My trip to Germany

Germany was never really on my travel bucket list. I had this preconceived notion that the German people are harsh, stubborn, and unforgiving. I thought that Germany it self had nothing to offer but heartache and pain, thanks to my very limited knowledge about it. When I thought about Germany, I naturally only thought about Hitler, Nazi Germany, and sauerkraut. It's unfortunate that I let my biases keep me from learning more about Germany and why some people visited there for fun. Last month, I had the opportunity to go to Germany and I was apprehensive about taking the plunge. It wasn't until the last minute that I decided to go, thanks to the persuasion of a couple of facebook friends and my husband.

My husband has been to Germany before and every time he talks about it, there's a tone of undeniable nostalgia and reverence in his voice. He dragged me along with him this time when he was invited to speak at a conference. I am glad I did not put up too much of a fight and ventured out of my comfort zone.

The first stop was Berlin, Germany. After checking in, I took a nap because I was still on U.S time and it was pretty late for me. I woke up at nearly 11 p.m. and decided to wake my husband up for a late night stroll outside. It was Saturday night so there were people out laughing, drinking, and enjoying the temperate Berlin night. There seems to be a sort of underground feel in Berlin. I noticed the popular sartorial choices were that of the gothic/punk rock style. It was befitting with the ubiquitous graffiti on nearly every wall and building. Some lovingly adorned with the ever-famous hammer and sickle communist symbol. After a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, we became more purpose-driven thanks to the grumbling protests from our stomachs. We were on a mission to find good eats. Shortly after, we happened upon a kebab restaurant. Kebabs are the thing in Germany. I am not an adventurous eater, but Sterlin tore into his kebab while I gingerly ate my pommes frites. That's German for french fries. It's funny how familiar things like ketchup taste so different in a foreign country. We decided to head back to the hotel after filling up to rest up for the busy day tomorrow.

The next day, we started out at Einstein Cafe to enjoy some delicious Fruhstuck. German for breakfast. Look at that spread! They know how to do it right. A traditional German breakfast has various types of bread, meats, fruits, and cheese. It was all so delicious and showed me the meaning of a healthy, balanced breakfast because I usually skip it every morning.

Cafe Einstein was a really neat spot because they had a beautiful patio area, ornate interior decorations, and a satisfying menu. You can order food, tea, coffee, and cocktails. A scene from Inglorious Basterds was also filmed there, so that's cool. We enjoyed many a Fruhstuck during our time in Germany which spoiled me and made it difficult when I returned to the states and came back to my No-Breakfast life. We headed back to the hotel after that because Sterlin had some work to do. I stayed with him for a bit before deciding to venture out on my own. I looked at the map and saw a shopping centre. Excitement ensues. European Fashion. So happies. Upon closer inspection, I saw a petit issue. The shopping centre was located on Karl-Marx St. Oh, the irony. Throwing my wariness aside, I began my trek to Karl-Marx St. It started out fine. People walking, sun shining, puppies panting. The closer I got to Karl-Marx, the people became less, the sun seemed to dim, and I began to get an eerie feeling. I looked at my map and saw I was only 12 minutes away from my destination. I stood there and debated whether I wanted to continue down the path of suffocating communism or turn back to what I am somewhat familiar with. I decided turn around and head back to the hotel. It might have been all in my head. I might have projected my silly expectations onto my environment and made it more frightening than it really was. Maybe next time I'll being a friend along.

We also visited the Berggruen Museum and saw original paintings from Picasso, Matisse, Klee, Giacometti, and others. It was surreal to gaze upon masterpieces created by people of such artistic talent. It was interesting to know what inspired each artist and the deeper meaning between the brushstrokes. Times of war, destruction, and despair influenced Picasso's work greatly. That is evident in his work "Guernica" which was sadly not at this museum. We were allowed to take pictures, but I was intimidated by all the employees watching and didn't want to actually take a picture with flash. The only picture I took was of Picasso's "Yellow Sweater" which I have already posted.

We headed to Hamburg by train the next day. Germany has a very efficient transportation system and it's not too difficult to navigate the massive station. A train ride from Berlin to Hamburg will take about 2 hours. I have never been on a train and I was happy to see the more scenic and country side of Germany. I was also grateful they had a/c on the train. That's one of my peeves with Europe. They don't have a/c in most places because it doesn't get sweltering hot over there and most europeans vacation somewhere else during the hottest parts of the year. Hamburg is the second largest city in Hamburg and home to the second largest port. We were fortunate enough to go on a boat ride and explore a little piece of Hamburg.

One thing that really shocked me about Germany was the attitude towards sex. There are a slew of sex clubs that cater to folks chasing hedonistic dreams. I was just walking down a street. A fairly non-descript street with restaurants and stores. Then BAM! A huge neon pink sign that reads "SEX 39 EUROS" catches my attention. There were some XXX pictures plastered on the doors to lure men into the chamber of debauchery. It blew my mind that this place of business was just there on a street that I thought was pretty family-friendly. It spurred me to do some research. I learned that prostitution is legal and Germans are pretty open and non-judgemental when it comes to knocking the boots. I thought that was refreshing.

I am so glad I had the chance to visit Germany and learn about the culture, people, and history. The architecture leaves an indelible mark in my mind and the friendly, rambunctious people changed my perspective. I think it's nearly impossible to travel and maintain a small mind or myopic worldview. My trip to Germany taught me that you can't pin the past sins of people on others. You can't let your unsubstantiated beliefs dictate your decisions. You can't let your world be molded by assumptions and fear. It taught me to let truth, beauty, and adventure take the reigns. I know I won't be led astray.