Tag Archives: Berlin
Election Day in Germany Posted by Larissa on Sep 28, 2021
Last Sunday, the 26th of September, was a very big day in Germany. There were three elections and one referendum. When there are these many elections it is called a Superwahljahr (this literally translates to a super-vote-year), which is a whole extra post that you can find here. There was the election for the Berlin…
Germany’s Abandoned Amusement Park Posted by Constanze on Jun 30, 2021
Guten Tag! Today we’re going to look at Germany through the lens of urban exploration. When travelling, I am always fascinated by places that are abandoned (verlassen), eerie (unheimlich), or otherwise strange (seltsam), so I thought I’d write a series of posts on places in Germany that meet that criteria! If you are also a…
Why Did Germany Change This Street Name? Posted by Constanze on Apr 12, 2021
Guten Tag! The subject of today’s post is a good example of how language evolves over time, and how powerful an effect it can have. In summer 2020, Germany decided to change a street name in Berlin. In this post we’ll look at why that is, and what they changed it to! Why Did Germany…
A German Construction Disaster Comes to A Close Posted by Sten on Oct 29, 2020
Finally! After years and years of delays and billions of euros over budget, Berlin’s new airport BER will finally open this Saturday, October 31. Just so you get an idea of how big a deal this is: The airport was supposed to open in 2007. You read that right, not 2017, but 13 years ago! The…
What Cake Can Teach Us About Germany (Part 2!) Posted by Constanze on Aug 12, 2020
Guten Tag! This is the second in a two-part series on one of my favourite subjects: Cake (der Kuchen in German)- specifically, German cakes with interesting, often place-specific, names. We will look at why those cakes are named the way they are, and learn a little language, culture and history in the process. So, as…
Berlin: One-Time Holiday for VE-Day Posted by Sten on May 8, 2020
Today is VE-Day, or Victory in Europe Day. May 8, 1945 marks the day that the Nazis capitulated. With the Nazi regime gone, it was Stunde Null (Zero Hour), as it was called, for Germany: The opportunity for a new Germany, starting over. In Berlin, its 75. Jahrestag (anniversary), the day is a einmaliger (one-time) Feiertag (holiday). What happens today? Kapitulation am 8…
Germany’s Historic Ghost Stations Posted by Constanze on May 8, 2019
Guten Tag! Today’s post is about die Geisterbahnhöfe – ‘ghost train stations’. This is a term you may already be familiar with, but in German, this word has a significant and interesting history. So, let’s delve right into it! Throughout this post I may refer to the word in its singular or plural form, so…