This Summer, I spent over three weeks in Berlin- my first visit to Germany. The city is a fascinating place, where history meets modernity, and urban decay meets urban art. As the former heart of the Third Reich, the city was half-decimated during the final clashes of the Second World War in Europe, and then physically divided during the resulting Cold War. The city as a consequence is full of contrasts, whether it's the architectural styles of the former East and West, or the clashing areas of old and new structures in a constantly-changing patchwork: something that's still very much ongoing, as the skyline of cranes shows.
As a military history enthusiast and collector with a particular focus on the Third Reich, the city was of course of great interest to me- Museums aside, evidence of the city's past is everywhere, from conspicuous open areas where bombed buildings once stood, to bullet-scarred walls, Nazi architecture, war memorials and plaques.
The history wasn't the only aspect of significance however. Creatively, Berlin is now a place of endless expression in many forms, with posters, stickers, graffiti and murals scattered almost everywhere you look- ranging from political to the purely aesthetic. Furthermore, Berlin is the birthplace of some of my favourite music: the home of Rammstein, and the temporary residence of David Bowie, which inspired him to create his iconic 'Berlin Trilogy', most notably "Heroes". I was lucky enough to see Rammstein live while there, and of course picked up Bowie's "Heroes" and Low records...
