Ringing in 2015 with a BANG [Berlin]

I haven’t been to many well-known places for New Years apart from Las Vegas, but I am going to make a gamble and declare Berlin as the loudest NYE on the planet.

There is just something about Germans and fireworks.

They love to set them off anywhere and at any time, so if you are hoping to sleep on NYE in Berlin, BRING. EAR. PLUGS.

Although, how much sleep are you really wanting if you are spending NYE in one of the most popular NYE destinations in the world?

I am honestly not someone who gets excited over NYE because it’s just a day.

Is there a party thrown for every new month?

Every new week?

I couldn’t care less about the “holiday,” but as I was in one of the most popular places to spend the day, I decided to make the most of it and I wanted to do that in the most popular spot in the city to ring in the new year:

Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor).

Every year, over a million people pack together around the most famous sight in Berlin to listen to bands play, eat some fair food, drink some glühwein, and watch a spectacular display of fireworks.

I checked the area out and left at around 7pm wanting to

1. Get some cheaper food outside of the gates, and

2. Meet up with some people I met at my hostel to go there together.

BIG MISTAKE.

It turns out that the gates close when it gets too crowded, so I’d say come no later than 8pm if you want to see the shows and be in the middle of it all. Earlier if you want a good spot.

So we ended up being locked out.

Instead, we checked out Neukölnn neighborhood and dodged a few MANY fireworks. One just a couple feet from our faces.

Around midnight, I wanted to at least TRY to see the fireworks.

Why come to Berlin for NYE if you aren’t going to try to see the main event??

So, I found an area a looooong ways away from the gate. The crowd was too dense to permeate any further, so I had to make do with what I could.

For about an hour, we all watched the fireworks being set off from everyone around us. It was a show in and of itself.

Then, at midnight (there was no countdown?!?!) a grandiose display of fireworks began in the distance.

Then, once that 15-minute show finished, the others in the streets resumed setting off their own displays, hitting buildings, street lights, and (I’m sure of it) people.

After that, everyone headed out to wherever they planned to go and that was that.

All in all, NYE in Berlin is nothing to go out of your way for, but if you are near or already there, the fireworks were good albeit SCARY (loud and close to hitting you).

Dresden by night

Because I lengthened my time in Prague and when I wanted to be in Berlin was basically set in stone (I could never forgive myself if I missed out on New Years in Berlin), Dresden got the short end of the stick.

I arrived in Dresden late in the day after the sun had completely set and had an early bus the next day, but I was utterly determined to give Dresden a chance.

Although Dresden was almost completely destroyed during the bombings in WWII, you may forget that as you walk into the old town. Dresden is one of those cities that decided to rebuild its buildings to their former pre-war style. The result of which is truly spectacular.

I walked into the alstadt (old town) across the River Elbe and was pleased to see a wonderful riverfront scene. Across the Augustus Bridge (oldest in the city), which connects the neustadt to the alstadt, lies the Schlossplatz which is home to the cathedral, the Dresdner Schloss (castle), and a few other pretty old buildings (sorry I can’t be more specific!).

As it was late, I couldn’t go into any of the buildings, but I was able to marvel at the architecture, albeit not that old.

The main square, or neumarkt, still held onto a few remaining Christmas market stalls as well as being home to the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). This church was completely bombed in WWII and later reconstructed in full.

Interesting fact, though, is that Dresden is one of only 2 places in the world that has had its UNESCO World Heritage status revoked.

Why?

The city decided to build an ugly 4-lane bridge over the Elbe Valley, cutting into a previously scenic view over the river valley and into the town.

I have read Dresden being compared to an Italian city (Florence perhaps?) so I would love to give it a proper chance and view it in the daytime to see the city really come to life.

I would love to see the reason it had UNESCO World Heritage status in the first place.

To me, as of now, it was one of those “meh” destinations. More of a “take it or leave it.”

If I’m near Dresden again, I’ll try to give it another shot as I have seen truly gorgeous pictures of the city. As of now, though, I won’t be rushing back, despite the amazing architecture.