First Day in Berlin
I am so excited. So excited to be here, in Berlin. Yesterday I came to this big city, and today after breakfast, immediately want to share my first impression with you.
In Munich, I have friends who came there for their education. So, I will decide to visit them. However, before visiting them, I want to see Berlin, too.
This is ever my first time being alone abroad. I was very nervous if I have to admit it.
But in the end, what could be the worst? Even though I don’t know any German, I know enough English to explain myself.
In the worst-case scenario, I thought I could find a Turk. This city has a lot of Turk! (I am also a Turkish girl:)
In the 50s, Germany needed a serious workforce. Turks seem very eager to meet this need. Many men come to Germany from the villages of Anatolia.
If you come to Germany, you will meet a Turk. When the Uber driver who picked me up at the airport started to speak Turkish directly with me, Turks started to appear in front of me at my first step.
So after a little demographic information, and my fears, I want to mention my first day.
Places I’ve Seen
1. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is one of the places that best portrays the feeling of living in Berlin during the Cold War years and the sad facts.
It was built as a border crossing and control zone between East-West Germany. Checkpoint Charlie, where American and Soviet soldiers were keeping watch together, became a threatening region not only for Germany but also for the world during the years when Berlin was divided.
Checkpoint Charlie Berlin, which was completely closed to the public when it was active and could only be used by people in certain positions, is full of the Cold War history of Berlin.
2. Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer is a square that represents the modern and dynamic face of the city. This is a very busy place, surrounded by many beauties, where people are constantly running around, but at the same time inviting you to slow down a bit to enjoy the city.
The square, which quickly gained a completely different face after the reunification of Germany, is today full of skyscrapers, shopping and entertainment centers, luxury restaurants, and workplaces.
Performances by street artists and some remnants of the Berlin Wall are among the most important elements that popularize the square. Also, the iconic Sony Center is one of the first places that comes to mind when most people think of Potsdamer Platz.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet a German worker here. We chatted about the Ukraine war, women’s rights, and more. Even though he doesn’t want to be photographed, I would like to make this beautiful moment permanent by mentioning him here.
3. Sony Center
Sony Center is a huge complex in Berlin that brings together different concepts such as entertainment, accommodation, art, food, and shopping.
The center, which dazzles with its magnificent and colorful design by Helmuth Jahn, consists of 8 buildings in total.
Sony Center, located in Potsdamer, Berlin’s famous square, has also become the symbol of this place. If you happen to be in Berlin, I recommend you to see Sony Center.
It’s a very lively place, so if you want to feel alive just go there.
4. Topography of Terror
The traces of the fear and brutality that the Nazis spread all over the world are reminded in various parts of Berlin like a lesson. For this reason alone, Berlin is a metropolis that attracts more than one million tourists annually.
Topography of Terror is also a museum that was opened at the location of the SS-Gestapo headquarters during the years of Adolf Hitler.
The cellars hidden underground are the remains of that period. Apart from these, the buildings where the Nazis tortured, those who lost World War II, were completely destroyed.
It is possible to see the rise of the Nazis, how they steered the history of Germany, their lives, and the crimes they committed in this museum.
It was a very impressive and informative exhibition, I was very impressed.
With the Topography of Terror in the concept of the museum of terror, you can take a closer look at one of the most painful events in Berlin and world history. An ideal Berlin museum for travelers interested in history.
5. Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg, also known as “Little Istanbul” due to the high concentration of Turks in Berlin, is a unique place with alternative cultural elements.
Kreuzberg, which has hosted minorities in Berlin throughout its history, has become an area where most Turks live after the Holocaust. It is a multicultural and dynamic neighborhood. The walls are decorated with graffiti in the area, which also appeals to artists and students.
Kreuzberg is a favorite destination for travelers who love shabby cafes/bars, nightlife, and second-hand shops.
Kebab shops, doner shops, places to enjoy Turkish-style tea, and people who speak Turkish everywhere… You can head to Kreuzberg to take a look at the life of Turks in Germany and visit one of Berlin’s most popular tourist destinations.
I had my dinner in Kreuzberg. It was actually a bit difficult to find a place open in the evening in Berlin. That’s why I felt relieved when I went to Kreuzberg and saw the places that open at night.
Today
Today I am planning to see Brandenburger Tor, Holocaust-Mahnmal, Tiergarten, and Charlottenburg Palace.
I don’t know what I’m going to experience. But whatever happens, I’ll share with you tomorrow what I’ve been through.
Thank you so much for witnessing my excitement. If you have been to or live in Berlin. Share with me the places I must go and see in the comments. If you liked my article and want to see more, don’t pass without applause. See you around.
