Berlin's Festival of Freedom on November 9th - Celebrating the Fall of the Wall
November 9 is the day Berlin waiting has been waiting for all year long: It marks the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, which came down on November 9, 1989.
Berlin celebrates the anniversary of this significant day in German history with a gigantic Festival of Freedom; besides hundreds of thousand spectators, the German capital welcomes many international heads of states and governments such as Nicolas Sarkozy, Dmitry Medwedew, Gordon Brown, Hillary Clinton, as well as Angela Merkel and Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit.
The center piece of the Festival of Freedom is a giant domino chain, which follows the route of the former wall through Berlin.
The 1000 domino pieces were created by Berlin students, and just like the real Berlin Wall, they are going to fall. With the last domino, a spectacular firework display will light up the night sky over the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of a unified Germany.
Program of the Festival of Freedom
- 7:00 p.m. Concert of the Berlin state's orchestra under the conducter Daniel Barenboim (music from Wagner, Schoenberg, Beethoven, and Goldmann
- 7:30 p.m. International politicians and former GDR civil right activists walk through the Brandenburg Gate and give speeches
- between 7:45 - 8:30 p.m.
- The first domino will fall
- Performance of Jon Bon Jovi at the Brandenburg Gate
- Interview with Michael Gorbatschow and Hans Dietrich Genscher (former German Foreign Minister)
- 8:30 p.m. The last domino will fall, kicking off a spectacular firework display over the Brandenburg Gate
Where: Brandenburg Gate
When: November 9, 2009
Getting There: Metro Stop „Unter den Linden" (S1, S2) , or Bus #100
Cost: Free
Berlin's East Side Gallery Gets a Face-Lift
Right in time for the festivities of the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, this Berlin symbol got a well-deserved face-lift: The East Side Gallery, one of the most prominent and longest sections of the Berlin Wall still standing.
After the wall fell in 1989, hundreds of artists from all over the world came to Berlin to transform the grim and gray wall into a piece of art: They covered the east side of the former border, which had been untouchable up to then, with more than 100 colorful murals and paintings, transforming it into the largest open-air gallery in the world.
But the last 20 years took their toll on the colorful attraction: Big sections of the wall have been damaged by erosion, graffiti, and trophy hunters, who chip off little pieces to bring home as a souvenir. In the last months, many of the original artists returned to Berlin to restore their murals, and now the East Side Gallery is finally ready for the Fall of the Wall celebrations, which kick off this weekend in Berlin.
Berlin Travel Tips
(all photos by Manuela Guddait)
Germany Budget Travel Tip of the Week: Take a Bus
Every week, I will be posting budget travel tips for your Germany vacation in my blog, so you can find out how to make your Dollar go further - without taking the fun out of your travels.
This week is all about taking the bus to get around in Germany; buses are cheap, comfortable, environmentally friendly and a good option besides train travel or driving in Germany.
I recommend the German bus company Berlin Linien Bus; it has a very extensive network with 350 destinations all over Germany and Europe and offers great deals for city hoppers.
Right now, the company offers a Super Promo Fare for all bus trips to and from Berlin: Tickets are between 9 Euros (e.g. one way Berlin - Hamburg, Berlin Dresden) and 33 Euros (Berlin - Munich, Berlin - Frankfurt). Fares to other European cities start at 22 Euros (Berlin - Prague, Berlin - Copenhagen).
Check out the Berlin Linien Website for more deals and to book online.
Transportation in Germany
Do you have a budget travel tip you want to share with us? Leave a comment or join the conversation in our Germany Travel Forum. The best Germany budget travel tips will be published in this blog.
Check out Last Week's Budget Travel Tip
Heidelberg- Germany's Jewel
Heidelberg, located in the southwest of Germany, is one of the country's most picturesque travel destinations; it is one of the few German cities that wasn't destroyed in World War II, so plenty of old world charm fills the narrow cobble stone streets of Heidelberg's Old Town.
Heidelberg is mostly famous for its castle, but don't leave the city without seeing these interesting attractions and landmarks.
One of the most unique sights Heidelberg has to offer, is its historic student prison. The cells are decorated with original paintings, drawings, and poems from students, who did time here for minor transgressions like dueling, excessive drinking, and disobeying authorities.
