Berlin: Not beautiful, very interesting
Written: Dec 23 '99 (Updated Apr 03 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The best place in Europe to learn about WWII and Cold War history
Cons: lots of construction
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| AlexG's Full Review: Berlin |
Berlin is not a beautiful city, at least not yet, but it's a very interesting and powerful city. It is probably one of the last places one should consider when choosing a place to spend a romantic vacation or a honeymoon. As you may know from reading history books or back from school, 80% of Berlin was destroyed during the World War II, and nowadays Berlin, especially East Berlin, is the biggest construction site in Europe. However, Berlin is huge, and there are many interesting places to see besides the numerous cranes and half-built or half-rebuilt houses. After all, if one wants to learn or find out more about the World War II and the Cold War, there is simply no better place than Berlin.
I visited Berlin in August of 1999. It was the first stop of my 5 city backpacking trip. I came to Berlin with low expectations. Two of my friends who had visited Berlin in the summer of '98 warned me that there is nothing to see but construction. In fact, because I thought that I would not like Berlin much, I deliberately made plans to make Berlin the first stop in Europe--you know, "leave the best for last" philosophy. However, I liked Berlin a lot.
I know some people don't recommend going to Berlin until most of the construction is completed. I disagree. I found it fascinating to see the old buildings that survived the war with scars from bullets and bombs easily visible to a naked eye and completely restored beautiful buildings standing right next to them. The contrast is striking. In a few years this contrast will disappear.
If you need a good hostel to stay while in Berlin, I can recommend you a great one--Circus Hostel. This hostel turned out to be the best place I've stayed anywhere in Europe. Big clean triple room, super clean bathrooms, very friendly staff--to make the story short, the place was superb.
I highly recommend Terry's walking tour, which leaves daily from the Circus. You'll learn and see so much that you'll feel like you spent a week in Berlin not a few hours. Branderburg Gate, Reichstag, the remaining pieces of the wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Hitler's bunker, Gestapo Headquarters, and many many other interesting places.
Off the beaten path, I personally recommend going to Treptower Park to see the Soviet War Memorial, with the pinnacle--the monument of the Russian soldier clasping a child to his chest with one hand and holding a swastika-shattering sword in another hand. This Soviet War Memorial is located in Treptower Park in East Berlin, and that's where 5,000 Russian soldiers are buried. Many people don't know that, but the USSR actually lost more soldiers during the battle for Berlin than Americans lost in the whole WWII.
It's hard to believe that only about 50 years ago Berlin was nothing but ruins. Even though Berlin is not beautiful, it's very interesting and powerful.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
AlexG
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 130
Trusted by: 239 members
About Me:
Alex has a voracious appetite for travel. Travel hasn't satisfied an appetite. It's created one.
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