The first stop on my Topdeck Tour was Berlin, a city that proves a terrific example of the unity of old and new. With its past divided amongst the hands of the Germans, Soviets, Americans, French, and just about everyone else that came to Europe and wanted its hands on a centrally located city, Berlin has been tossed around quite a lot in its day. And because of all this tugging and pulling in different directions, the people of Berlin seem to appreciate immensely their current-day freedoms. The city seems at ease, the people are visibly content, and the city center is metropolitan.

The first night in Berlin, I met up with the other Topdeck travelers and our charming Australian guide Blake before getting some dinner and a couple of drinks to get to know each other. What fun it is to socialize with such a great mix of people (Aussies, Americans, Brits, Kiwis) while taking in the foreign culture by way of food and drink. That German food sure is heavy and delicious…

Anyway, to better understand the city of Berlin in the present-day, our group took a walking tour with an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide who led us around to different neighborhoods and monuments important in the city’s tumultuous past. We visited the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag (their awesome parliament building), Holocaust Memorial, and remains of the Berlin Wall, amongst other notable sights. Then we all ventured on to do our own thing, whether it be visiting the Checkpoint Charlie Museum (a museum dedicated to the history of the Berlin Wall), simply taking a coffee and reading in the parks, or shopping along the main thoroughfares. Our time in Berlin was marked by a terrific amount of free time, and we Topdeck-goers spent as much of it as possible together. We simply had a blast exploring the city (and a beerhall or two), and some of the crew even saw Bruce Willis at the Brandenburg Gate. How’s that for wild?

Our best night had to have been the night of the pub crawl, as we all donned shirts proudly displaying David Hasselhoff’s face and the words “I Love Berlin.” Why the Hoff, you may ask. Well, it seems that Mr. Hoff thinks he single-handedly freed Berlin from the oppressive rule of the communist era. He believes that due to his singing of the song “Looking for Freedom” atop the Brandeburg Gate in 1989 (in what I’ve heard was a light-up jacket…if that’s not true, please don’t tell me, as it will ruin my dreams), the people suddenly rose up to break down the Berlin Wall. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the many years of stifled freedoms… Anyway, we pub-crawled in these terrific shirts, stopping at a vast array of bars, from places with hookah to bars that were so exclusive that they lock the doors after letting people in. Needless to say, our attire got us in right away. Ah yes, ‘twas a terrific night indeed.

After Berlin, we made a trip to Dresden en route to Prague, and I can’t stress enough that this city is worth a visit. While a massive portion of the city was destroyed by a fire-bombing in World War II, the people have lovingly reconstructed the gem to rival its past grandeur. And not only is the architecture delightful; the pork schnitzel is just plain delicious. Schnitzel picnics in Dresden are the greatest.

After Germany, it’s further East – so stay tuned!