BERLIN - the city of everything
Berlin was my first choice for Erasmus, I couldn't make it though. Hence, the first city I've visited outside of the Netherlands became Berlin. I knew it's a colorful, historical and artistic city. I see that I wasn't wrong to expect much from there.
My Berlin trip was special also because it was my first solo travel. I live by myself here in the NL but it's a different experience that trying to know a city in limited time by myself. I stayed in a hostel and shared my room with 3 other people. I can say that taking a shower and hesitating about your belongings is a little bit hassle. However discovering the city alone is quite enjoying and favorable.
1.Brandenburger Tor, Museum Island, Alexanderplatz, etc.
I stayed in Mitte and there is so close to the Brandenburger Tor, Museum Island, even Alexanderplatz. For my opinion, those areas are beautiful but lack something; spirit. I could not feel that I am in Berlin , the city I dreamed of. For example, there were lots of constructions and noise.
Because I have to keep track of my budget, I just visited the Pergamon Museum in the Museum Island. Seeing Pergamon Altar, Ancient Greek Gods, Goddesses, Early Muslim Art and Ottoman Art proved that I made a right choice. Honestly, I am not a museum-lover but I could spent more than a hour in this museum without any boredom. Pergamon Altar is solely enough to charm visitors.
Since I went there in German Unity day, there were festivities and open market in Alexanderplatz. However, I still felt something missing there. I've watched the series of my favorite German director Fassbinder called "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and I always imagined Alexanderplatz bigger, influential and more cosmopolit. It's always the case with good movies, books,etc. They shape your expectations and life is often too dull to meet them.
I should also mention about the Fernsehturm (TV Tower). It is high, that is all. Maybe I am rude but It has no significance rather than making you find your way when you are lost.
2. Checkpoint Charlie, Marx-Engels Park and things related to Communist vs American divison
Berlin has a unique history that hosted many conflicts in the period of the Cold war. I won't give you a history lesson but I can just say that except the communist type of buildings, there is no more traces of communism left in Berlin. Moreover, It was so ironic that the German Unity day concert in the Brandenburg Gate was full of Coca-cola flags and stands. It was like celebration of Coca-cola to unite Germany. ;)
Checkpoint Charlie was once the only passage between East and West Berlin. Now, It's rather a checkpoint for instagram photos with fake American soldiers and McDonald's in the background. If you are out of money, you can dress like an American soldier and earn great deal amount of money at the Checkpoint Charlie.
Kreuzberg was next to the Berlin Wall and even after break through of the wall, there stayed to be a poor neighbourhood. Because it was cheap to settle, many immigrants especially immigrants from Turkey settled there. You can see Turkish restaurants, markets, barbers and everything in Kreuzberg. Many people still call there a "little Istanbul". I don't agree with this simile but it is true that I felt at home in Kreuzberg.
Kreuzberg's situation today is so different than the past. Many German people started to move to this area in the last 10 years and now Kreuzberg is much of an international neighbourhood. That is why young and artistic communities nowadays choose to live there. There is a cultural sphere which influenced me deeply. Maybe the most important graffiti pieces in Berlin stands in Kreuzberg area and they are more fascinating than any adjective could explain.
There is the Görlitzer Park which hosts alternative youth everyday. It may be seem unsafe and crazy for many Berliners bur the atmosphere over there is worth to visit and smell the air. It is just 15 mins walk to East Side Gallery. Yeah, East Side Gallery, the place I made the cover picture of Berlin in my mind. I did not see so much street art in a day in such a expressive way. It is really nonsense to describe my feelings about there. I just say that I love love and love there. I think Berlin is unique not because of its museums, wide streets and well-organized infrastructure. Berlin is unique because of its impressive street artists.
The special zone for me in Berlin is the Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg. It's an indoor market situated in a passage and it includes special foods and drinks. I found a beer manufacturer called Heidenpeters in it. I drank spicy beer. Of course one glass was not enough and some others followed the first one for company. :)
In my last day, I met with a relative of my family who I had never seen before. She was really nice and wanted to show me an interesting place and drove me to the Mauerpark. It was sunday and there was an open-air market. I love all open-air markets but this was the biggest and colorful one that I have ever seen. Second hand clothes, shoes, fresh foods, so many souvenirs, etc. Because I am poor enough, I just bought a bag for 8 euros but I enjoyed the market well.
Mauerpark is famous for live-karaoke shows. You can watch many videos of them on youtube. The day I went, there was just a show by a juggler. It was also fun to watch.
Memory is life, memory is self. These are all I can retrieve.
