Travel Germany
By Nick P. Mendoza III
December 9, 2019
Germany is quite the adventurous country found in Europe. From the vast castles found on the Rhine River, to the artisan handcrafts of the famous Christmas markets found throughout the country during the wintertime, Germany has something to offer it's visiting guests year-round.
A little bit about the country first. The capital of Germany is Berlin. The population of the country is roughly 83 million. The main religion is Christianity. The spoken language of Germany is German and the currency used throughout the country is the Euro. Situated in the Northeast middle side of Europe, when traveling from LAX to Germany, and in this journal, I will talk about Berlin, Berlin Tegel International Airport (TXL), it approximately takes about 12-14 hrs to travel to Berlin.
Berlin, once you land, you can travel to the city via rental car, bus, metro and train. The airport is not too far from the center of the city. I recommend staying at The Radisson Blu Hotel, found in the heart of the city with an inexpensive nightly stay. It takes about 20 minutes to reach The Radisson Blu Hotel from TXL. Great accommodations, excellent customer service and fantastic atmosphere all around with this hotel and the best part, it's really close to the main attractions that Berlin has to offer. With the many sites to see, I will list just a few.
The Charlottenburg Palace is a great main attraction to see when visiting the city. Once a royal summer residence, Charlottenburg Palace is considered one of the main attractions of Berlin and also one of the largest and most stunningly beautiful palaces in all of Germany. Named after Sophia Charlotte, the first Queen consort in Prussia, after her untimely death aged just 36, the palace is a homage to her and today this is one of the must see attractions of Berlin and a highlight for anyone who elects to visit.
The Brandenburg Gate is definitely a must to see and take pictures of! Constructed between 1788 and 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was Berlin's first Greek inspired building. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, it was inspired by the striking entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The gate is 26 meters high and 65.5 meters long and supported by two rows of six Doric columns. Brandenburg Gate is most likely the most recognizable feature of Berlin today.
The Jewish Museum of Berlin is definitely one to reflect upon and must see to pay tribute to those many lives lost during WWII. Founded in 1933 as the first Jewish Museum in Berlin, the museum now exhibits the history starting from the 4th century, the holocaust to the present day. The museum focuses on the German – Jewish history, which can be found in the permanent collections, exhibitions and is also reflected in the museum's interactive event program. Visit the museum, located in an architectural building in the former area of West Berlin before the fall of the Wall.
The cuisine of Germany is made up of many different local or regional cuisines, as is typical for somewhat larger countries. Germany itself is part of a larger cultural region, Central Europe, sharing many traditions with neighboring countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic. Southern regions, like Bavaria and Swabia, share dishes with Austrian and parts of Swiss cuisine. Sauerbraten, Schweinshaxe, Rinderroulade, Bratwurst, Kartoffelpuffer, Kartoffelkloesse, Sauerkraut and Spätzle are among some of the traditional food items that's well known throughout Germany.