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.