I'm attracted to anything or anywhere with a story to tell. Raw, 'gritty', unpolished, multi-dimensional places intrigue me, which is why Berlin has been on my travel radar for quite some time now.
And it didn't disappoint.
This city manages to encapsulate an 'anything goes' attitude with beautiful historic architecture and buildings in a wonderful way. It has something for everyone, but to fully enjoy Berlin in all its glory, you must be open-minded.
A stroll down the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall is a must, its called the East Side Gallery and is the worlds largest open-air gallery of art and graffiti - some of which are not for the faint-hearted. The gallery is a monument to freedom of expression, a concept I love.
If you're a foodie like me, you will understand when I say where you eat is just as important as what you eat. I have a knack for seeking out the best brunch spots no matter where I am in the world, and this trip was no different. This is serious business! I have to say though, I outdid myself with this one!
The first place we went to was called Avocado Club, embedded in the cobbly streets of funky Friedrichshain. When I first saw the name I legit thought I misread it thinking I'd dreamt it but nope, its an avocado-focused restaurant with lots of creative and delicious dishes to choose from.... Not to mention the most AMAZING pink interior!
The prettiest toilet I ever did see!! I am obsessed!!
The second place we visited was called Factory Girl, in Auguststrabe. The service here was fantastic, friendly and accommodating. We was even given a taste of the restaurants infamous Coco Angela, which is their signature secret recipe dessert.
The history in Berlin is remarkable, this city has been through so much and still stands with such strong pride and presence. Visiting Branderburg Gate was number one on my to-do list when I got to Berlin after Googling it for so long and I was in awe seeing it with my own eyes. What a truly incredible structure, up close it is just as breath taking as you'd expect. Cream solid stone topped off with the statue that's known as the 'Quadriga', which represents the goddess of victory on a chariot pulled by horses. Its crazy to think that what was once a symbol of division during the Cold War, is now a symbol of peace and unity, and is Germany's most popular landmark.
Another place I wanted to visit was the memorial to the Jewish victims that were murdered during the Holocaust. I wanted to pay my respects.
There are many connotations about the memorial, from what the grey slabs represent to the way the memorial is laid out. But one things for sure, its extremely upsetting. What those people went through is barbaric. I walked around the memorial alone, and in silence.
Never forget.
Of course no trip to Berlin at this time of year would be complete without visiting the Christmas markets. The Germans do Christmas better than anyone else! We spent a day hopping around the city from one to another and they were all fantastic, there's a market to suit every individual taste. From traditional Christmas markets which present nativity plays, live bands and choirs, to the ones where its food stall after food stall, to the markets where the focus is more on Christmas decorations, trinkets and keep-sakes. It's a truly magical experience and one that has left me 80% made up of Gluhwein (mulled wine) currently!
I have fallen in love with Berlin, in many different ways, just like I knew I would. Its hip, edgy and charming at the same time. 'Berliners' are cool, way cooler than anyone I've witnessed in any other place I've been. The fashion is alternative, dark and grungy.
It seems to come alive more at night, and when I say night I mean like 4am... It seemed strangely quiet in the suburban districts when we ventured out for breakfast, probably because everyone was still partying. It wasn't particularly expensive, I would say average city prices. We ate and drunk plenty, and visited all the tourist spots we wanted to which, as well as all of the above, included the Jewish Museum and Checkpoint Charlie, all for a reasonable price. Transport links are brilliant and easy to understand, you can get an all day ticket for every zone in the city for around 7 euro.
If you like culture, history, beer, cheese and carbs (giant pretzels FTW!) than I would highly recommend visiting Berlin. You won't regret it.
Lots of love,
M xx
