Red Corner: Hip Berlin

by Neil Woodburn on

Berlin is not only the most historically fascinating city of the 20th century, but it is also one of the hippest of the 21st century.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many young Germans moved to the eastern half of the city to take advantage of cheap rent and plenty of rundown buildings in which to squat. The amazing nightlife and art scene which erupted in the wake of this migration was grungy and fascinating. Although some of it has become refined and even upscale over the course of time, there is simply no ignoring the cult status of Berlin’s hipness.

New York Time’s journalist Guy Trebay journeyed to the German capital recently to check it out himself. His insightful article navigates through the city’s specialty bookstores, art galleries, vintage furniture shops, restaurants, and fashion centers. He spends a pleasant afternoon in the happenin’ Café Einstein, and an unforgettable night at club Week End. In short, he indulged in every manner of western excess the communist government hated ever so much. Isn’t democracy just grand!

Red Corner: Rebirth of Dresden Church

by Neil Woodburn on

The beauty of what was once Dresden died two horrible deaths during the 20th century. The first came at the hands of British and American bombers who obliterated the city in the closing days of World War II. The second came from the East German Communists who nobly rebuilt sections of the city, but desecrated other parts with horrible socialist architecture.

The Communists decided to leave one particular building in ruins as a reminder of the horrors of war. The problem was that this building, the baroque masterpiece Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), had been the glorious centerpiece of a city once bursting with so much exquisite architecture it was often compared to Florence.

Shortly after German reunification, a strong push was made to rebuild this masterpiece and return it to its former glory as the icon of Dresden. It took over 15 years, but a few months ago work was finally completed and the Frauenkirche rose majestically from the ashes of World War II.

Now if we could only bomb all that socialist architecture…

Word for the Travel Wise (03/02/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Now that Carnival is over the next big for Trinidad like the other 31 finalists is the World Cup. While I can’t speak for the other countries team support is quite alive here on the Caribbean island. Flag colors have been painted on soccer balls which have been placed on the lighthouse near City Gate, on CD’s (for show only) to take back as souvenirs and of course there are tons of Soca songs to help pump and bring the crowd’s energy and excitement levels to new heights.

Today’s word is a German word used in Germany:

krieger – warrior

While the country sings in support of their beloved futbol team’s accomplishments, I sing because its been two days after Carnival and I’m still quite sore. I feel like a krieger or warrior of sorts having survived the bacchanal that took the streets of Port-of-Spain. In any case I’ll be rooting for the team during the World Cup games this summer in Germany in the comfort of my home.

You can find audio and German slang at BBC Languages, who continue to impress on the online scene. They probably have one of the BEST FREE German language guides on the net. Make no mistake in passing this one up! When it boils down to it there are several good sites to learn the Deutsch lingo. Deutsch Lernen and German for Travellers are two other good picks. First Step World offers study abroad courses in Munich and Berlin.

Past German words: vorglühen(s)

Hitler Hotel

by Neil Woodburn on

Adolph
Hitler slept here.

And now, so can you.

Brave investors have decided that the lovely area of Berchtesgaden, Germany would be a wonderful place for an InterContinental hotel.  And they are right, for the
most part.  There are a fantastic array of lakes and mountains and beautiful scenery throughout the area. 
The only problem was that Adolph Hitler thought so as well.  He made Berchtesgaden his second home, as did much of
his senior staff.  In fact, the area became a type of summer national headquarters for the Third Reich, as well as
one of the locations Hitler penned Mein Kampf. 

Much of it was destroyed towards the end of World War II, but as recent as ten years ago I was able to tramp
through the woods and climb amongst the ruins and within the tunnels left behind.  Apparently, much of this has
been cleared out in recent years as the area tries to return to its glory days as a 19th century mountain resort. 
The building of the “Hitler
Hotel,” as many are now calling it, is just one step in the healing process (albeit the wrong step
according to The Simon Wiesenthal Center who has strongly
criticized the decision, arguing that Berchtesgaden “was the seat of evil, where Adolf Hitler, Hermann
Goering, Joseph Goebbels and the Nazi leadership took most of the decisions that cost the world 70 million
lives”).

Nonetheless, part of the approval to allow the hotel to be built was the requirement that it was to be an upscale
hotel and thus, out of the price range of neo-Nazis hoping to bed down in the fuehrer’s favorite nap place. 
At 250-700 euros a night, I probably won’t be sleeping there either. 

 

Berlin Currywurst Museum

by Neil Woodburn on

5
million euros for a hot dog museum????

If everything goes according to plan, Berlin will open up the world’s
first currywurst museum in autumn of this year. 

Investing 5 million euros to showcase a skinless pork sausage
might seem a bit excessive to some, but the currywurst is to Berlin as the hot dog is to America—except fattier,
greasier, and unhealthier (and that’s hard to do).  I can just taste all that sizzling fat and
curry-delicious topping merely thinking about it.  Mmmmm…

It is widely believed that this cult-status
finger-food was invented on September 4, 1949 by Berliner Herta Heuwer and, in very Germanic
fashion, patented under number 721319.  Although some controversy exists over who the true “inventor”
of this greasy morsel really is, Berliners have claimed their town as the skinless wiener’s genuine birthplace,
and now have a museum to prove it.