May 2018 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE |travel 64 The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of freedom and unity. Visit during October when the city's iconic buildings are illuminated for the Festival of Lights. Visit the Norman Foster-designed dome built atop the Reichstag from which you can see down into the German Parliament's debating chamber. From a city divided by the infamous Berlin Wall, the German capital was reunited 29 years ago and wasted no time in vying for the unofficial Capital of Cool title. There is so much history here, it’s hard to know where to start but the preserved sections of the wall are as good a place as any. Daubed with graffiti and standing in stark contrast to the liberal freedom of today’s Berlin, they give a glimpse towards a much darker time; as does the notorious Checkpoint Charlie, one of the crossing points between east and west, now preserved both for posterity and for the ubiquitous selfie generation. No trip to Berlin would be complete without a visit to the Holocaust Memorial, a haunting series of concrete slabs which remains eerily quiet despite its central location. This deference to the Nazis’ victims comes in stark contrast to the site of Hitler’s Führerbunker – which is now a car park outside an unassuming block of flats! The best way to see the city is on a walking tour, which depart regularly from the opposite the Hotel Adlon – where Michael Jackson famously dangled his infant son, Blanket, from a balcony! This is right next to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Brandenburg Gate which, in turn, opens onto the Unter den Linden, a name that will be familiar to any reader of Cold War spy stories. Despite its long history, Berlin has a youthful, buzzing vibe with the feeling that a party is never far away. All you have to do is find it. Berlin Spot fun and thought-provoking graffiti on a walking tour of the city. Sections of the infamous Berlin Wall have been preserved for posterity. The notorious Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point on the Berlin Wall, has been reconstructed as a historical tourist attraction. The Holocause Memorial is a haunting but beautiful spot for reflection and remembrance.
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