It all started wit my great wish of attending a concert of Leonard Cohen. As I didn't wont to miss a good opportunity I was reading the tour schedule on hour basis. And there was tour scheduled for Berlin on 30.8..

That combination sounded great and I just didn't wont to wait for too long and I booked a flight to Berlin and got ticket for concert. In a few days the concert day was canceled. Luckily there was a new tour date in Lucca in Italy. So I didn't miss a great concert! Check out some pictures from Lucca.

Where to get info:

Before getting there it is wise to read a little bit about town, transportation, places to see etc. I found very useful links:

Berlin tourist information - Very useful site with various information type and links to other sources

BVG - How to get from the airport : Useful site to get tips and info about Berlin and its transportation system.

S-Bahn - Going around Berlin is very easy, I suggest getting a day ticket, which makes it easy to wonder around Berlin in an easy and fast way.

When arrived in Berlin we took a day ticket for ABC cone, so we got form airport to center and we still used the same ticket for the rest of a day. Next day we took a day ticket for AB cone. It's not worth cheating and riding around without ticket.

Where to stay:

You can find a lot of places to stay in Berlin, from rooms, to apartments, hostels, hotels and more. As an internet user I started my research for a hotel by some criteria:

• good connection to an airport
• near at least one tourist attraction
• near some good clubs
  

All those criteria lead to a Hotel Pension am Savignyplatz. Hotel was max. 2min away from S-bahn station. Surrounded with bars, restaurants, clubs and more.

How it was:

We spend first afternoon walking around Berlin and visiting some of attraction every tourist must see. At the evening we went into a Cotton Club Berlin with a live music and it was a great evening.

We were lucky because on Saturday 30.8.2008 there were some great events in Berlin.

Staatsoper für alle Beethoven's Fidelio was broad-casted live outside on big screen.

After a wonderful evening there was still another event in Berlin. Lange Nacht der Museen - Long night in museum. All museums in Berlin were open from 18:00 until 2:00.

If you want to get a Great view of Berlin go on top of EuropaCenter.

You can see some more pictures from Berlin on my Picable page

Conclusion: I was impressed with Berlin and I put it on my list of favorite cities and places. I will go there again. Next time I hope for at least few days.

Even though Scheffler said this in 1910, this quote can still be applied to Berlin today. Berlin has only become the capital of Germany once again just after the wall came down in 1990. When visiting Berlin you get the feeling that the city is finding its identity, through its dark yet fascinating past.

Berlin is historically known as the centre of Nazi horror and a battleground for the cold war, when Berlin was separated in 1961 by the Berlin wall. The East and the west were completely divided, people separated from their loved ones and families, un-able to pass to the other without risking their lives.

The ‘Becoming City’ has embraced its bleak past with, the Check Point Charlie museum, and Jüdisches Museum Berlin (Jewish Museum), which is >one of the most visited attractions.

Throughout the trip I stayed mainly in the east side of Germany, as it is the historical heart of the city with all of the historical attractions, such as Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum, the Jewish Museum, and Brandenburg Gate. All of these attractions are worth seeing.

The Check point Charlie museum is interesting though the majority of the information is shown in long pieces of writing and after a while it gets a little tiresome.

Personally I thought the Jewish Museum was the best attraction by far. The exhibition explains how anti-Semitism started in Germany and explains anti-Semitism right up to the Second World War. Also included in the expedition is belongings of Jewish people who died in the Holocaust, which makes the experience far less general. The museum also celebrates Jewish culture and there are displays of Jewish artifacts.

Aside from this the museum visually is an experience in its self. The structure is covered with polished metal facing, and the only windows in the building are the slits, which are supposed to be the deconstructed Star of David. The only entrance to the building is through the Baroque Building next door. The building seems to symbolize the impossibility to experiencing the holocaust, shown by the lack of entrances to building itself.

Despite the impossibility of being able to experience the Holocaust, the architect, Daniel Libeskind has a go at this, in his interpretation named, ‘The Holocaust Tower’. You enter a small, oddly triangular room, with little light entering through the top, you look up and you cannot see the top of the room that you are in, and the whole experience makes you feel quite sick. As I walk in I here an English tourist saying, ‘oh my god’ and ‘shall we go now’. Despite the grim subject the Jewish Museum is an interesting experience, and the museum shows how Berlin is accepting its past with respect and dignity.

