Ich bin ein Berliner

Unlike the Spanish, who conveniently write very little about their forty-year dictatorship or the ways in which Francisco Franco came into power, the Germans beat the fact into the ground. If something involving the Third Richt happened in a locale, the information describing said event is plentiful; some tours are even tailored specifically to how certain buildings and locations played a role in the movement. That being said, Berlin was a city rich with history.From Reichstag, which is Germany’s parliament and epitomizes the cities recent history, to the Brandenburg Gate where US presidents and presidential candidates have made historic speeches, it feels as if every corner of the city is rich with history. Certainly ruins still remain from World War II, reminders of the devastation of war.
Interestily, however, the Berlin Wall was not easy to find. Albeit only 1500 yards still remain, the location of it was not well described in guidebooks or by locals. It is only logical that only a section remains in an obscure location, but what was amazing was how poorly marked the East Side Gallery, the name of the remaining section that has now been transformed into fifteen football fields of artwork. It may be an American mindset, but the first thing that comes to mind when speaking of Berlin is the Wall.A very cold but informative trip, Berlin was a nice change from the insanity that was Amsterdam. After three days of exploring the city, I headed south to Bavaria.