May 11, 2006

Berlin - part1
Once divided city now symbol of German reunification

Living in a Central European country like the Czech Republic has certain advantages. One of them is that some of Europe's great travel destinations are within easy reach.
Travel should become even easier in the next few years, when the Czech Republic joins other European Union members in adopting the single currency, the euro, and gets accepted into the Schengen visa system
Already, millions of people in the European Union are enjoying those benefits. People from different cultural, religious, linguistic and political backgrounds -- and, more importantly, the rivals of yesterday -- are living in a single family. Just imagine 25 provinces, of different backgrounds and different linguistic and cultural identities, living within the boundaries of one country. The EU is like that, but with 25 countries instead of provinces.
As with any family, there are problems, and some members are less happy than others. Many Muslims -- particularly since the September 11 attacks -- complain they feel under siege. Just let an official or a hotel manager find out your Muslim identity and see their expression change.
Still, that's not enough to put off an avid traveler such as myself. I have two days off a week and enjoy taking advantage of the opportunity offered by living in the heart of Europe. April 16-17 was one such occasion, which I used to travel to Berlin, the capital of Germany.
It was my sixth visit to this country and second to this beautiful city; after London, Berlin has always been one of my favorite places in Europe. A very good friend was accompanying me, which made this trip more enjoyable.
This time I also saw Berlin from a new perspective, since I made my first visit to the remains of the Berlin wall, which until its fall in 1989 divided the inhabitants of this city for decades.
Most of the wall was demolished years ago, but one section is still kept for tourists to see. This thin section, no more than 2 meters high, looked almost easy to cross.
So that was the question I asked our German guide, "How was it that people were not able to climb over this small wall?’
"Young man," he replied. "I would cross it ten times in a day. Climbing was not the issue, the question was how to reach the wall?’ He pointed at the corner. "Have you heard about Checkpoint Charlie?"
Admitting I had not, he said it was not only the checkpoint that divided Berlin, but also the place where the destiny of the German people used to be decided by foreigners.
Today there's a museum near where the checkpoint stood, commemorating one of the most famous symbols of the Cold War
Germany's economy is now showing signs of recovery after several sluggish years. Despite problems such as high unemployment, standards of living are generally still high..
I especially like the railway system, the well-structured underground, the local transport system and the huge shopping malls. Whenever I come to Germany, shopping is always high on my list of priorities. And I think this city is one of the best shopping destinations in Europe. Have you ever heard about Ka De We,? If not, let me tell you this is the biggest shopping center in Europe and it is located in Berlin.
Still, it's not for the faint-hearted -- or the budget shopper. During my stay I spent some three hours in this 5-storey megamall, but came out empty-handed. Perhaps I was put off by the price tag on a watch I saw in one of the mall's more exclusive outlets. The asking price? 150,000 euros.
Dear readers:- tomorrow I will be taking you to the little Istanbul in heart of Europe, where not only shopping but meetings was unforgettable. So see there.