“People of this world, look upon this city and see that you should not and cannot abandon this city and this people.”
Ernst Reuter, Mayor of West Berlin during the Berlin blockade, September 9, 1948

Rising from the rubble, Berlin is a remarkable example of a nation's strong determination to wash away the war inflicted wounds on itself, and on its image in particular. An attempt that is still in process even after more than half a century, since the end of second world war, which left scathing scars on the conscience of a nation yet to be fully recovered.

It's been quite a while since I last wrote any piece. I was busy, I was travelling, I had some other commitments etc. are all but excuses. Let me be honest, I just took a sabbatical from writing. During this period of absentism I had the privilege of exploring some old cities with new beginnings. One such city, which I visited recently for the first time was Berlin. Though, I had never been to Berlin before, yet, I knew considerable lot about it, its history, its past glory, its decline and it's eventual resurrection, piece by piece. I must confess, I never really expected it to be quite the way it is.

Funny enough, in the past I had heard a lot of misconstrued notions about Berlin, and I somehow began to believe in them. But all these false perceptions vanished the moment I laid my eyes on Berlin. It clearly left me flabbergasted. And today as I sit writing about it, I feel I don't have words enough to describe this wondrous city. A city, that paid heavily post war due to its exploitation at the hands of many, had only two options ahead of it- either to succumb or to overcome. It not just overcame, but also, out shined the many old players in their own game. The capitals that have truly enchanted me are Washington D.C, London, Berlin and Oslo. And undoubtedly, the world does look up to them.

Despite plenty of fallacious stories I had heard about Berlin, it turned out to be a very normal and lively city.

• Safe- I was so smitten by the city that despite the cold I used to come to my hotel quite late at night.

• Neo Nazi menace- But which city doesn't have a dark side? So has Berlin. Due to the strict crackdown on the activities of neo nazi organizations, the menace has become somewhat limited . Regular street patrolling, and checks have lowered the attacks.

• Unfriendly- On the contrary, I found Berlin quite a muti cultural city, and due to the large influx of tourists all round the year, the locals have become quite friendly and helpful.

• Expensive- Not particularly. In fact, it is one of the most budget friendly capitals I have visited.

Berlin still carries the blood stains of harrowing past, but the city has forever been so unrelenting to any attempts of the enemies that no wall could ever divide its spirit. It has always managed to stand firm and tall, no matter what. Brandenburg Tor is the most defining feature of Berlin. In the words of Monica Grutters , the German Federal Minister of Culture-” Brandenburg Tor is the symbol of Berlin Wall, of a world divided into East and West. And it is at the same time the symbol of the fall of that Wall and of liberty regained. It is the national and international monument of freedom and unity.” No other city could ever summon the courage to make public in the most honest way, the most painful memories, the foremost example being the Holocaust Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. In Germany, the purpose of remembering history is to make sure that it never repeats itself again.

What came as a surprise to me was the greenery enveloping the whole city. With surety I can say, I have never come across a metropolitan city as green as Berlin. Boasting an array of forests, parks and garden plots, a major part of Berlin is under the green cover, making it a truly green city. Berlin has also been recognized by the ARCADIS (leading Global Natural and Built Asset Design and Consultancy Firm) ranking for excellent waste management and low air pollution. Another green fact, about this dynamic cultural and business hub, is that 44 percent of the city is parks, woods, rivers, lakes and waterways. The streets are lined with approximately 440,000 trees, and within the city there are around 934 “Kleingarten Kolonien” ( garden/allotment areas) containing almost 75,000 gardening plots.

Did you know that after the second world war ended on 8 May 1945, much of Berlin was nothing but debris: nearly 600,000 apartments were destroyed, and only 3.5 million of the city’s original population of 4.5 million still live in the city. In accordance with an agreement signed by the Allies, the city was divided into four sectors, and administered jointly by the occupying powers, the United States of America, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. But the cost the city paid, in terms of loss of human lives in the the battle for Berlin, was enormous. Millions of shells were fired into the city, already devastated by relentless bombing raids by the British and the American warplanes. Nearly a quarter of a million people died during the last three weeks of World War Two, almost as many as the United States lost during the entire war.

For the History enthusiasts Berlin is the ultimate destination that offers some of the best, most preserved artifacts displayed in the five great Museums, namely- Pergamonmuseum, Bode-Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and Altes Museum. These five museums are situated on Berlin's Museum Island, which in itself is a magnificent work of art. The Museum Complex is part of UNESCO World Heritage.

For the real escapade one could take walking tours of the second world war bunkers which are found in abundance throughout Berlin or explore the city by taking guided Segway tours. And off course, the trip to Berlin would be incomplete if you don't visit the historic remains of the Berlin wall. It evokes feelings of deep sympathy for the people who lived through the divided Berlin, their sufferings and their sacrifices. The remains of the wall also bring back memories of all those who lost their lives trying to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin in the hope of a better future but were gunned down. With the reunification of the two Berlins on 3^rd Oct 1990, a new chapter was added to the history of Berlin which is also the most illustrious episode in the history of the modern world.

Reichstag is another most sought after tourist destination, the super long queue of tourists winding around the area says it all. But the experience of visiting the German Parliament is worth the wait. My trip to Berlin was a thorough adventure from exploring the dark, stuffy bunkers to strolling in the beautiful gardens, and admiring the grandeur of Charlottenburg Palace. Berlin is enthralling, Berlin is diverse, Berlin is a traveller's veritable paradise. It is a must visit.