Travels in Europe
Written by Bethany Bennie
Intrepid journeyer and planner of towns Bethanie Bennie has been enjoying the sights and delights of Europe for the past few months; here is her first missive on the experience.
Adventures in Europe #1
Oh man, Europe has far exceeded my expectations. To be honest, I didn't even want to go... I'm a homebody and the thought of leaving my cosy life in Auckland to venture off into a big unknown continent turned my stomach into anxious knots.
I'm so glad to have been proven wrong!
Because I’m a self-confessed planning geek, I’ve been jumping for joy at every bicycle lane, every bicycle traffic light, every tram, every super-efficient, super-fast and super-cheap train, and every public artwork situated within a fantastically utilised public space. Oh New Zealand, why do we suck at cities... we have so much to learn!!
My favourite cities so far have been Amsterdam and Berlin. Amsterdam is a cyclist’s heaven - they rule the cityscape. There are cycle lanes everywhere. We stayed quite a way out of the city but we could still hire bikes and cycle leisurely alongside the main roads on our safe little cycle lanes (Supposedly it’s a favourite pastime for cycling locals to take out the unsuspecting tourist who is accidentally walking in the cycle lane). You don't have to wear helmets, the bikes are beautiful and women cycle with heels on.
Berlin is great for cycling too. However, my favourite thing about Berlin was the city-scape itself. Whereas Amsterdam is beautiful, Berlin is a construction site. The city has an amazing history which is depicted in its urban landscape. I know this may seem obvious, but I found it quite incredible how architecture and the urban form can so easily portray the history of a city. Examples such as the Berlin Wall, Fernsehturm (the TV Tower), and the tall, bold apartment blocks dotted along Karl-Marx-Alleem, tell the story of a Communist Eastern Berlin. The Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Topography of Terror exhibition are incredible and sombre public places which continue to remind people of the devastation caused by the Third Reich. And, to reflect modern Berlin, the glass dome of the Reichstag (seat of parliament) acts as both a symbol of a transparent government, and a reminder for politicians that the people who walk above them in the dome are the people they are to serve.
The markets in Berlin were also a highlight. We biked along to the Mauerpark Market one Sunday afternoon and it was such a delight!! The market itself was a sensual overload and a feast for the eyes, albeit slightly overpriced. Even more awesome was the karaoke next door...let me explain... the market was situated next to a long grass strip and next to that was a hill and in that hill was a karaoke pit. Every market day this guy sets up his karaoke set (speakers, microphone and the like) and people (who have pre-booked a space) get up and do karaoke. What really makes it, is the hundreds of people watching.
There were over 1000 people watching the day we were there, and they all get into it - singing along, clapping along, cheering, laughing, drinking and having a good old time. And, it was all for free!! The combination of the market, the hundreds of people lying on the grass next to the market place and the hundreds of people sitting/standing around the karaoke pit exuded the feel of a summertime festival. It was such a cool place to spend the afternoon!!
Bethanie (understandably) is a bit preoccupied at the moment, so this shall simply end…to be continued….
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