Cohica Travel
  • About
  • Custom Travel
  • Designed trips
  • Guided Trips
  • Inspiration
  • Blog

Christmas Travels, German Style

1/17/2017

0 Comments

 
​‘Tis the holiday season. Our first in Spain and our first outside the U.S., thousands of miles from our families and the celebrations that normally come with this time of year. Seeking the holiday spirit and that feeling of coziness that doesn’t seem to come with winter in Valencia (no offense, Spain!) we took off for (cue drumroll), Germany! But why Germany, you ask? Well, Germany just happens to be the king of the Christmas Market.

Read More
0 Comments

Berlin: Modern, Sustainable, and Oh So Green

8/30/2015

2 Comments

 
Berlin is a modern city. Partially by choice, partially not. Barely 25 years after unification, the city’s sprawling landscape is dotted with reminders of its tumultuous past, set amidst a culture of reinvention. Innovative and cutting edge, the city is at the forefront of environmental initiatives, and was recently named the sixth most sustainable city in the world by Arcadis, a leading global sustainable design and consulting firm. 

Our first day in Berlin and we're doing pretty much nothing thanks to a 6am flight from Bergamo (near Milan). We're beat and spend the afternoon limping around our new neighborhood on the outskirts of Neukoelln, a trendy young area in the southwest of the city. But after a good night's rest we utilize the omnipresent public transportation system to take in Berlin's best. Two U-Bahns and an S-Bahn later and we're at the central station, a few blocks away from the Reichstag building, Germany's government headquarters. Famous for its melding of classic and modern architecture, the Reichstag features a massive glass dome with a spiral ramp that twists to the top, offering both views of the city and downwards to the government floor. A reminder of this country's very turbulent history, the view onto the government chambers is symbolic of the people of Germany keeping a close eye on their leaders. While tourists climb to the top (make sure to book an appointment ahead of time) Berliners picnic and play games on the grassy expanse in front of the building, an area that was once used for political demonstrations. To the south, the center tip of Tiergarten, the city’s famed 2-square mile park, makes way onto Brandenburg gate. We snap a few photos, but move along quickly, out of the way of the hordes of tourists. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After taking in a few of the "required" sights, we're off to enjoy a much more relaxed German tradition, the Biergarten. Though traditionally more closely associated with (and rightfully so) Bavaria, Berlin also has its fair share of incredible beer gardens. Many are tucked within one of the city's 2500 parks. We stop at the well known and a bit touristy Weihenstephaner near Hackescher Markt. In all truthfulness, the moment we actually arrive in Germany is the exact moment we sit down in the warm afternoon sun at a long wood table and quickly drain two tall half liter glasses of Hefeweizen. Feeling a bit buzzed and ready for the next "garden" we take off south, making the long walk back to our flat, our minds awash with visions of even bigger glasses of this unfiltered amazingness.
Picture
Picture
The next couple days lead to more exploration, including the famous Checkpoint Charlie and the brutally informative Topography of Terror. But at this point we're addicted to the beautiful, almost gratuitous, and awe inspiring parks of Berlin. While the Tiergarten and Friedrichshain are wonderful, we can't get enough sunsets at Tempelhof Field. Originally an airport that served as the center of the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War, it was recently converted to a massive park. We find it just before the sun goes down on our third night in Berlin. Cyclists ride amongst the former runways, crowds gather to take in the eclectic sounds of a German reggae band and groups of friends barbecue as others spread out among the expansive community garden, filled with upcycled benches, tables, and decks. In a park with so much open space and mass, the thousand (or so) people feel like a few dozen, and we happily people watch as the sun goes down.

Berlin does summertime well. With average temperatures in the winter months bordering on freezing, getting out and enjoying the sun when it’s available is a must. As we pass from neighborhood to neighborhood, a few truths about Berliners become evident. One, they enjoy their kebab. Two, they really enjoy their beer. If it’s afternoon and the sun is out, people will be drinking beer. Old men on benches, college students, twenty somethings, thirty somethings… everyone has a beer in hand. And why not? It’s beautiful outside, there’s plenty of public transportation to make your way home, and the plethora of absolutely fantastic parks offer the perfect place to kick back and drink a few with friends.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Throughout the next few days we manage to explore a large portion of the city, yet we pack our bags feeling like there’s so much more left to see. Berlin turns out to be everything we had read - multicultural, hip, spirited, and modern, all in spite of (or maybe as a result of) the not-so-distant past. It was a mix of Hefeweizen, blankets in the park, sightseeing, learning, and reflection. A highly charged and busy visit, blanketed with an air of relaxed summertime energy. One thing is certain… it was too short and we will be back.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
2 Comments

    Cohica Travel

    A travel design agency.

    Categories

    All
    Argentina
    Belgium
    Cambodia
    Chile
    Colombia
    Croatia
    Ecuador
    Expat Life
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Guatemala
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Indonesia
    Italy
    Laos
    Malta
    Mexico
    Morocco
    Nicaragua
    Peru
    Portugal
    Romania
    Scotland
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Sri Lanka
    Thailand
    The Netherlands
    U.S.A.
    Vietnam
    Vlog (Video Blog)

    Archives

    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Follow us on Instagram @CohicaTravel

    RSS Feed

​​cohica designed trips
custom travel 

TRAVEL GIFT CERTIFICATES
​​TRAVEL INSPIRATION
BLOG

 CLIENT Log IN
TRAVELER REVIEWS
PRESS
CONTACT US
​TERMS & CONDITIONS

Picture
  • About
  • Custom Travel
  • Designed trips
  • Guided Trips
  • Inspiration
  • Blog