Internationale Grüne Woche Berlin

This event is an annual week long event in Berlin to exhibit the different food, agricultural, and horticultural industries around the world. I was fortunate enough to make a visit during its 76th showing! It took place in what was the size of a convention center. There were thousands of different vendors stationed throughout the complex. Each room was divided by a region. For example, there was a room devoted to the various industries from Deutschland. Some of the vendors were giving samples of their products, such as fondue from Switzerland and chocolate from Germany. Because everything was organic, the prices were too high for this poor college student to purchase anything but a delicious scoop of Italian gelato and a few pieces of British fudge (mint chocolate, chocolate, chocolate and peanut butter, and marzipan). And although I was there for 5 hours, I was unable to see the entire thing. Like I said, SO MANY people and vendors!

After unintentionally eating a spoonful of horse radish

Fresh cheese in the shape of a flower!

Holland

Young German choir

Cute farm animals

Kreuzberg - Checkpoint Charlie

Went to see the famous Checkpoint Charlie last weekend. It's quite the lively little area, filled with stores, museums, and various vendors. It is still hard for me to digest the fact that a wall divided East and West Germany only 22 years ago. What a different life. I cannot even imagine being physically separated from family and loved ones. And living in East Germany? It must have been so strange...

DDR sign

Standing in front of a leftover piece of the Berlin Wall

Checkpoint Charlie.
You can take a picture with the guard. For 2 euro.

Sarah and I, about to leave the American sector

(Re-)entering the American sector!

Friedrichstraße and the German Chancellery

On Thursday, January 13th, I went with my old German class to explore the neighborhoods around Friedrichstraße. Our German instructor put together a really cool self-guided tour. It was interesting to see the differences in architecture, style, and class.

Graffiti

A sign on the outside of the Neuen Synagoge
During WWII it was heavily damaged by Allied bombing during the Battle of Berlin

A Jewish memorial by Will Lammert was placed in front of the Jewish cemetery on Große Hamburger Straße


On Friday, January 14th, I went on a tour of the Chancellery. Unfortunately, I did not get to see Germany's Chancelloer, Angela Merkel. But I was entertained by one of her civil servants, who was not shy to bash the government systems of both Italy and England.

Portraits of the previous Chancellors of Germany

International Conference Room

JFK's pronunciation card for his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech

Tour of Berlin

On Sunday, January 9th, I, along with some other FU-BEST students, went on a tour of Berlin. It was led by the director of our program, Dirk. The tour was great, despite the very cold weather. I learned so much about Berlin and its history in that 4-hour tour. Not to mention I was able to see most of the historical landmarks and monuments that Berlin is notorious for. I also learned some interesting facts about Berlin. Zum Beispiel:

1. The city of Berlin could fit three other German cities in it: Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Hamburg, I believe
2. It's the only city that has witnessed several different changes in power
3. Berlin is the only city in the world with three active opera houses
4. It has two zoos
5. Berlin is the most multi-cultural city in Germany
6. Berlin is Germany's biggest university city

The Brandenburger Tor
In 1806, Napoleon took the Quadriga on top of the Brandenburger Tor back to France as a symbol of his victory. But the Quadriga was returned to the Brandenburger Tor, in 1814 after Napoleon was defeated

The Reichstag
Parliament of Germany

The Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten
80,000 soldiers of the Soviet Armed Forces died during the Battle of Berlin in spring 1945

Berliner Dom

Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Constructed in 1741 under Frederick II of Prussia