Heidelberg Travel Tips
(Photo: GNTB/Andrew Collin)
U2 Plays Free Gig at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate
Achtung, Baby: On November 5th, the Irish rock band U2 plays a free concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
The concert will be held as part of the MTV European Music Awards, which take place in Berlin's O2 Arena.
But why U2, you might wonder - why does an Irish rock band want to pay tribute to this event in German history? U2 has a special connection with Berlin: Shortly after the wall came down, the band relocated to the German capital, got inspired by Berlin, and recorded their album "Achtung Baby" in the Hansa Studios, close to the former wall.
Tickets for the free concerts are available through the band's website, www.u2.com, or through www.mtvema.com.
Germany Budget Travel Tip of the Week: Munich for Free
Every week, I will be posting budget travel tips for your Germany vacation in my blog, so you can find out how to make your Dollar go further - without taking the fun out of your travels.
This week, I have a list for you that features the best things to do in Munich for free. From walking tours, and sights, to open-air markets, and festivals, here are the best Munich attractions that won't cost you a single Euro:
The 10 Best Things to Do in Munich For Free
Do you have any budget travel tips you want to share with us? Leave a comment or join the conversation in our Germany Travel Forum. The best Germany budget travel tips will be published in this blog.
Check out Last Week's Budget Travel Tip
The Best Clubs in Berlin
The days in Germany are getting shorter, the nights longer and colder - high time to hit some of Berlin's hottest night clubs.
Berlin is not only the capital of Germany, but also the capital of German nightlife, so just dance those long winter nights away. There are no fixed closing hours for most clubs in Berlin, so you can get up and get down til the sun rises over the city.
Before you set off to explore Berlin's ever-changing club scene, make sure to check out our Guide to Berlin's Nightlife; find out when to go, what to wear, and how to find one of these famous underground parties. And to get the most out of your night, have a look at my top-pick The Best 5 Clubs in Berlin.
Do you have a favorite club in Berlin? Share it with us in our comments section below.
(Photo by Jacob Boetter)
Shop and Save - Germany's Best Designer Outlets
Want to go shopping in Germany without blowing your budget? Then hit one of Germany's discount outlet stores, where you can find great bargains all year round; designer fashion, jewelry, shoes, and household wares are often reduced up to 70%, because they are either from last season or overstock items.
Check out Germany's best discount and designer outlets where you can shop and save to your heart's content. Happy hunting!
Shopping in Germany
- Germany's Best Shopping Streets
- Best Shops to Buy a Dirndl in Munich
- Gifts and Souvenirs from Germany
(Photo: Winston Davidian/Getty Images)
Germany Budget Travel Tip of the Week: Discount Train Tickets
Every week, I will be posting budget travel tips for your Germany vacation in my blog, so you can find out how to make your Dollar go further - without taking the fun out of your travels.
This week's tip allows you to explore Germany by train and save money at the same time: Get yourself the Schoenes Wochenende Ticket ("Happy Weekend Ticket").
With this train pass, the weekend is all yours - you can take the train as often as you like within one weekend, anywhere in Germany, and on any local train (no Intercity Express).
- Price: 37 Euro, for up to 5 persons traveling together
- Valid: Saturdays or Sundays between midnight and 3 a.m. of the following day
- Where to Get it: online, at ticket vending machines, or at ticket counters of the German National Railway in German train stations.
Train Travel in Germany:
Do you have any budget travel tips you want to share with us? Leave a comment or join the conversation in our Germany Travel Forum. The best Germany budget travel tips will be published in this blog.
(Photo by Markus Hoppe)
Book Your Holiday Travel 2009 Soon!
It may not be Halloween yet, but it is never too early to book your holiday travel 2009. My colleague Mark Kahler, Guide to Budget Travel, just posted an interesting article on his blog: Book Holiday Travel Before October Ends .
Mark's advice: As always -- but especially now -- if you find a good deal, book it immediately. Chances are good it will be gone in a flash.
According to the New York Times, holiday airfares are on the rise; in addition, some international airlines have added a $10 surcharge to flights during the holiday season. Some airlines are also cutting back on the number of seats on certain routes.
Finding a good deal might seem a challenge this holiday season, but help is on the way: Check out Mark's weekly travel deals and if you find a great bargain - get it right away!
Holiday Season in Germany