Checkpoint Charlie: A Tourist Trap That Still Divides Berlin
A trip to Berlin without seeing Checkpoint Charlie is unthinkable for most tourists. However, the area around the checkpoint, a symbol of German division, has become more focused on catering to tourists than properly remembering the Cold War and its effects on the country. Checkpoint Charlie, a symbol of German …
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Germany’s Coast?
Germany’s Baltic Sea (Ostsee) and North Sea (Nordsee) coasts maybe home to gorgeous beaches and some of the finest sand in Europe, but do you know your Sylt from your Rügen, and where do Germans prefer to spend their free time? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
Chillin’ in Berlin’s Badeschiff
During those sunny summer days in Berlin you may find yourself longing for a refreshing dip, or just somewhere to soak up the sun’s rays, far from the bustle of the city. Lounging beside the river Spree is the Arena Badeschiff, a floating swimming pool which turns into an outdoor …
Trouble on the Drachenfels Donkey Trail
The towering Drachenfels cliff is one of the most popular recreation spots in the “Siebengebirge” (seven mountains) stretch on the Rhine. But the cliff’s rocks have become brittle and now work is under way to try to keep it from breaking apart. Atop the Drachenfels (literally: Dragon Rock), high above …
Dreaming of Escape? Dozens Seek Job in Remote German Lighthouse
Ever wondered what it might be like to quit your desk job and live in a remote lighthouse somewhere? It turns out it’s a real prospect for some. The German North Sea village of Wremen struggled for a long time to find a keeper for its lighthouse, but an advertisement …
West Side Stories and a Village Divided
“Border area, Exclusion zone. Entering and driving is only allowed with special permission!” reads a sign on the former inner German border. The Iron Curtain ran for about 7,000 km from the Barents Sea in the north straight through Europe to the Black Sea, and divided the continent into East …