Berlin in Pictures

I find myself wandering in Berlin and taking pictures that I end up falling in love with.

I use my iPhone X, then edit them using Lightroom (mobile app).

I’m sharing some of them with you today, in hope that you would visit this city soon!

Berlin, I love you.

Berlin In 3 Days: What To Do

If it were up to me, I would tell you to stay in Berlin for at least 10 days and enjoy the city slowly, as you fall in love with every corner of it.
But because I know the thrill of being in Europe and wanting to visit every part of it at once, I’m hoping this blog post can help you get an idea on what to visit in Berlin, Germany, even if your time is limited!

If you want, skip to the trip details or read a couple of tips I wrote for you!

Once you’re in Berlin:

• You’re going to want to try BEER!
  Tawa and I’s absolute favorite is the Augustiner.
  You can buy this bottle in shops or order it in some restaurants/pubs.
  This Bavarian beer comes from Munich’s oldest brewery. It is the most successful beer in Mitte Berlin, even though the company does not advertise it. The labels haven’t changed for 20 years!
  Talk about a retro look 🙂 !
  

  

• You can have MANY choices of food-on-the-go while you’re touring.
  If you’re near Alexanderplatz, you can choose from Doner Kebab, Dürüm or Curry Wurst.
  But you’ll also find them anywhere else, Berlin has some of the best kebabs!

  
  

• Watch out!
  This goes without saying, but please keep an eye on your wallet and bags.
  I’m not saying you should be terrified all the time, but pickpocketing is likely to happen.
• Transportation
  You can buy your daily ticket that costs 7 EUROS at the metro station, on the bus or using the app BVG TICKETS.
  In case you decide to stay for more than 3 days, you can also buy a weekly ticket, which is around 30 EUROS.
  Please note that a SINGLE TRIP TICKET means that for 2 hours, you can go anywhere without returns or round trips. Changes and interruptions are permitted.

  

• Clubs
  Due to my lack of interest in clubs, I won’t be recommending any. But I’m sure if you’re a fan of partying, you’re probably going to Berlin for Berghain. Good luck getting in there! ❤ 
• Pubs
  Click here to see the list of my favorite pubs in Berlin.

3 DAY ITINERARY

FIRST DAY:

Start your first day in Berlin at Alexanderplatz. After passing next to the World Clock, walk towards the TV Tower (Fernsehturm). Once you’re up there, you can have a phenomenal view of the city, and learn about the history of every part of it, written there for you to read!

Buy the Tickets here 🙂 
Personal tip: Don’t have a drink at the bar there, it’s not worth it.

 

 

Before you start shopping at Alexanderplatz, walk 600m from Alexanderplatz to Nikolaiviertel, Berlin’s oldest district. There you can find St.Nicolas’ Church, some cozy cafés and restaurants where you can stop for lunch.

Next up is the amazing Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), 550m away from Nikolaiviertel.
If you decide to enter the Cathedral and go up all the way to the top, you can also enjoy a fascinating view.

From Berlin Cathedral to Brandenburg Gate, pass by Unter den Linden, a boulevard in the central district: Mitte.
Starting from the Schlossbrücke, this 1.5km road lets you see numerous important buildings such as the Humboldt University and the Staatsoper (Berlin State Opera).
The boulevard also has shops and restaurants and cafés in case you decide to postpone lunch till then!

Bonus:
Take a detour at Gendarmenmarkt, the most beautiful square in Berlin.
If you’re there during December, you might enjoy Gendarmenmarkt’s Christmas Market!

Now it’s only a few meters left to the Brandenburg Gate, the most famous landmark of Berlin.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, it became a symbol of German unity.

Side Story: After winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the German national football team held their victory rally in front of the gate.

SECOND DAY:

Start this day with historical destinations, first off at the Jewish Museum of Berlin, “Welcome to Jerusalem”.
It’s recommended to take the tour with an audio guide, that way you can enjoy a full experience. 
It can take you up to 40 minutes to tour it if you take your time! 

Following this trip back in time, 850m away is the famous Checkpoint Charlie! 

After that, how about another interesting Museum tour?
Head to Niederkirchnerstraße 8, to check out “Topography of Terror”.
On this site between 1933 and 1945, the principal instruments of Nazi persecution and terror were located: the headquarters of the Gestapo, the high command and security service of the SS, and from 1939 the Reich Security Main Office.


