3rd Time - Berlin, Deutschland

I don't believe there is anything in the whole earth that you can't learn in Berlin except the German language. 

- Mark Twain's Notebook




Berlin has long been one of my favorite cities. Why, is hard to explain. The city infrastructure can often been seen as dirty, gritty, grimy with graffiti and bits of fireworks. It can been seen as oppressive from its history, unwelcoming by the people, and where you can't find a decent American hot dog. 

I love Berlin. I love the history, how its steeped into each corner. Some buildings have charred brick, others bullet holes, some are modern and new, and a few older than the original American Colonies. A yellow brick line snakes through the better part of the city, showing were the wall once stood. Pieces of the wall still stand; the thick concrete and barbed wire barrier crumbling in front of the church, or the small artistically graffiti pieces standing tall in Potsdamer Platz, underneath the shopping mall. 

favorite part of the Berlin wall, taken on my first trip to Germany in 2009

I love Berlin. The food is unique to the city, the curry wurst is a must. The peppered sausage from the street vendors, the doner (a turkish food that is fantastic, lamb and salad wrapped in a pita like bread), the Berliner, a jelly filled doughnut. 

(Fun fact, when JFK gave his famous speech at the base of the Berlin wall, he stated, "Ich bin ein Berliner," he meant to say, "I am a Berliner (citizen)", what he actually said, was "I am a Berliner (as in the jelly doughnut)". The correct way would of been, "Ich bin Berliner." dropping the article all together.)

Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburger Gate) Iconic landmark of Berlin, built in 1791, the site of JFKs speech, and the symbol of the "door" to East or West Berlin

I love how the American embassy sits a block away from the Parliament building, across the street from the Tiergarden (Berlin's Central Park equivalent), and just steps away from where Tom Cruise tried to film a poignant scene for Valkyrie, but was shot down as Germany doesn't recognize Scientology as a religion and thought it would be bad PR to have a cult member on one of the cities major historical sites. (The historical site in question is the courtyard where members of the "20th of July Plot" were executed. The plot was one of the failed attempts to assassinate Hitler.)

Berliner Dom, (Berlin Cathedral) Built in 1454, first as a Catholic church, now it is Protestant. During WWII, a bomb fell right through the glass dome, through the church, and into the crypt damaging many coffins of German and Prussian royalty. 

I love Berlin. I love the history the city has for its country, for itself, for the world, and for me. This is a foreign city I have now visited three times (all during the winter actually). I have spent new years (called "Silvester") twice in Berlin. I have fallen in love, realized I was in love, and have learned a few words of Russian, all while in Berlin. 

Despite the grit and grime, the graffiti and thick accent, I love Berlin. It is one of the few foreign places I have felt at home. I get it. Or I think I do. But what I do know for sure, is that Berlin gets me. 

A Lock of Love on a bridge in front of the Berlin Cathedral. Very common in Europe to place locks on bridges to symbolize love. 

to see more photos of my time in Berlin, check out my photo blog: http://wanderersanonymous.tumblr.com