Berlin

     Last April, I went on a trip to Berlin, Germany. I was amazed by this city because of the captivating tourist attractions including many museums, the Berlin Zoo and Charlottenburg Palace. I was fascinated by all these sites in Berlin because of what I learned and how interesting and lively the exhibits are in the city.

     Berlin is the biggest city in Germany and the second most populated city in the European Union behind London. Berlin is a world class city full of politics, culture, media, and science. Berlin was founded in the 13th century and was the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, forming the German Empire in 1871. Berlin has since become a major world city for its leadership role in science, humanities, music, museums, higher education, government, and the military. When much of Berlin was destroyed after World War II, the city was separated by The Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. 

                                                              BERLIN PASS

     Are you ready to hear about an awesome way to SAVE MONEY on activities and transportation in Berlin? I highly recommend buying the Berlin Pass. Included in the Berlin Pass are free entries to over 50 attractions, the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Pass, an optional travel card, and discounted exclusive offers. Some of the attractions include museums such as The Berlin Dome, Madame Tussauds, Berlin Dungeon, Aquadom and Sealife Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, Bode Museum, Alte National Gallery, The Jewish Museum, Berlin Film Museum, German Technology Museum, and many others. A 3-day pass costs about 145 Euros (about $175) and is definitely worth it!

                                                              BERLIN WALL

     One major highlight of my trip was getting to see the ruins of The Berlin Wall. The art and graffiti on the wall symbolized how people felt about Berlin being a divided city. This wall caused a lot of problems for the city because East Germans couldn't travel or migrate to West Germany. In addition, families were being split up and people were being cut off from their jobs. Many people died attempting to get over The Wall and there’s even a memorial to remember those that lost their lives. The fall of The Berlin Wall started when the Hungarian government dismantled the fence with Austria causing many in East Berlin to escape through Hungary and Austria. The Wall was officially torn down in 1989 resulting in the reunification of Germany. 

                                                                    BERLIN ZOO

     Last, but certainly not least, I’m going to talk about my favorite part of the trip: The Berlin Zoo. This zoo opened in 1844 and is one of the oldest and most well-known zoos in Germany. It features over 1,380 different species and 20,200 animals! It’s the most visited zoo in all of Europe, and one of the most visited zoos worldwide bringing in over 3.5 million visitors in 2017! It felt more like being in an animal sanctuary because the animals aren't locked in cages and could run around and explore their territory like it was their natural habitat. I especially loved seeing the elephants up close! If you’re a fish lover, there’s also an aquarium in the zoo! 

     In summary, Berlin has a lot to offer and it feels extremely underrated compared to other cities in Europe because not enough people seem to talk about it. This city has a lot to offer from world class museums to historical monuments to history about the city and a world-class zoo. I encourage you to take a trip to Berlin and see how it can amaze you. I'm Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler and I look forward to showing YOU A Whole New World.

Dallas Zoo

     Greetings, everyone! Today I am going to talk to you about my adventures at the Dallas Zoo, located three miles south of Downtown Dallas.

     The zoo was established in 1888 and the first purchase consisted of two deer and two mountain lions for $60. Today, the zoo has 106 acres with over 2,000 different types of animals! Some of the biggest expansions of the zoo were the Wilds of Africa exhibit, the Giants of the Savanna exhibit and the main part of the zoo known as Zoonorth.

                                                            WILDS OF AFRICA

     

     A part of the zoo that I really enjoyed was the Wilds of Africa exhibit. This exhibit opened up in 1990 and was the first exhibit to feature all of the major habitats of Africa. In this exhibit, you can visit rain forests, mountains, woodlands, rivers, deserts, and the brush of Africa! My favorite part was the nature trail that takes visitors through the rain forest, where I saw gorillas, chimpanzees, crocodiles and cranes. 

                                                       GIANTS OF THE SAVANNA

       I then went to an exhibit called the Giants of the Savanna. This exhibit provides an interactive experience for different types of animals that call the Savanna home. Some of the animals include elephants, giraffes, and zebras. This exhibit has won many awards such as the “Top 10 Zoo Exhibits” in 2015 by USA Today, as well as a 2011 Exhibit Award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for significant achievement. It also has received much praise from researchers, zoo industry professionals and zoo guests.

     One of the most impressive parts of this exhibit is the Elephants on the Savanna. If you go there, look for a herd of female elephants called “The Golden Girls.” The design of the Giants of the Savanna allows the elephants to run wild because they are looking for food, water, and companionship. Treats are occasionally hidden in trees or niches around the habitat for the elephants to find and to get exercise. 

     Another interesting part of the exhibit is feeding giraffes at the Diane and Hal Brierley Giraffe Ridge. For $5, you can come face-to-face with the tallest creatures on the planet! Giraffes eat a variety of fruits and vegetables with male giraffes eating around 75 pounds of food a day! Make sure to only feed them food provided by the zookeepers and watch your personal belongings as giraffes tend to lick or grab things they haven’t seen before with their long, black tongues!

                                                                  ZooNorth

     Other exhibits in the zoo house otters, Galapagos tortoises and monkeys. Be sure to check out the Pierre A. Fontaine Bird and Reptile Building where you will learn about amphibians as well as endangered species. I was fascinated by the Endangered Tiger Habitat where I saw some very rare Sumatran and Malaysian tigers!  

     Overall, the Dallas Zoo has something to offer for every member of the family! Be sure to watch this video of me at the Dallas Zoo to see more of what I saw! I'm Stephen Gaiber: The Autistic Traveler. 

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65ncTHyKq0s&t=1s