After that emotional ride, head to Tierpark for a tour in the largest animal park or grab a beer and chill at your nearest park. 🙂 

THIRD DAY 

Did you really come to Berlin if you didn’t see the Berlin Wall? 
Separating East and West Berlin, the Wall’s demolition officially began on 13 June 1990 and finished in 1992. Not so long ago!
You probably saw parts of it during your visits at the Topography of Terror, but I find the one along the Spree River near the Oberbaumbrücke- nicknamed East Side Gallery– to be the most touristic one of all.
P.S: Don’t have high expectations before visiting the East Side Gallery, or you’re up for a big disappointment!

Here’s the last stop for the day: Gärten der Welt
Gardens of the World is a large space for fun and relaxation in natural surroundings! 
You get to experience different gardens from around the world, from Japanese, Balinese, Middle Eastern, Korean and Christian-themed gardens to the Italian Renaissance Garden and the Chinese Garden of the Recovered Moon. 
Get lost in the maze garden and the labyrinth for some extra fun! 

Opening hours

Mon. – Sun. (Nov. – Feb.)	9:00 – 16:00
Mon-Sun (Mar. + Oct.)	9:00 – 18:00
Mon – Sun (Apr. – Sep.)	9:00 – 20:00

Enjoy an easy going end of this third day, where you probably have to get ready to say goodbye to this beautiful city.
But in case you still have time, you have the choice to check out one of the many cafés by the Landwehr Canal or the Neuköllner Schiffahrtskanal (Neukölln Ship Canal),  or even take a Spree river cruise!

Don’t forget to check out the 5 pubs I love visiting in Berlin.
I hope this blog post was all you needed to know, and I hope you enjoy your stay in this historical and magical city.
Bis bald! 

 

A Long Distance Marriage

I’m not going to lie to you, this has been the most tiring year of my life.
So many things happened that would leave all of you speechless, but that’s not what you’re here to read.

I always looked at people going through this and thought to myself “they’re doing great” and “they’re really strong people” and “I’m glad they are able to manage this LDR”.
What I didn’t know, soon became my own reality.

Even after moving to Berlin, I am still not done working on my visa papers to be able to stay there for good.
So the long-distance marriage begins, and it’s not quite the dream.

First of all, let me begin by explaining to you that I am the worst person you could talk to on WhatsApp. I rarely ever understand if you’re serious, joking, sarcastic, or just not in the mood to talk.
How would anyone ever know anyway?
That was the first problem I had because when you misunderstand someone who’s kilometers away, there’s nothing you can do about it except call and try to fix it.
Which leads me to the second problem!
Calling anyone who’s abroad with our terrible internet is really a challenge.
I recommend subscribing to the largest Mobile Data your cell phone provider has to offer unless you have a badass internet at home. Then you’re just really lucky.
And speaking of luck, it’s a good thing we only have a one hour difference otherwise I don’t know what I would’ve done. I like my good night sleep.

So if you’re here for some tips, I would gladly add a few things to what Nicole had to say in her own blog post, from my own perspective.

Enjoy your time alone with your family, it won’t be long before you have to join your partner abroad.

It’s important to know each others’ schedules during the day to avoid texting or calling at the wrong time.

Use the same Netflix account and watch the same series together: you’ll have something new to discuss.

Try to stay as positive as you can, it keeps the relationship alive. Be thankful for each other’s health and safety!

Set a date. Decide when one of you will get to see the other again, don’t leave this subject hanging. It literally destroys all hope.

 

 

Try to celebrate all the little things you wouldn’t even notice before.

See this as a new way to accumulate airline miles!

It will never be 100% perfect, don’t beat yourself up every time something happens.

It’s been 5 months for us. I’m still learning, discovering, making mistakes and laughing at myself. This will never be a piece of cake, but it can be bearable when you want it to work.
I know many people who live together and yet aren’t as close as a LDR couple is.
Which reminds me of something I read on Twitter:

“You can be in the same room with the same person for years, and be in a long distance relationship.” 

Distance is only as hard as you make it!

I hope that after Nicole’s tips and mine, you can understand that every relationship takes work, but one with a long distance, takes twice the hard work- but it does not mean it is not feasible.

If you’re in a LDR, please share your tips in the comments below!