Nerd Goggles - City I

My midnight run to Berlin was born out of necessity to get my Polish work visa, but after I got to play tourist for a day, Berlin instantly became so much more. Within the past 100 years alone, the city has seen and been through so much, including but not limited to: the rise, rule and fall of Hitler and the Nazi party, and the building up and tearing down of a wall that would divide it's people and rulers for multiple decades. So to appreciate my new found admiration for this city, it is definitely crucial to put on your nerd goggles and see it as I saw it.

I have to write the disclaimer here that I am in no way an expert on Berlin's history and it's people. I literally only spent one full day exploring and learning bits and pieces from my tour guide...who happened to be Irish. But don't let that fool you, he was more knowledgeable about Berlin than I am about any topic.

Moving on, our tour started at Hackescher Market in West Berlin.

Next, we saw about .09% of Berlin's museums and cathedrals.

Then it was on to the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and East Berlin.

Berliner Mauer 1961-1989

 The last stop on the tour was the Brandenburg Gate.

It is important to note that Berlin was bombed during WWII and buildings were destroyed. Many buildings were rebuilt to look as they had looked originally, so it is sometimes difficult to tell which buildings are originals and which are rebuilt-original. Also, FUN FACT: Hilter knew the potential of destruction on the architecture of the city, so he ordered his soldiers to remove all statues from the tops of buildings to put them in rivers and lakes for safe keeping. Every now and again, someone will stumble upon a forgotten statue in the water, and the quest begins to figure out where that particular statue belongs.

During my stay I was only able to scratch the surface of things to do and see and learn. I also saw and learned more than I am able to tell you here, and even if I could, I definitely won't do it enough justice. I guess the reason I admire this place so much, is that it has been through some horrible things and some very recent horrible things at that. And yet, to be there today, people are still moving and living and finding joy in life. It does not shy away from it's past or look to forget, but it is not hindered by its history. And I find that a very admirable quality.

"History may not repeat itself, 
but it rhymes a lot." ~Mark Twain (unsourced)