Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Introduction to
Berlin
Seemingly in a perpetual state of transformation, Berlin is an extraordinary
city. For over a century, events here either mirrored or determined what
happened in the rest of Europe, and - even 25 years after the world-changing
fall of the Berlin Wall - change in the city is brisk. Only now is the process of
healing the wounds of half a century of totalitarian blight beginning to come
to an end, as Berlin reasserts itself as the capital of Europe's most powerful
country and becomes a world destination where you hear foreign languages
as often as you do German.
Light-hearted sightseeing is di cult in Berlin: this is a profoundly scarred place, with
looming symbols of the war years, the remains of the Wall, and several museums that
openly and intelligently probe twentieth-century German history. Even in its flashiest
sections the city can still seem half-built, many of its modern buildings - on both sides
of the former divide - somehow making it look less finished and more ugly. Unlike Paris,
Amsterdam or Munich, Berlin isn't a city where you can simply stroll and absorb the
atmosphere: you need to plan and target points of interest, using the excellent transport
system for what can be longish distances.
Given the range and severity of the events Berlin has endured, it's no wonder it has
grown to be very different from anywhere else in Germany. West Berlin's unorthodox
character always made it a magnet for people seeking alternative lifestyles - gays and
lesbians, artists and musicians, hippies and punks have all flocked here. Non-Germans
have made a significant mark, too: Turks, Greeks and Italians, who originally came as
“guest workers” in the 1960s, soon made Berlin Germany's most cosmopolitan city by
far - as reflected in the wide variety of cuisine offered in the city's restaurants, cafés and
bars. And a recent wave of fairly penniless young artsy types from all around Europe have
greatly added to Berlin's international and creative character.
Part of Berlin's special energy comes from its nightlife . Nowhere in the city is more
than a stone's throw from a bar, be it a corner Kneipe or a slick upscale café - indeed,
ABOVE BERLIN MITTE AT DUSK
 
 
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