I want to ‘Go with Oh’ to Berlin

I’m returning to Europe this fall for a three-month stay as part of my year-long around-the-world (RTW) journey.

One of my favourite cities in the world is Berlin, otherwise known as the Hauptstadt or Germany’s capital city. I’ve visited the Hauptstadt ten times over the last ten years. Every visit to Berlin has always led me to the same conclusion: there’s always something new, and I’ve never tired of the energy, pace, culture, or its people. Berlin mayor Klaus Wowerweit once said “Berlin is poor, but sexy”; I believe that conciseness still remains true.

Go with Oh

“Go With Oh” has a contest for one month’s worth of accommodation in a European city this (northern) fall. As one of the candidate cities, I want to “Go with Oh” (back) to Berlin to experience the following:

On 3 June 2012, the Berlin Brandenburg International Airport Willy Brandt (BER) will open its doors for the first time. The brand new airport will provide an eastern hub for Lufthansa, and a new gateway into growing markets in eastern Europe. What makes an airport tick? How do the logistics of transport for both passengers and goods run on time? What are the advantages to flying into Berlin from a traveling perspective? I’d like to find out.
Berlin Underground : given the abundance of history in the city over the last several decades, what mysteries lurk underneath the reconstruction? I’m also especially interested in exploring the “ghost” train-stations which became no-go zones when the Berlin Wall was constructed.
One special Berlin snack is the ever-humble and the ubiquitous Currywurst. Although there are countless Currywurst stands throughout the city, there are only a few which are considered must-go-and-try. I consider it an important goal to find and try as much Currywurst as possible, which includes a visit to the German Currywurst Museum … of course.
The annual Festival of Lights brings out about brightly coloured illumination to buildings and places of interest throughout the city. As I plan on arriving in Berlin in mid-October, my arrival is just in time to photograph and experience the Festival more fully.
Whenever I’m in Germany in December, the Weihnachtsmärkte, or the Christmas markets, are mandatory. Then again, I have a ritual for every visit to a Christmas market which consists of Glühwein number 1, a bratwurst, Glühwein number 2, followed by potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer) with apple sauce; sometimes I mix the order of the brat and potatoes. Admission to every market is free of charge, with the exception of the 1-Euro charge to WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin’s Mitte. I’ve missed this market in the last couple of years, and I’m very curious to discover why this particular market warrants the (albeit modest) charge.

These five stand out in mind, but my list at present is much larger.

You can also check out the Go With Oh travel accommodations website for a chance to win one of the following prizes: iPad(2), holiday accommodations with a value of 500 Euros, a Panasonic Lumix camera, or Samsonite luggage worth 500 Euros.

This post is published on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com). The logo above is from GoWithOh, and I made the photo of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on 13 October 2005.

Disclosure: The author has written this post which is associated with a contest, sweepstakes, giveaway, or other special offer described in the post. Please see additional details at the Go With Oh website.