User Review: Why I love Berlin
By: Teuta Pashnjari
About the city
Berlin is the capital and the largest city of Germany. With a steadily growing population of approximately 3.7 million, Berlin is the second most populous city proper in the European Union behind London and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union. Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-tech firms and the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media corporations and convention venues.
Photo by: Teuta Pashnjari
My experience in Berlin
Visiting Berlin for the second time, was the best decision I’ve ever made. The perfect place to escape after working for four months on the island of Corfu, during summertime. I visited the city on November 24th and spent there almost three months. During my stay, I saw so many wonderful places and had new experiences that I would like to share with you. I’ve heard many people say that they do not like big cities at all, because of the pollution, high rates of crime, loud noises or the visibility of poverty. Yes, it’s true. These are big-city problems that unfortunately have a major negative effect, mostly on the people who live there and face these complications every single day. Berlin is one of these cities, yet there is something about it. There are many reasons why I am in love with it. Well, here they are…
Photo by: Teuta Pashnjari
History & Architecture
Berlin was divided into two sides during Cold War for thirty years. What kept the East and West Berlin apart, was the Berlin Wall build by the Communist government of the German Democratic Republic. Nowadays, parts of the wall are everywhere around the city that remain enduring symbols of the Cold War. Moreover, buildings in Berlin are quite new since the old ones were completely destroyed after WW. There are only a few Nazi buildings left, such as Ministry of Aviation, Grosser Stern, Fichte Bunker and of course, many older constructions too. While walking pass these buildings alone, I could really feel all the pain and loss of lives, even after so many decades. And every-time I was thinking about it, it made me really sad, mostly the fact that people are able to hurt people in such an extreme way just because their heart is filled with the desire to destroy and to own as much as possible. However, I did my best to only focus on the beauty of what had survived from the war. Below you will see some photographs of my favorite buildings.
Photo by: Teuta Pashnjari
I, personally, was always very passionate about knowing more when it comes to tradition, languages and cultures that are not as same as mine, from what I have learned from the country where I was born and the country where I grew up. To me, there’s nothing more exciting than meeting people from different parts of the world, learning a new language and visiting places. During my stay in Berlin, I met many artists who inspired me by telling their stories and showing what they can do. It was very heart-warming seeing the sparkles in their eyes while talking about things they adore. One of the biggest things that I learned was that it’s not a problem losing your creativity for a while. The problem is not getting it back anymore. The most difficult part of your journey is taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone to get what you want and if you do that, every stitch on you, will be worth it!
Photo by: Teuta Pashnjari
QUOTE
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Teuta Pashnjari lives on the Greek Island of Corfu and is a frequent traveler and artist who documents her experiences on her site, which you can check out here.