Apart from the museums, the history and the holocaust memorial (near Brandenburg gate and again worth a visit), Berlin is a hip place with an exciting energy and a range of crazy clubs and night life, somebody at my hotel comments, ‘They have some mad clubs around here!’ Berlin is a creative place and artists and musicians tend to hang around clubs and bars in Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg, both places are fashionable and always changing.

‘The Circus’ backpackers is the best place to stay. I was planning to stay here throughout my stay but I only could for one night as I didn’t book. This place is very popular and you must book ahead. It is the nicest hostel I have been too, clean, bright and modern décor and very friendly. They offer lots of exciting tours geared towards the young traveler and Berlin’s crazy nightlife. These tours include drinking tours, as the Hostel is near to Prenzlauer Berg, known for its nightlife. The Hostel also offers a historical sex tour, as Berlin was a sexual playground in the 1920’s. The Hostel has a lively bar and café.

Berlin may not be quite sure of its identity yet, but I concluded that Berlin is embracing its dark past but looking towards a bright and lively future.

Berlin also caters to each and every individual’s budget, from Designer clothing to cheaper markets and shops. Although there are hundreds of small businesses and shops located throughout Berlin, there are four main centers that provide the main retail essence of the city.

The Potsdamer Platz Arcades have been recently built at the heart of Berlin and offer a wide range of shopping needs. The Plaza contains around 120 shops that include; clothing, furniture, utensils, restaurants, wineries and many more. This Plaza has become famous for its wide range of Designer clothing with brands such as Eddie Bauer, H &M, Hallhuber, Mango, Zara and many more. When you’ve finished shopping, you can sit and relax at the many fountains spread throughout the center or sit down at one of the many restaurant areas for a meal with friends and family. Not only will you be able to search the three floored center for many great bargains, but you will also be able to see just how the ‘New Centre’ has developed and look at historical sites showing the history of the bombings that took place in the area.

Friedrichstrasse is perhaps the most beautiful and elegant of shopping centers within Berlin. It contains three sections that all incorporate into one fantastic and sublime center for the modern shopper. But be warned, these centers are for the upper end of the market, and with stores such as Gucci and Armani, it may be difficult to shop for cheaper items. Nonetheless, I suggest at least taking a look at the Plaza and enjoy the art deco atmosphere, which you can’t help but feel inspired by. The Shopping centre can be found between the two underground stations, Stadtmitte and Französische Strasse.

Kurfuerstendamm and Tauentzienstrasse are the two areas that have converged to become a ‘shopping mile’ within the Capital. This amazing stretch of shops creates the perfect family day out with goods for every member of the family. You can find an amazing diversity in styles and fashion as well as in price categories. It is in this area that the Europa centre can be found, and with it, a selection of over 100 shops to choose from. Rather than being specialised shops or large retail names, these shops focus on souvenirs and collectables with a diverse magnitude of children’s products. The famous KADEWE center can also be found here which provides a vibrant, and more importantly, tasty cuisine for all ages.

Hackescher Markt is the place to visit if you’re into the Café culture and shopping for less ‘mainstream’ products. The Market has been a developing site for new businesses and booming industries since the 50’s and is now home to the classic stalls and antique areas. The Market area is rife with Bohemian atmosphere and would appeal to the older; perhaps more intellectual person as its shopping market focuses on cultural fashion ranging from extraordinary shoes to fashion from young designers. Well known for its flair and diversity for casual items and jewellery, this area of Berlin is most certainly a place to visit. The market has its own train station so is easily accessible from all areas of central Berlin.

Other than these four main shopping areas of Berlin, you may wish to travel slightly away from the center of the city and explore other domains. In areas on the outer edge of the city, many second hand shops are located that provide very reasonable prices for a variety of clothing types. From young to old, these shops will have what you’re looking for in some shape or form.

One last area that I would advise to visit is that of Hackesche Höfe. Although this area is not as specialised for high commercial goods in Berlin, it does integrate a vibrant shopping atmosphere with many lively events during the later evening. This is a must see as there are many events that take place such as Carnivals and Market places.