G

• Germany

Deutschland!!! So I love Germany and basically anything German. I have a lot of German blood in me and am very proud of that heritage. I love the language, the food, the history, the films, the people, the cars, the cities! I can go on but you are here to read about traveling in Germany.

Unfortunately, I only got to visit Berlin. However, if you have one place to choose, I would start there. Berlin is pretty indescribable. It is neither here nor there in a sense, because historically, it has been through so much, and it is still all clearly visible in the architecture and culture. The city is filled with monuments to its many tragedies (Holocaust, the Wall, Soviet Occupation), in order for locals and tourists alike to never forget. To me that signifies a great city; that no matter how ugly, destructive and depressing the past was, we should never forget it, in fact we should be continually thinking about it, so that it never happens again. Berlin is an international mecca as well. People from all over have called Berlin home in the last few decades. The city is influenced by Thai, Asain, Italian, French, Spanish and German culture. It truly is a fascinating city. One moment I would find myself walking down Unter den Lindens with the Brandenburg Tor and the beautiful Tiergarten in the background, and then next I would be standing in front of the Topography of Terrors, surrounded by horrors I could never imagine, and then yet again my location in the city would change and I might be visiting the "squatters" and enclosed by the infamous graffiti. Berlin is so hard to describe because it encompasses so much yet it all reflects a similar theme, one of moving forward by recognizing the past. You feel it as soon as you step off the U-Bahn and onto Friedrichstraße.

Okay enough of my passionate ramblings for Berlin. Here is a list (though very incomplete) of what you must do...

• The Museums around the Deutscher Dom (Museum Island) are free on Tuesday nights and hold some pretty cool things. I believe their exhibits change but whatever they are, they are free so why not. Plus, you can climb the Dom but I didn't do that because there are better views...
• Reichstag. This is Berlin's Parliament building and it is most spectacular. It combines old and modern as the original foundation recently found itself a new dome. This dome is unique (and what you should be climbing for a cool view), as it is a moving walk up a funnel and the top of the funnel looks down on the Parliament's debate room. This was purposefully created so that the representatives never forget who they are working for, the people.
• All the monuments around town: the existing parts of the wall (East Side Gallery and by the Topography of Terrors), Checkpoint Charlies, Holocaust Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, and so many others --> thus, take a walking tour, you will see everything you need to plus get an excellent overview of the history and culture. This is what I did on the first day and how I fell in love with Berlin.
• Walk around Mitte Berlin (old center of town in former East Berlin)
• Eat German food. Whether is it a bratwurst off a corner stand or a full on meal at a traditional restaurant, please eat. (I would suggest both) And of course you can't eat German food without German brew. The Berlin Kindle is a local beer which is excellent but the most popular would be the Hefewißen.
• The U-Bahn make getting around town and even outside town really easy. If you have the time take a trip out of town for the day. See Potsdam or make a trip to Sauchenhausen Concentration camp (something you should do at least once in your lifetime)

Germans are the nicest people too. Though they may seem cold at first, it is just their way of life. They are so willing to help and give suggestions. And please be warned, neo-nazism is still well and alive in Berlin, don't let that ruin your

view of the whole. Be patient and I know this city will astound you.

I know I missed a gazillion things in my list so please, Please, PLEASE just trust me about Berlin. And if Germany is your kind of place, head down to Munich for the famous beer gardens and see the unbelievable beauty of the Black Forest. You won't be sorry. Viel Spaß!!

• Gifts

Right before you leave for any trip, even if it is down the road, people back home always want something. Well this gets a little tricky if you are backpacking around Europe or gone longer then a couple of weeks. Here is my tip, find smaller items that still emit a cry of "oh my gosh this is perfect!" If the gift reflects the individual, it won't matter if it is expensive, big or breakable. However, I brought home plenty of glass objects and they survived. When you are packing them, make sure they are wrapped with bubble wrap and stuffed around clothes and perhaps even in your shoes. Basically anywhere they can remain stable as they go through security is perfect. I bought a mirror in Scotland and just made sure that stayed in my carry-on and on my person the entire time. So with more valuable objects just carry it onto the plane and never let it leave your site. A lot of shops now can mail your gift home for you if it is delicate enough, like glass plates, chandeliers, or clocks; however, if you are on a budget this tends to be pricey. If you really can't be traveling with tons of souvenirs and memorabilia, try to take pictures of things or places that people back home really like (my sister is a big fan of the movie the Gladiator so I framed a picture of the Coliseum) and frame is nicely. One can be rather creative when it comes to gift buying. Just remember, airport gifts count just as much as the real thing.