Smaller text Larger text. Democracy is fragile. While the Nazis blamed a communist plot, some believe that Hitler himself planned the fire. By plugging directly into the present and getting the world’s take on things firsthand, a traveler goes beyond traditional sightseeing. Across from a very busy Starbucks is one of the “ghost” subway stations that went unused through the Cold War and now feels like a 1930s time warp. Considering all this, the clash of history and today’s vibrant city is almost overwhelming. Berlin today is the nuclear fuel rod of a great nation, and no tour of Germany is complete without a look at its historic and reunited capital. Try Rick Steves Best of Germany. There are many memorials, including one to the six million murdered Jews of Europe and another to the first victims of Hitler: 96 men, the German equivalent of congressmen, who spoke out in the name of democracy against his rule in the early 1930s. 14:30  Follow my guidebook's Communist East Berlin Walk (or the final third of the "Berlin City Walk" / "Best of Berlin Walk"). Traveling across Germany, we learn how fascism rose and then fell, taking millions of people with it. Buy the Paperback Book Rick Steves Germany 2020 by Rick Steves at Indigo.ca, Canada's largest bookstore. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. I thought, “I’m living in a dumbed-down society.” And it saddened me. The Berlin Wall. The story of fascism in 20th-century Europe teaches us that strong and charismatic leaders can capitalize on fear to lead a society astray. Midday:  If you're still going strong with museums, take a lunch break at the Bode Museum café or under the S-Bahn tracks on Georgenstrasse; if you're done early, walk to the Scheunenviertel for lunch. Skip to main content. 18:00  Return to Prenzlauer Berg (tram #M10 or walk along the rest of the memorial) for dinner. Online shopping for Books from a great selection of Reference & Tips, Europe, United States, Asia, Atlases & Maps, Specialty Travel & more at everyday low prices. In Berlin, it’s clear that history is not contained in a book — it envelops the entire city. Powerful forces find it convenient when we’re dumbed down. Whatever the case, he used the fire as a convenient excuse to frame the communists and grab total power. Most restaurants offer it (often as the cheapest thing on the menu), but it’s more commonly eaten at take-out fast-food stands. (This clip is excerpted from my new one-hour special “Rick Steves’ The Story of Fascism in Europe.” Check your local listings for air times — and if you don’t see it, please ask your public television station to add it to their schedule. Visiting actual locations — from Munich to Nürnberg to Berlin — we trace the roots of Nazism in the aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people were enchanted by Hitler. A sleek Radisson hotel now stands on the place where the old leading hotel of East Berlin once stood. And this dome is designed to let them do exactly that. And one of my favorite places for that “king-of-the-castle” feeling is in the Bavarian and Tirolean Alps. ISBN-13: 9781631218286: Publisher: Avalon Publishing: Publication date: 12/18/2018: Series: Rick Steves' Travel Guides Series: Edition description: 2nd ed. My suggested plans incorporate a bit of everything. Within about 100 yards of this square — once a vacant lot along the Berlin Wall, and now a festive gathering place that seems designed to celebrate freedom — is a poignant collection of sights. by Rick Steves. No more division. Berlin, Germany: The Wall and Checkpoint Charlie « » View on Amazon Add to cart. Defeating Hitler and Mussolini took total war — a massive and heroic effort led by Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union. Morning:  Binge on your choice of Museum Island area museums: Pergamon, Neues, Old National Gallery, German History Museum, or DDR Museum. Slices of the Berlin Wall hang like scalps at the gate to the Sony Center, the audacious office park at Potsdamer Platz. Here’s another one of my favorite travel memories — a reminder of what’s waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis. You can also find clips related to this story at Rick Steves Classroom Europe; just search for Berlin. And the other strong feeling I get in Berlin is that it’s a victory celebration for capitalism and its defeat of communism. And, in good European fashion, the Germans didn’t bulldoze their parliament building. Product Details; About the Author; Product Details. 15:00  Ride the U-Bahn (U2 from Potsdamer Platz to Senefelderplatz) and stroll the heart of Prenzlauer Berg, from Senefelderplatz to Kollwitzplatz to Kastanienallee, Oderberger Strasse, and the Mauerpark (with my Berlin guidebook, follow its Prenzlauer Berg Walk). 13:30  Do an "express tour" of the Pergamon, Neues Museum, and Old National Gallery; or, if you prefer history, tour the German History Museum and/or DDR Museum. No more fascism. The dome rises 50 yards above the ground. read When I visited Berlin recently to update my guidebook, I also scouted locations for a new TV show. They respected the building’s cultural roots and renovated it. 14:30  Choose from these Museum Island area sights: Pergamon, Neues Museum, Old National Gallery, German History Museum, or DDR Museum. 18:30  Ride tram #M10 to Prenzlauer Berg for dinner. If, however, you're spending four days or more in Berlin, the extra information in Rick Steves Berlin can be worthwhile. There's plenty to see and do here. With every visit, I remember my spooky first time there in 1971, when tour buses returning to the West were emptied at the border so mirrors could be rolled under the bus to see if anyone was trying to escape with us. Germany is blessed with some of Europe's most high-powered sights. For example, the massive Hauptbahnhof — the only train station in Europe with major lines merging at right angles — has a scale and grandeur that Hitler might have appreciated. