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Living in Berlin: Where Every Street Whispers History
In Berlin, no two walks are ever the same — even if you’re headed to the same place
I have always wondered about tourism — what is it? Why spend a lot of money going to places and doing things that thousands of others also do at the same time as you? Surely, travel should be an unplanned escapade across the light-fandango?
I’d rather explore Berlin — on foot.
Some people call them Flaneuers, others, a ramble, and some simply wander the streets of Berlin without any other intention but to relax; a stroll, a coffee and croissant, meander curiously and study some object around potsdamer Platz.
Berlin has been through the changes again. You can never say, exactly, what Berlin is, what it stands for. It’s a city that strives for something but never quite achieves a single state of identity.
Berlin has been through the wringer many a time.
After the Thirty Year War, 1618–1648, Berlin, still in its infancy had been decimated of housing and population. Ravaged by passing armies of Swedes, Fredrick Wilhelm the Great Elector decided to bolster Berlin. He centralized forces, and built up the Prussian army to protect Berlin. The population of Berlin had…
