Quick travel budget rant: Despite intellectually understanding that this would happen eventually, it was nonetheless becoming undeniable in Berlin; We were no longer in eastern Europe and one would be set up for repeated disappointment if the expectation was to continue to pay eastern European prices. It goes without saying and that obvious fact was already highlighted in stark contrast during our day-trip to Vienna from Bratislava. Slovakia is by no means cheap owed in some part due to their adoption of the Euro, but going out for dinner and drinks can be accomplished for a pittance when compared with Vienna. While Berlin isn’t as efficient as Vienna when it comes to draining your travel funds, it does help to have some basic idea of where to go and what to do without getting swept up in opportunistic tourist traps.

In a way, Berlin is a great place to play the game of rich cultural experiences all the while stretching your potentially hard-earned travel Euros. Why? Well, I have a theory that could be completely off, but here goes: Germany as a governing entity is acutely aware of the atrocities perpetrated in the 30s and 40s. To atone for these sins, as they cannot change what’s passed, they are instead transparent and factual, yet generally and genuinely empathetic to the victims. As such, there are countless places in Berlin where this educational remorse is on display. Ok, but what on God’s green earth does this have to do with travel budgeting? It does, because in addition to transparency there must be accessibility. After all, the main objective with history teachings must be to not repeat the bad parts, no? As a result, Berlin, due to its designation as the epicentre of the third Reich is a veritable smorgasbord of free museums, galleries, monuments etc. Bring your most patient self, however as the crowds can be suffocating.

Only indirectly related to what happened when a certain someone was appointed chancellor in the 30s, and all other parties were promptly banned, the German legislature, or Reichstag, is now supervised by its constituents, albeit symbolically. As the old saying goes, the two things you don’t want to see made are laws and sausages, both of which Germany has in abundance. For those who don’t follow norms, the roof the Reichstag has a glass dome through which, not just Germans, mind you, can oversee the messy business that is German law making. Getting access to the roof is free, however strongly regulated. Only a fixed number get to go up during designated slots, and said slots are booked up online weeks in advance during the busy tourist seasons. All other norm-breakers are directed towards Kumpel and Keule to either witness the genesis of Wurst or order one of their signature burgers which is another messy, yet delicious must-try for travelling carnivores.

I appreciate many sides of Berlin away from Alexanderplatz, but none more so than the Prenzlauer Berg area. If one was to generalize wildly, it’s a bit of a hipster area with an ethnic flare. In my view, this is the area in which to stay when in Berlin. The pulse, the people and the history make this a lively and authentic-feeling part of town and just far enough removed from the tourist hot spots of Mitte, i.e. the city centre proper. Prenzlauer Berg is where people first broke through the wall in 1989 and is also where you’ll find the open air wall ‘museum’, which offers people-centric historical facts and anecdotes, photos, monuments and permanent indicators where the various zones of the wall were and even where escape tunnels were painstakingly dug.

Berlin was intense this time around with lots of walking and even more U-bahn use, and the time has come when we set our sights north towards Lübeck for some Hanse-era R&R.