The Modern Incarnation of Berlin
by Allax
Posted on June 17th, 2010 in Europe, Germany | No Comments »
I might sound a little profane if I confess that except the celebrated photos of the Wall, for a long time I didn’t know anything else about Berlin city, other than the Victory Statue, and this was from the U2 Stay video! I didn’t know at the time that Berlin will get to be the most surprising European city I’ve ever visited.
Probably the most “un-German” trademark, you might not get really impressed by the austerity of the classic Berlin attractions such as monuments, museums and parks. Of course, its deep scars of a history that broke Europe in two – the Wall remainings, the emotionally overwhelming Checkpoint Charlie and the still-grey districts of East-Berlin coloured only by graffiti – will not leave you indifferent. And yes, there’s something special about Alexanderplatz, with its Berlin station of television.
But what really blow your mind is the way Berlin turns into a sexy temptation when the advertising neons light up at night. A real Garden of Delights, Berlin explodes into a hedonistic metamorphosis, in which sounds and colours reach a whole new level. Every single manifestation – from music, concerts and clubbing sessions to Berlin hotel lobbies and fusion restaurants – amazes you with the brilliant creativity, and give the tone for new trends. Imagine I went for the first time to a music-hall in this stunning Berlin, and I became a fan of this kind of shows because of the fascinating lights, music orchestration and sets, although I didn’t understand a word of what the protagonists were singing!
When booking for your Berlin accommodation, make sure you choose a hotel to make a memory, in the funky spirit of the city. 
From sophisticated creativity to random madness, you will find more design trends in Berlin hotels than anywhere in Europe. It’s here in Berlin that you can check-in at the themed Kuensterlenheim Louise Hotel, and choose to sleep in a Last Tango in Paris room or in a 1920s Berlin one. It’s here in Berlin, in the lobby of Radisson Sas Hotel that you can use the Aquadom’s elevator – a lift inside the biggest cylindrical freestanding aquarium in the world. And yes, Berlin hotel of Adlon Kempiski is the place to finally get a good sleep in the secured wing, surrounded by armoured walls, bullet-proof door and watched by the bodyguards from a separate lounge.
Are you a shopping junkie? With a tendency for avant-garde and contemporary cuts, the name for Berlin shopping is Ku’Damm (in full, the street called Kurfurstendamm) – a crazy mix of haute-couture, shopping-malls and fast-fashion.
Ich bein ein Berliner! If you visit Berlin and get into its vibe, you’ll understand what this means and you’ll feel like shouting it out every time you’ll have the occasion! Welcome to the club!