Stopping in another capital - Berlin, Germany

The capital of Germany, enriched with a long history which is present in each corner of the city.

For Berlin in April, one has to be ready for rain, hail, possible snow, sun and anything in between. There are certainly many sites to see and beers to try so have a rain jacket, sweater, t-shirt and sunglasses all in hand.

---

Tv Tower/Fernsehturm – it is visible from pretty much every part of Berlin and reminded me of a smaller CN tower in Toronto. Built in the early 1950's to broadcast television programs. In front of the tower is a public square with St. Mary's Church and a fountain with Neptune.

Dom Cathedral – a few steps away from the TV tower sits an Evangelical cathedral, the largest protestant church in Germany. I didn't check out the inside, but the exterior depicted its grandness.

Berlin must try's - a fried bratwurst (sausage) with ketchup and curry spices - Currywurst. This Berlin classic was created post WW2, when Herta Heuwer traded some spirits with British soldiers for ketchup. This snack tastes better than it looks and is usually served with fries + mayo. Döner kebab – another typical dish from Berlin, started by a Turkish man in the 1970’s combining sliced grilled meat with salad, inside a flatbread. There are various versions and modifications throughout Berlin. I tried an original style (left/first) and a newer version (right/second), both were delicious, but the newer version also had potatoes and peppers included inside, besides salad and sauce.

Checkpoint Charlie – one of the main checkpoints in the wall between east and west Berlin during the Cold War and also used as the setting for many James Bond movies. The Black Box exhibit, across from the checkpoint, outlines important dates throughout 1947-1991.

Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall) - there are various points throughout the city to spot parts of the Berlin Wall. A full section of the wall is located near Potsdamer Platz, featuring information and history about the Cold War.

Holocaust memorial – remembering all murdered Jews of Europe. Created with almost 3000 different-sized concrete blocks and an uneven, wave-like ground, aimed to provide a sense of uneasiness and uncertainty.

Brandenburg Gate – the famous gate which Napoléon is said to have walked through in the early 1800’s. The gate was also restricted during the Cold War and could not be visited by either east or west Berliners, therefore now of even more importance, symbolizing unity.

Reichstag Building – the meeting place of the German government. There is a huge patch of grass (not necessarily a park) in front of the building, which makes it the perfect spot for a summer picnic.

Boxhagenerplatz Flea Merket - Sunday in Berlin doesn’t give you much to do - you can go to a restaurant or a flea market. Besides that everything is pretty much closed. So I decided to check out a flea market in Boxhagenerplatz. They sold everything from pants to plants, and from lamps to old stamps. I event spotted a t-shirt with two matrushka dolls saying "Fuck War, Fuck Putin".

Brammibal's Donuts – this vegan donut chain has almost 15 rotating flavours. It was a difficult decision but I tried the Maple Coconut Bacon and Rhubard Crumble, both delicious and the perfect snack after walking around the flea market!

East Side Gallery Berlin Wall – this 1.3km section of the Berlin Wall is covered in murals and art which started being painted right as the wall came down in September 1990.

Cat Tuong – a cozy family run Vietnamese, vegan restaurant. I stopped in my first night in Berlin, with a friend Nastasia, whom I met in Lagos and enjoyed the place so much that I came back another evening to try out some more dishes. Vietnamese food can be easily found in Berlin, as Vietnamese people make up the largest south-east Asian community in Berlin. Many arrived in the 1980’s for contract work or when escaping the Vietnam war.

*Wan Tan - crispy dumplings with shitake, grapes, tofu + mango chili sauce

*Goi Cuon - fresh rolls with tofu, rice noodles, crunchy salad + hoisin peanut sauce

*Mi Quang - central Vietnamese soup with flat rice noodles, mushrooms, coconut milk, lemongrass, mint, roasted peanuts + sesame rice chip

*Banh Chuoi - warm banana bread with walnuts, berries and coconut milk

*Autumn Child - ginger tea with orange , lime, goji berries, mango, agave

*The Crazy 90's cocktail - mango, ginger, orange juice and vodka

Fleischerei – this restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside and I was planning to continue walking past until I quickly looked at the menu. It features elevated German dishes, including lots of meat, and different types of potato sides.

*Chesnut soup with picked pear

*Rumpsteak with truffle mash potatoes

*Padeberger Pilsner

Never again? Mural – I spotted this mural after walking by the East Gallery. It truly speaks for itself but also has a QR code which explains the significance of the art - https://www.artforukraine.de/en

Maks Levin Exhibit – the Pilecki-Institut (a Polish organization) together with a few Ukrainians put together an exhibit in memory of the Ukrainian photojournalist who was found murdered April 1, 2022. Maks was one of the best photojournalists reporting on the war in Ukraine since 2014. The exhibit was moving to say the least and put a perspective on how journalists risk their lives daily to get the truth out. His current girlfriend and editor also joined over zoom and shared their stories, along with a few friends who joined in person. Maks’ memory lives on through his work and some can be found here - https://www.lensculture.com/maks-levin . The institute also had ongoing exhibits, one focused on amplifying voices of Ukraine and sharing current real-life stories.

#StandWithUkraine – being so close to the Polish border there are many Ukrainians who are making their way to Berlin. The support was visible through flags, art, stickers and posters throughout the city. Even a piece of the Berlin wall had a blue and yellow peace symbol, while the Royal Altes Museum had a sign over the entrance, reading "Ми солідарні з Україною, за мир, свободу, та демократію" (We stand in solidarity with Ukraine, for peace, freedom and democracy) written in German, Ukrainian and Russian.

Dankeschön Berlin! Heading south to Bavaria.