Study Abroad Blog: Exploring Berlin

Undoubtedly one of the best things about studying abroad is the opportunity to travel. I recently spent several days in Berlin, which is situated in the east of Germany. Travelling with a friend from Heidelberg, it took five hours to reach Berlin using Germany's high-speed ICE trains, which can reach speeds of up to 320km per hour.

Boasting a population of over three million people, Berlin is a bustling multicultural city. Its impressive street art and postwar relics, like the East Side Gallery, the Brandenburg Gate and TV Tower give the city a quirky edge.

Staying with friends went a great way towards reducing expenses, and also meant that I got to experience the alternative side of the city. Speedminton was one such activity. It is similar to badminton but is played without a net. This time taking place in a gym hall covered with sand, UV lights highlighted the players adorned in neon paint, as music blared from speakers. Despite being a novice I gave it a good go and made a few rallies. It was great fun in spite of the sand-swamped boots I had to endure for the rest of the week!

That same night I went to a fancy dress party. The costumes were impressive, from hippies and mimes to what appeared to be extras from Moulin Rouge. Sadly I didn't have a costume, but as if my wishes were heard by my fairy godmother, a fellow partier kindly showered me in fairy dust; days later I was still picking odd specks of glitter from my hair.

The monuments in Berlin stand tall in the center of the city. One of the highlights was visiting Museum Island where huge museums are clustered together, making it easy to travel from one building to another. I particularly enjoyed the range of Egyptian art on display at the Neues Museum, as well as the intricate Islamic pieces at the Pergamon Museum, which also contains massive reconstructed buildings from antiquity. Nearby, Potsdamer Platz showcases sleek skyscrapers and its bright lights are akin to London's Leicester Square. 

Berlin once controlled by Britain, France, Russia and the USA simultaneously after the Second World War is steeped in modern history, and its various monuments are scattered across the city. The German Democratic Republic museum gives an insight into what is was like for many citizens in East Germany living in a Communist regime. I was surprised to see just how different the lives of people living in the East were from those of their counterparts in the West.

I also got the opportunity to visit the Holocaust memorial near Brandenburg Gate. The expansive memorial is particularly distinctive, as it is formed of concrete structures which progressively get taller as the ground beneath rises and dips at intervals. For me, this created a feeling of being disorientated and overpowered, and prompted me to reflect on the plight of those affected by the Holocaust.

 

The city is also home to a large Turkish population. Visiting the markets in the Turkish quarter and seeing an array of foods, spices and fabrics was a great insight to the city's diversity.

There are many options for traveling in and around Germany at a reasonable price. The InterRail pass for example, allows unlimited travel on a set number of days on all German trains within a month. Passes can include anywhere from two days of unlimited travel to eight. So if you're thinking of travelling around Europe sometime soon, you should definitely put Berlin on the list!

Bis bald!

Study Abroad Blog: Freiburg – Bonfires, Karneval and Faust

Hello blogosphere! Apologies for my recent lack of posts recently, but grovelling aside I bring good news!

Last week I got a short reprieve from term paper stress and travelled to Freiburg, after a friend kindly invited me to visit for the weekend. Located in the southwest of Germany, Freiburg is picturesque. Throughout the year tourists are drawn to the city and the surrounding areas for its vineyards, historic ruins and the Black Forest. 

On the first day we ventured into the city center, where postwar concrete buildings shoulder the winding streets of the Old Town. The Old Town is particularly distinctive as its "bachle" or small streams run along the pavements. A relic of the city's innovative sanitation system during the Middle Ages, the "bachle" are now skillfully avoided by hasty shoppers, while local superstition has it that those who accidentally fall into it will marry someone from Freiburg.

Another interesting site was the Freiburg Cathedral, also known as the 'Minster of Our Lady'. Built in the 13^th century its Gothic style high arches and authentic stained-glass windows stun it's visitors into awe-stricken silence. 

That evening leaving the coffee shops and ice-cream parlours of the city behind, we travelled out to witness an annual bonfire display. Burning disk-flinging is an age old tradition in Europe. Kids and adults alike use long sticks to heat wooden discs in bonfires and hit them onto wooden planks, launching the discs hundreds of meters into the distance. I watched mesmerised and chomping on a bratwurst, as the golden disks of light disappeared into the night like shooting stars.

On Saturday we visited Salzburg to see the city's annual street parade. The event, which runs shortly after the pre-Lent festival Fastnacht, had attracted various guilds from Salzburg and beyond. Beer, curry-wurst and high spirits were in abundance. Groups accompanied by big bands proudly represented their guilds in creative costumes. From terrifying demons with chiming cow bells to folkloric jesters. During the parade, onlookers are also active participants, and in return for candy they must endure pranks; damsels taken away on wagons, and unlucky spectators with tied feet and hands were common sights!

 

Later that day, we attended a Big Band show organised by the school my friend once attended. Highlights included the choir singing Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and the live band solos of Motown classics, such as 'Aint no mountain high enough'. 

Having not completely zapped all of my energy over the weekend, on Sunday we drove to Staufen, a place widely recognised for its production of wine. On a literary note, Staufen and its medieval castle ruins are also home to the Faust Legend. Dr. Johann Faust the notorious alchemist who made a pact with the devil is known to have lived and worked in the castle. His mysterious demise was picked up by both Goeter and Marlowe during the Renaissance era. 

The weekend was also a great opportunity to practice my German. Especially when the family gathered during meal times, and to my relief I was able to follow most of what was being discussed. Ultimately, it was great to experience Germany from a different perspective and sample a range of fresh and homemade dishes, like kartoffel suppe, pfannekuchen and flammkuchen – recipes I'll definitely be taking home!

Well, that was a snapshot of my weekend. 

Now I'm back in Heidelberg and ready to hit the homestretch! Ciao!