For the last two weeks of July I took a trip to Germany, and visited Berlin and Munich for one week each. I hadn’t planned far in advance to vacation in Germany, but circumstances arose (I had a friend I could stay with for free!) that made it appealing.
Mural on Berlin Wall, part of East Side Gallery
It was quite easy for a mono-lingual American such as myself to travel throughout Germany, particularly because I stuck to the city areas most of the time. I managed to pick up some rudimentary vocabulary words so I could read signs and understand public transportation announcements, but I could usually just ask for assistance from someone nearby and get a direct, if sometimes blunt answer (people’s personal communication style reminded me of being on the East Coast of the US).
Reichstag (German Parliament) + My Face
My limited experience was confined to only two locales, but I enjoyed my time in both Berlin and Munich, where I brushed up on my history of the Berlin Wall and World War II. Not only did the Germans and other Europeans I encountered speak excellent English, they also had an impressive grasp of American history, which I couldn’t claim for their countries. For instance, one evening we spent a period of conversation listing American Presidents backwards, and the German citizens could remember just as well as myself and my American friend.
A restaurant with (almost) my name!
My time in Berlin included lots of trips on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, which was perhaps my favorite part since I love public transportation. I visited several of the tourist shrines, such as the Reichstag, Brandenburg gate, Checkpoint Charlie, East Side Gallery (remains of the Berlin Wall), the Holocaust Memorial site, Charlottenburg Palace, and a lovely boat trip down the Spree, complete with tourguide commentary in German.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
After touring Berlin for a week, I took a train to Munich. Although there is a stereotype about German trains, in this case it was inaccurate and my train was an hour late, turning a 6-hour trip into 7 hours. Luckily my friend was patient and was still waiting for me on the platform when my train finally arrived (thanks, Kerre!).
Enjoying the oom pah pah at the Hofbräuhaus
Munich also provided many historical learning opportunities for me, being the seat of the Bavarian region and the “birthplace” of National Socialism. My experiences there varied wildly, from the delight of purchasing and wearing my very own dirndl to visiting the sobering site of the Dachau concentration camp. I also visited the famous Hofbräuhaus, Nymphenburg Palace, a toy museum exhibit, took a lovely hike in the countryside, and ate plenty of sausage, sauerkraut and pretzels. I thoroughly enjoyed the Münchner Stadtmuseum, where I stayed for hours taking refuge from the rain, meandering through an exhibit on the history of Bavaria, another on the history of Oktoberfest, and my favorite exhibit about puppets and circus contraptions.
Robots in the Spielzeugmuseum
Traveling outside of the United States is always good for me to re-set my perspective on my life and world events. I like to get out of my comfort zone, stretch my experience, and examine my expectations and assumptions. This trip was great, but it’s always nice to come home.
Pork knuckle and potato salad with a pretzel topper
