Travelling between Berlin and Munich has brought many new revelations about the differences between the North and South of Germany. Like the United States, there are many cultural differences between the distinctive regions of the country. Berlin was a very cosmopolitan city that mixed the old with much of the new. This was quite obvious in the architecture throughout the city. There were many old buildings that represent and remind Berliners of the past, but there were many new buildings that are indicators of the future and innovation. Berliners also have a keen awareness of there recent past and the unification of East and West Berlin. The dividing line is still clear on city maps of Berlin and is often drawn in so people can see where the wall existed. The message of the wall and what it symbolizes is present in the minds of Berliners and seems to influence their perspective of the world and the way they go about their business. Though they do not dwell on the past, they are aware of the historical happenings within their own city and they continue to look to the future and build upwards and forwards. Their forward thinking is clear in the innovative architecture of the Sony Center as well as the many new government buildings. Instead of keeping the buildings of the old government or from the Nazi regime, the people of Berlin chose to build modern and creative new buildings. This could symbolize a fresh start and the beginning of a new era in Germany.
The Berliner perspective sharply contrasts the Münchner view of the world. In Munich there is an intense desire to preserve and restore the past and remember their history. People from Munich have a deep pride in their heritage and their past and distinctly enjoy being Bavarian. They have held onto the past and their traditions in many ways. The people of München have put forth the image of traditional German traditions such as lederhosen and dirndls. This is the image that I most expected when I first got here. The majority of the buildings throughout the city are old buildings that have been restored or renovated to their former glory. And more modern architecture is often viewed as ugly or out of place. Bavarians value their rich past and value the fact that they are from a city that housed royalty. This is clear in the continued tradition of the celebration of Oktoberfest. Even though it has turned into a tourist attraction, it still represents the celebration of the royal wedding. The place where Oktoberfest was originally held is still the site for the celebration. The map of München also reveals a great deal about the city and its history because much of the city center is still intact. I learned more about this in the München Stadtmuseum, which had paintings and images of the city center since the original construction of the city. The Marienplatz or central square has been around since the founding of the city. The only aspect that has changed is some of the buildings and the more modern stores that have developed throughout the city center.
Berlin and Munich share some similarities in their histories that relate to the presence and absence of different buildings within their city walls. Both cities have places within their city limits that represent the Nazi influence on their history. Some of these places remain as a reminder of World War II, but many have been destroyed and replaced with other buildings or fields. This may seem like an attempt to erase the past, but I think that it is part of the grieving process and an attempt to look forward.
Both Munich and Berlin are densely populated cities that also have major waterways surrounding them or travelling within city limits. These waterways can be seen on the city maps of each of these cities as well. As we have learned over the course of this class, water is extremely important for the brewing process. However, it is also pertinent for a city to develop and thrive. The waterways present in Berlin and Munich provide the necessary water for daily life as well as the growth and prosperity of the city. These waterways allow trade routes to develop between different German cities and helped to expand the industry, imports and exports. This trade has helped the Berlin and Munich to support their growing populations and helped them to be able to obtain goods that they could not produce within their city walls. The presence of these waterways also helped the development of the brewing industry. The hard water in both of these cities is ideal for the types of beers that the Berliners and Müchners were trying to produce. Once the beer was produced, it was another type of good that could be exported or traded throughout the country.
This trip has been an eye opening experience, and I have learned a great deal about German culture as well as the history of the country as a whole and the cities of Berlin and Munich.
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