Ich bin ein einer Berliner, JFK June 26th,1963

The history of Berlin is truly fascinating—complex, multi-layered, and yes, with some dark patches. But even though I’m not much of a history storyteller, I really enjoyed learning about what the city has been through. As I explored on foot (yes, on foot—I walked 30k in the last three days!), it felt like I could really feel the pulse of the city. Getting around in Berlin is super easy and affordable—you can grab a day pass that covers S, U, and trams for just about €7.5. But for some reason, I was determined to walk and soak in every little corner of this beautiful city.

On my last day, though, I finally took the train back to my accommodation from Charlottenburg. Definitely made it easier to get back to my place after all that walking.

But let's rewind...I woke up at 5 AM to get ready for my trip. Drove through the Monday morning rush from my hometown to Schiphol—on a normal day, it would take me about 1.5 hours, but with the urban commute madness, it took me a solid 2.5 hours! That's why I usually avoid driving to Schiphol by car.

Once I got there, I had to leave my car at long-term parking, and then walked all the way to the gate, which took another 1.5 hours. By the time I got to the gate, I was already feeling tired

So, here's the update: no more backpack for me, folks! Instead, I'm rocking a cute tiny cabin case now. Yes, I'm flying low-cost—what’s wrong with that? People who know how much of a snob I used to be will probably be laughing their heads off. But hey, I decided to embrace a little bit of decadence and treat myself to a Campari Spritz. WHAT? Don't judge me! Campari’s made from grape, and grape is a fruit—so technically, I’m just having fruit for breakfast.

I got myself a cute little hotel in East Berlin—really trendy and hipsterish (is that even a word? ). It's a tiny guesthouse in an old East Bloc-style building (but with modern plumbing and all that good stuff). Wait, wait... Ephie staying at a guesthouse? Yup, you heard it right. They must’ve taken all my snob-ism during the surgery because, surprise!, I actually enjoy the simple things now. But people still think I’m high maintenance.

After dropping off my things, I got a quick dinner at a delicious Indian restaurant next door. And you know what? I passed out right after. It was 6 PM, and I was freaking tired. But hey, that’s travel for you—exhausting but worth it!

Woke up the next morning feeling fresh as a daisy  and decided to kick off my day with a decadent brunch, of course, with prosecco! 🥂 Because why not start a day of walking tours through beautiful Berlin in style? The city’s charm was waiting, and I was ready to soak it all in—with bubbles in hand

I’ve been to Berlin so many times, but somehow, I never visited the Wall. Now I realize why I avoided it. The place broke my heart. I couldn’t hold back the tears—it’s just so overwhelming to think about having your loved ones on the other side of the wall, separated like that. The thought of it really hit me hard.

What remains of that pain is a church, standing as a testament to the souls who lived through it all. I said a quiet prayer for all those beautiful souls, hoping that they are now at peace, wherever they may be. The weight of history, the heartbreak—it’s hard to put into words, but I’ll carry it with me.

So, as the rain started coming down hard, I decided to take a break and treat myself to an ice-cold Berliner Kindl —because, hey, a girl’s gotta try the local beverages too, right?

After that, I figured I'd burn off the calories from my ice-cold drink with a nice walk to Brandenburg Gate. Now, I’m too lazy to explain what this iconic gate is all about (don’t judge me), so just go ahead and check out the wiki (here's the link: Brandenburg Gate Wikipedia).

And no, I couldn’t even be bothered to take a picture of myself in front of the Brandenburg Gate—but I did it anyway, because hey, it’s Berlin, and it’s iconic.

After crossing through the Brandenburg Gate, I wandered into the beautiful Tiergarten, and couldn’t resist sneaking over to the memorial for the Roma victims of the Holocaust. It was so sad, and I couldn’t help but feel the heaviness in the air—no wonder it rained so hard. In this poignant place, you can see the names of the victims etched on stones, a reminder of the immense loss. It felt like such a solemn and moving experience, and I quickly left, feeling like I needed to step out of that heavy silence.

I ran over to Platz der Republik next (check it out on Wikipedia here), where a huge building made me feel so small—like I was nothing in comparison to its grandeur. But, in true Ephie fashion, I decided I needed something colorful and cheerful to take home with me. Life’s too short not to find a little brightness, right?

About 10 minutes down the road, I stumbled upon another sad place—the Holocaust Memorial, which stands as a central place of remembrance for the murdered Jews of Europe. It was heavy, emotional, and I could feel the weight of history all around me. I decided to leave quickly and get some distance, needing a change of scenery.

So, I walked over to one of the most famous spots in Berlin: Check out Charlie. A bit of a lighter stop after all that heaviness—thankfully, Berlin offers both sides of the story. A city of contrast, for sure.

4o mini

I couldn't stop thinking about the guy whose picture was placed in that spot. I tried Googling his name, but couldn't find anything about him. I wondered, would he still be alive today? I really wished he could tell me more about what happened here, about the history that I was only beginning to understand. The weight of it all made me wonder: why did everything about Berlin today feel so sad? It hit me, more than ever: there’s a quote I heard that really resonates now—"Make love, not war." I can truly see what war brings. It’s such a destroyer of lives, and the hatred that feeds it… it’s just heartbreaking.

It made me think—what if we all decided to stop hating each other? Would that end wars? Could we live without conflict? I feel so fortunate to live in the most tolerant country on Earth, a place where we accept people just as they are, without judgment. Imagine if the world was like that.

But right now, I needed a break. My head was pounding from all the thoughts and emotions, so I decided to head home for some rest and to take my medication. Maybe all of this was just a bit too much to process today. I decided to call it a day and get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day.

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning—crispy and cold, but in the best way, really giving me that autumn vibe. I decided to start my day with a walk to the Mast, then headed up to the Jewish Quarter, which felt so full of history and life. After wandering through the streets, I ended up at the most amazing Schloss Charlottenburg—it was absolutely stunning!

By the end of it, I had walked a whopping 17k, and I was dead tired. So, I decided to cheat a little and took the train back to the hotel for the last 8k—no shame, I needed a break! Sometimes, a little shortcut is exactly what you need to keep the fun going.

After my power nap, I decided to head out for my last dinner in Berlin. I stumbled upon this interesting spot—an Imbiss (snack bar) under the bridge, right next to the public loos for both men and women. It was funny because, in the Lowlands, we have public loos for men, but nothing for the ladies. I guess we just have to figure it out for ourselves! 🤷‍♀️ How do the ladies do their business? It’s a mystery to me!

Then, September 19th came, and it was time to head home. But today was also the saddest day of my life. I made the biggest mistake, and because of my stupid actions, I lost two beautiful souls to heaven, and a dear friend too. It’s hard to put into words, but the weight of it all felt unbearable. All I wanted today was to get on my flight back to the Lowlands, get my shit together, and try to process everything.

Despite the overwhelming sadness and tears, I still had a lovely time in Berlin. The city has a way of leaving a mark on you—its history, its beauty, and even the pain it holds. I’ll carry those memories with me, and maybe, just maybe, it will help me heal in time.

Auf Wiedersehen Berlin !!! danke schön.. tschüs

Berlin, 16th to 19th Sept,

Next trip, Budapest