InterRail Journey #2: Berlin

Berlin, second stop of our Euro trip by train with InterRail. We took the Copenhagen > Berlin overnight train to save ourselves a night in a hotel, but it should be noted that even with an InterRail pass, you still have to systematically pay an additional fee for booking the sleeper compartments (about +10€ to 40€ per person depending on the country). The journey was very pleasant and each compartment was equipped with electrical outlets, convenient for charging all our devices. We had a restaurant and a bar, with the option to book a table and have a real meal served, and to spend a good evening socializing with the other travelers. The staff is pleasant, friendly, and available 100%. We are far from the quality of service offered by the French companies…!

We arrived in Berlin at 5 a.m.; it was still night, so we headed straight to the youth hostel. Generator Mitte to pack up and take a 2-hour nap in one of the comfortable sofas in the main room, so that I can be in top shape for the next 48 hours! Check in OK, breakfast OK, cameras charged OK, off we go to visit the trendiest capital in Europe.[metaslider id=8057]

The Berlin tourism office offered us two 24-hour passes to use the Hop-on Hop-off buses at will, a good solution for quickly discovering the city when you have little time to spend there. It’s easier to navigate the city, you get the tourist information in French (headphones), and you can stop and continue your journey at any time. It’s become a habit for us to take our first steps in a big city.

In the morning we went to the Brandenburg Gate, one of the main (tourist) symbols of Berlin; followed by a walk in the large green park of Tiergarten, the capital’s lungs, then a passage past the imposing Reischtag with its dome, before heading to the museum island and finally to the Charlottenbourg castle.

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We then went to the East-Side Gallery, one of the last sections of the Berlin Wall that is now covered with frescoes over an entire kilometer. It is not far from 120 artists from 21 countries who have given life to this wall of shame, a symbol of a rift and a disaster for almost three decades. The paintings tell this dark period of divided Germany, but also of the reunified Germany, which is much more colorful. This part of the Wall was classified as a historical monument in 1992. An essential stop for all those who, like us, love street art.[metaslider id=8077]

Near the wall, I recommend you make a detour to Yaam, a small Jamaican neighborhood that, like Christiana in Copenhagen, lives a bit apart from the rest of the city. There are many concerts in the evening and you’ll find a small skate park covered in graffiti, an old-school basketball court, several African and Caribbean bars and restaurants, and a small beach on the banks of the Spree where you can enjoy a cocktail while listening to Reggae. A little haven of peace in the heart of the dynamic capital.

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It’s time to head to the city center at Checkpoint Charlie and visit this museum that explains the entire history of the Cold War. We thought we would stay there for 45 minutes, but we ended up spending almost 2 hours there, because the museum is rich in objects from that era, documents, videos, and many other things. It’s an essential stop during your stay in Berlin, an opportunity to go back in time to that sad time that marked the world, and to remember your history class from high school while you’re at it! Among other things, we learn how the Berlin families managed to communicate and for some of them to reunite, using original and risky methods, at the risk of their lives.[metaslider id=8112]

Just steps from Checkpoint Charlie, there is a small clearing converted into a «beach» with stands selling sandwiches and Currywurst (curry sausage), as well as many sun loungers for enjoying the sun and the music. We love these atypical places that allow you to disconnect from the excitement of the city center. You will also find many of them along the Spree! We met Jeff, a digital nomad who rested there after an early morning of work in the city. Regus offices, located also right next to Checkpoint Charlie on Freidrichstrasse

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We are impressed by the contrast of the city and always notice the scars of these 30 years of separation. Between the chic districts of the West and the more industrial and popular districts of the East, the architecture and style change radically. Despite the wealth of Berlin’s heritage, we were nevertheless more drawn to East Berlin, which is more authentic, more alternative, more vibrant, where the most avant-garde artists, musicians and creators in Europe gather.

Berlin’s cultural life is rich in events and especially in musical concerts. It is possible to go out every night of the year in Berlin, as the programs are very extensive. In this regard, Franck, the hostel director CityStay At the place where we spent the second night in Berlin, they offered to take us out that evening and show us the quirky and alternative atmosphere of this European capital of partying. We went to Lido witnessing a great hip-hop concert performed by a collective that brings together Kenyan and Berlin singers. A treat!

 

To finish the evening, we went to Club Der Visionaere, Located just a few steps from the Lido along the Spree River, this venue is very pleasant, authentic, charming, and the music is wonderful! There is a beautiful wooden terrace outside overlooking the river and the lush greenery. During the day, you can go there to have a drink and enjoy the surroundings, and in the evening, it’s all about electronic music!