berlin, I'd really like to go there some day, I've been to Frankfurt, but not Berlin!

Travel Gourmande said...

Exploring Berlin on a bike and walking -excellent! Never been there and that was quite an experience being on a bike up the hill while quenching the thirst in the beer garden. It is true what they say about riding a bike..it just comes back but I remember being squeamish riding along a steep cliff trying to avoid cars passing. I usually push the bike walking on steep climbs. I just can't bike my way up :) Yay to beer garden --Wish we have those in our part of the world.

Jane said...

Great post and photos - sounds like you had an awesome time there! I might be visiting Berlin at the end of the year, I'm super excited for it.

Unknown said...

Berlin (along with Dublin) were the two cities I really wanted to visit when I studied in England that I didn't get to. I will definitely have to make my way there eventually ... hopefully before I'm considered "old" and feel too out of place ha ha.

Indi C said...

Great photos - I love Berlin!

Anonymous said...

berlin is such a subtle city...there's definitely two sides to it. there's the side that meets the eye, then the side that gets under your skin. the first night i got there i was like "awesome, another big city", but by my second night i was like "whoa, this place is so much more than that!". would love to go back one day.

M.E said...

these pictures are beautiful, hope you enjoyed ur trip!

http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/

Winnie said...

I really want to visit Berlin one day, it's such an interesting city full of history. You took some great photos.

ice pandora said...

If a town has a large variety
of food and cuisine, then this
town is good haha :P hungrymind..
Berlin looks really nice!

xx

Unknown said...

nice pictures ;)

www.charmeusee.blogspot.com

Stephanie said...

So many gorgeous shots! I think I'd be too nervous to ride a bike around a big city, haha!

helen said...

berlin looks like such a fun place to visit! especially with the food diversity...yum! such pretty pictures :)

fern said...

Jo Thank you for sharing! I didn't know Berlin is so international! I would love to visit one day!

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