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. They were so preoccupied with trivialities — camera batteries, their Cokes, the air-conditioning — that they missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate this great moment with the German people. Rick Steves' Europe. Travel can broaden our perspective, enabling us to rise above the advertiser-driven info­tainment we call the news to see things as citizens of the world. Even if we’ve had to postpone trips to Europe, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Rick Steves' Europe. Daily Dose of Europe: The Castles of Boyhood Dreams . Rick Steves' Europe: Prague, Czech Republic: Charles Bridge and a Czech Language . Travelers enjoy a privileged way to hear it — and sometimes an up-close chance to witness history in the making. December 10, 2014. Like ancient Romans keeping a few vanquished barbarians in cages for locals to spit at, capitalism and the West flaunt victory in Berlin. Map. $11.99. Afternoon:  Explore Hackescher Markt and nearby sights (laid out as the "Scheunenviertel Walk" in my Berlin guidebook), then visit the Palace of Tears; with additional time, choose from the "Days 4–7" options, below. The victory party rages on at Checkpoint Charlie. Rick Steves Germany is famously a work in progress — as is the nearby Netherlands — and that includes their sightseeing attractions. Even though we’re not visiting Europe right now, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. That iconic symbol of the Cold War. For tourists unaware of history, it was just a new dome to climb, offering another vantage point on the city. Nearby is the American Embassy, famous for taking security concerns to new heights. Though jam-packed, they work if you're energetic and well-organized. If you have more time, spread out these activities to give yourself some breathing room. Years ago, when I got my history degree, I said to myself, “I’d better get a business degree, too, so I have something useful.” But I’ve learned over the years that if more people knew more about history, our world would be a better place. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, It occurred to me that most of these people were old enough to remember the difficult times after World War II, when their city lay in rubble. From fairy-tale castles and alpine forests to quaint villages and modern cities: with Rick Steves on your side, Germany can be yours! Two actors dressed as American soldiers stand between big American flags and among sandbags at the rebuilt checkpoint, making their living posing for tourists. 18:30  Head back to Prenzlauer Berg (tram #M10 or walk along the rest of the memorial) for dinner. 11:30  Follow my Berlin guidebook's Unter den Linden Walk (or the second third of the "Berlin City Walk" / "Best of Berlin Walk"). 10:00  Follow my Berlin guidebook's Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate Walk (a.k.a. They capped it with a glorious glass dome, incorporating modern architectural design into a late-19th-century icon, and opened it up to the people. Across the street at “Snack Point Charlie,” someone sipping a Coke says to me, “When serious becomes kitsch, you know it’s over.”. This clip is excerpted from my new one-hour special “Rick Steves’ The Story of Fascism in Europe.” Check your local listings for air times — and if you don’t see it, please ask your public television station to add it to their schedule. When we travel, we have the opportunity to see history as it’s unfolding. Season 8 Episode 12 | 25m 4s | Video has closed captioning. Amazon.ca: rick steves guidebooks germany. Free shipping on orders over $35. Anytime you’re surrounded by teary-eyed Germans, something exceptional is going on. add to cart + WISH LIST. Lit from inside at night, it gives Berlin a kind of lantern celebrating good governance. But for anyone fascinated by 20th-century tumult, the city is hog heaven. 16:00  Follow my Berlin guidebook's Communist East Berlin Walk (the final third of the "Berlin City Walk" / "Best of Berlin Walk"). ), Posted by Rick Steves on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Daily Dose of Europe: Berlin’s Reichstag — Teary-Eyed Germans and a Big Glass Dome, Rick Steves’ The Story of Fascism in Europe, Learning the Joy of Giving in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, The Edmonds Theater — An Extra-Large Bag of Small-Town Memories. But a knowledge of its past gives it far deeper meaning. With that in mind, here are my recommended priorities: 9:00  Ascend the Reichstag dome (reserve in advance). The Story of Fascism: The Allies Defeat Fascist Germany Defeating Hitler and Mussolini took total war — a massive and heroic effort led by Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union. History is constantly speaking to us. These suggested itineraries from my Berlin guidebook will help you prioritize Berlin's many sights, whether you're spending one day, two days, three days, or up to a week in Berlin. Rating: Amazon Price: $19.99 $11.76 You save: $8.23 (41%) (as of September 18, 2020 12:58 am – Details). You can also find clips related to this story at Rick Steves Classroom Europe; just search for Berlin. Posted on February 21, 2019 February 21, 2019. Rick Steves' Europe. 13:00  Grab a quick Currywurst lunch near Museum Island. December 10, 2014. Traveling across Germany, we learn how fascism rose and then fell, taking millions of people with it. Start a New Topic . In 1933, this symbol of democracy nearly burned down. To see if pickup is … By Rick Steves. The former headquarters of the Stasi (the East German equivalent of the KGB) is now a museum and an archive where former East Germans can come to explore their files. But like Berlin, it's definitively Protestant. Standing at the historic Brandenburg Gate, I face Berlin’s fashionable new heart: Pariser Platz. 17:00  Take tram #M10 to Nordbahnhof and tour the Berlin Wall Memorial. Sure, fun in the sun, duty-free shopping, and bingo can be a big part of your vacation. Rick Steves Germany, Austria & Switzerland Planning Map: Including Berlin, Munich, Salzburg & Vienna City Maps. I wave down a cab and hop in. 11:00  Tour the Gemäldegalerie and nearby Kulturforum sights; have lunch at a museum café or on Potsdamer Platz. With knowledge of the past, we can better appreciate the significance of what’s happening today. But with the collapse of communism in the 1990s and the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, Berlin became the capital of united Germany. (This clip is excerpted from my new one-hour special “Rick Steves’ The Story of Fascism in Europe.” Check your local listings for air times — and if you don’t see it, please ask your public television station to add it to their schedule. Then, making me feel foolish for feeling foolish, he says, “I’ve lived here 31 years. My new book is called “For the Love of Europe” — and this is just one of its 100 travel tales.