A love story (with Berlin)

'Das Brandenburger Tor'

In Germany, they have a certain expression for wanderlust or the desire to travel – Fernweh. Literally, it means "far-sickness" or an ache for distant places. It’s an expression that suits me perfectly. Travelling is one of my main motivations in life. To someday go backpacking through Europe and Asia – that’s the dream. I just never thought that I would get the chance to “partially” fulfill that dream by winning a photo contest together with my brother. And because I am currently studying the German language as my major, our trip to Berlin was a very special and important one.    

Last October 4, 2014, through the help of Euromaxx, a culture and lifestyle magazine TV show based on Germany, my brother and I packed our bags and headed on our way to Berlin. Naturally, I didn't know what to expect of the trip, and we initially had a few concerns – would the people there be friendly to us? Would we have a hard time getting around the city? Would the weather be too cold for my and my brother?

In hindsight, there was actually nothing to worry about. Berlin is such a tourist-friendly place that it’s easy to love everything about the place.

I love how convenient it is to travel around Berlin. 

My brother and I had only 3 days in Berlin, and we knew we had to find the most efficient way to get around to make sure we get to all the important spots in the city. Luckily, we found these buses which offer Stadtrundfahrten or city sightseeing tours. These double-decker buses only traverse the streets that lead directly to tourist attractions in Berlin. It’s almost impossible to get lost in Berlin because of these. The ride costs 14 Euro per person which is a good deal considering how much convenience it brings. After paying, we were able to hop on and off the bus at different tourist spots such as the Brandenburger Tor, the Berliner Dom, Reichstag, and the Schloss Charlottenburg.

Standrundfahrten buses

Another way to get around the city is by bike. One of the highlights of this trip for me was definitely our bike-ride around the city. This made me feel less of a tourist and more of a local as most Berliner use bikes to get around the city. With the bike-friendly streets and the numerous bike rental shops in Berlin, it was a convenient way for my brother and I to reach our destination. It was a good way to fight off the cold too!

In front of the Berliner Dom

Berlin Wall Memorial near Potsdamer Platz

I love how free-spirited and diverse the people in Berlin are. I love how at every corner, there seems to be a celebration of some sort. 

We encountered some really unique individuals during our visit in Berlin. For instance, we saw this young man entertaining kids in the middle of the Gendarmenmarkt. Later on, we found out that he was actually a well-to-do man (as suggested by his car that was parked nearby) selling bubble makers . In the Philippines, that would be unheard of – for a well-to-do to person to stand in the middle of a plaza and sell products. 

In front of the Konzerthaus Berlin

In front of the Brandenburger Tor, a group of people were gathered around a woman, who was probably in her 40s, as she played the drums. At the same time, a carnival was set-up in front of the iconic landmark, where people were having a grand time drinking, listening and dancing along to good music. The very next day, the carnival was replaced by a group of demonstrators. The atmosphere at the Brandenburger Tor changed constantly, and it was so alive and dynamic!

In front of the Brandenburger Tor

I love how much the people of Berlin appreciate and celebrate their history. 

In Berlin, it is clear how much value people place on the history of the city. The city is brimming with historical and memorial sites that are there not just for tourists, but also really for the Germans themselves to appreciate. I came to realize this during our visit at the East Side Gallery, Topographie des Terrors, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas. It was clear how much effort and care is put into maintaining the ‘sanctity’ of these places. And it seems to always be filled not just with tourists but also Germans themselves who want to keep in touch with their history. 

Checkpoint Charlie

Topographie des Terrors

The Berliner Mauer along the East Side Gallery section

I love how quiet and peaceful Berlin is, but at the same time how festive and alive it is.

At every corner there seems to be some sort of gathering of people. This was the exact scene that greeted us as we hopped off the bus in Alexanderplatz. We were in the city just in time for Berlin’s very own Oktoberfest! There was a great atmosphere all around, and the people were enjoying the great food and good company. On the other hand, within the outskirts of the city, people have their own way to keep themselves amused and to enjoy the good weather. We came upon this walkway along Schloßstraße and it was filled with people playing this game called „Boule“ (as I have been told by a local). Most of the people playing were of old-age and it was really refreshing to see older people outdoors being so active.   

Oktoberfest at Alexanderplatz

Boule game along Schloßstraße 

I love how addicting Currywurst is! 

I have tried Currywurst once in a German restaurant in the Philippines before, but truly nothing beats the original Currywurst in Berlin. It was so good that we tried it twice – once in Konnopke’s Imbiss, which is one of the most popular Currywurst stalls in Berlin, and another one by a Currywurst stall at the Gendarmenmarkt.

Currywurst by Gendarmenmarkt

Enjoying Currywurst by Konnopke's Imbiss

I love how this one trip opened up other opportunities. 

On the second day of our trip to Berlin, we visited the Euromaxx studio and met the host of the show! For a couple of minutes, I even got to try being the host of the show, and was given a couple of lines to say in front of the camera. It was such a big thrill for me and my brother! 

With Kristina Sterz of Euromaxx

Although it was just a short trip, I felt like we were able to achieve a lot within a short amount of time, thanks to the friendliness and helpfulness of the people, the convenience of public transportation in the city, and the good (chilly but very much tolerable) weather. I am really thankful to Euromaxx for making the whole experience possible. This whole Berlin experience is definitely one for the books, and I only hope to have the chance to come back someday and explore other parts ot Germany.  

About the Author:

Zea is currently studying European Languages in UP Diliman, with German as her major and Tourism as her minor. She is a member of the UP Deutscher Verein, an organization which aims to promote the German language and culture. Her idea of a good time is engaging in competitive physical activities. She loves travelling and dreams of backpacking through Europe and Asia someday. In her free time, she watches sitcoms and plays the drums.