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CONTENTS
104
NTRODUCTION
brant, cosmopolitan city that offers limitless surprises for travellers who look hard enough. With everything from fancy boutiques in Prenzlauer Berg to hardcore techno clubs in Kreuzberg,
this city is surely able to accommodate your needs, whatever
they may be. Furthermore, Berlin remains an affordable destination for young backpackers on a budget, especially the East
of the city where a beer may set you back as little as 70 cents at
the local supermarket. Many of the attractions and experiences
on offer in this city can be taken in for free, or at a low cost. For
instance admiring the quirky, original artwork on display at the
East Side Gallery or taking a quiet moment to contemplate at
the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Berlin is a place that remains admirably conscious of its history,
with various monuments and landmarks giving tourists an insight into its turbulent past. Landmarks such as The
Brandenburg gate and Checkpoint Charlie
stand at points where the Berlin Wall
once divided this great city during
the Cold War. The bustling, cultural haven that is Potdamer
Platz is situated where there was once a desolate
no-mans land, and now
thousands flood every
day to visit the plethora of museums and
shops located there.
Furthermore, the devastation caused by
By Robbie Collins
URVIVAL
GUIDE
Tourist Traps
Be wary of distraction techniques. Dont
entertain bogus charity representatives claiming to raise money for reputable causes. Thieves may often
dress like beggars and will take
any opportunity to snatch loose
belongings if you are not careful.
Essentials
Supermarkets are usually open from 10:00-20:00 Monday through Saturday. Try to get all of your groceries
early on in the week because supermarkets are closed on
Sundays.
If you are expecting to get over-the-counter medicine
in supermarkets, like you can in the UK or United States then you are going to be disappointed. Apotheke is
theequivalent to a pharmacy and if you are looking for
any medicines, you will have to speak with the pharmacist on site.
Basic service tips are often included in the menu price.
However, it is customary to pay an additional 10% tip to
your servers.
There are many Wi-Fi cafs and bars
spread throughout the city,
make sure you buy a drink or
snack so that you can ask
for the Wi-Fi password.
Have your student
card with you at all
times. Many attractions have discounted prices for
students and this
will help you save
a couple of euros.
When you take out cash, go somewhere reputable like Sparkasse or any major bank. Avoid
unreliable cash stations in order
to stay away from possible forged
currency.
Safety Precautions
Berlin is a relatively safe place, in comparison to most capital cities. Being a
cash-oriented city, its rare to be able to
pay by card except in the chain stores or
shopping malls. However, tourists can fall
victim to theft so it never hurts to take certain precautions.
Useful Phrases
Night-life Safety
Street Tips
By Reetu Inamdar
Hallo/morgen:
Hello/morning
Tschuss/chiao :
Bye
Schnes Abend/Wochenende:
Have a nice evening/weekend
Bitte:
Please/youre welcome
Danke/vielen danke:
Thanks/thanks very much
Ja:
Yes
Nein:
No
Darf ich Fotos machen?
May I take photos?
Die Rechnung bitte.:
The bill please.
Wo ist die Toilette?
Where is the toilet?
Sprechen Sie English?
Do you speak English?
Was kostet das?
What does that cost?
Wo ist der nchste Supermarkt?
Where is the nearest supermarket?
Wo ist die nchste Sptkauf/Apotheke?
Where is the nearest late shop/Chemists?
ISTORY
10
By Jessie DiMartino
11
RANSPORTATION
12
Bus
and both over ground and underground trains. When travelling during
the day, you will rarely find yourself having to wait any longer than ten
minutes to board any of the transport systems, ensuring you can make the
most of your time spent in this dynamic city.
S-Bahn
U-Bahn
By Steph Bassey
13
14
URRYWURST,
BOULETTES & KEBABS
Oh My!
Picture this: youre wandering the streets of Berlin - perhaps
on your way home from Berghain in the wee hours of the
morning, or maybe youve just finished a three-hour walking
tour - and you feel that familiar sensation: hunger mixed
with the unwelcome realization that youve only got a few
euros left jingling in your pocket. Fear not, weary traveller,
Berlins fast food staples are sure to leave you (and your wallet) satisfied.
First stop, currywurst (ranging from 1.50-4). Berliners love
their wursts curry, brat, Thringer rot so it should come
as no surprise that the most famous fast food in the city
is this crispy pork sausage. What distinguishes currywurst
from its bratwurst cousin is the smothering of spiced ketchup and dusting of curry powder that tops the sliced meat.
While a few Imbiss stands claim they serve the crme-dela-crme of currywursts, there really isnt much variety in taste. From the renowned Curry 36
(Mehringdamm 36, Kreuzberg) to any
of the Currywurst Express branches
throughout the city, a currywurst
is a currywurst. So dont bother queueing very long
anywhere, go out and try
them all.
By Jessie DiMartino
15
MUSEUMS
&
GALLERIES
Berlin is home to some of the most profound and insightful museums and galleries in the world. Ranging in
exhibits from ancient Egyptian artifacts to the tragic history of persecuted Jews to the surreal paintings of Dali,
this city is a cultural hub. No matter your interests you
are sure to find an exhibition that will challenge your
opinions and expand your mind.
17
By Kalisto Bancroft
ON
ALTES NATIONALGALERIE
Situated behind the Altes Museum on the River Spree this extravagant gallery exhibits a vast
array of paintings and sculptures
dating back to the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who envisaged
a sanctuary for art and science
from across the Berlin Palace.
Designed by Friedrich August
Stler, the gallery was opened to
the public for the birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm I on 21 March 1876.
TueSun 10:00-18:00
Thu 10:00-20:00
Admission: 10, Concessions 5
S5, S7, S75: Hackescher Markt
www.smb.museum
18
THE KENNEDYS
The Kennedys visit to Berlin in
1963 was of monumental importance in world history, and this
museum - gallery offers a fascinating account of this event. It
was on this visit that US President
John F. Kennedy gave the famous
speech in which he stated Ich
bin ein Berliner, a declaration of
solidarity with the people of Berlin. Featured in the museum is an
absorbing documentary playing
on a loop, which shows footage
of this historic speech and details
the contribution of then Mayor of
West Berlin, Willy Brandt. There is
also a display of objects of interest from JFKs visit, such as notes
for the speech as well as an impressive array of well-arranged
prints of the Kennedy family, all
explained with clear information.
By Robbie Collins
OFF
ON
By Kalisto Bancroft
19