As an ambitious person who hopes to travel around the world, I know that there are a lot of places around the globe which are worth visiting. Travelling helps to broaden my horizons and for me, to know more about the rest of the world from a first-person experience. Having visited various countries in Asia, like Mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, it is, without a doubt, that I would like to pay a visit to Europe. While I have a travelling plan and a couple of states in my mind (like the UK, Italy, Monaco, Vatican City and Spain), Germany would be the one I am most looking forward to visiting. Why? Because she is a country with a rich history, culture and plenty of things for me to discover. This is why I would like to visit her.
The first city I would like to visit IS Berlin. As the capital of Germany, Berlin is surrounded by an atmosphere of literature. I would like to stop by the Reichstag building in which the members of the modern Bundestag meet each other for formulating the national policies. It was a location which was hugely damaged and later, rebuilt after the reunification of the country. Another place I would call on would be the Berlin Wall. Having built to physically divide between Western and Eastern Germany for around 30 years, thanks to its demolition, the site is now a spot for artistic creations and a point for us to reflect on the history of the country; the value of “Eingikeit und Recht und Freiheit” (or “unity, justice and freedom” in English), which are the core values of the nation. Last but not least, Neues Museum (“New Museum” in English) in which it is a showcase display of the German culture the people of the country are proud of. With diverse museums and those artistic historical attractions there, I believe that Berlin is a good fit for art lovers like me.
The second city I would like to stay is Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. Like Berlin, Cologne is another metropolis for me to spend time in. A city recovered from numerous bombing during World War II, Cologne rebuilt herself after the war period and established the reputation of a region of sightseeing. It would be a good experience for me if I could visit the ever famous Cologne Cathedral and climb to the top of it to admire the view of the city. As a chocolate maniac, it would also be rewarding for me to drop by the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum (“Schokoladenmuseum” means “chocolate museum” in English while “Imhoff” is the name of the founder of the museum, Hans Imhoff), with loads of sweets up for grabs for me to savour. I would also like to take part in the Kölner Karneval (or the “Cologne carnival”, as the locals call it) – one of the most celebrated fairs in both Germany and Europe – if the time allows me to do so. With parades, dances and plenty of shows to watch, I guess that I will need to visit the city during November in order to get the best of it.
The third city I would like to drop by is Dortmund, also in North Rhine-Westphalia like Cologne. Dortmund may not be a famous city for tourists, but certainly a region familiar to sports fans, especially those who are mad at football. As a Borussia Dortmund supporter myself, it is of no surprise that I would like to spend time in Westfalenstadion – also known as Signal Iduna Park for sponsorship purposes – the home stadium of the club. It would be fantastic if I could purchase a Bundesliga ticket for one of the home games and feel the matchday atmosphere during my visit. For the fans of the BVB, the “Yellow Wall” and its passion are just two of the many things that I would like to experience in person when I become a part of it. The stadium is always filled with the passionate supporters of the club, be it the day of the German national derby against Bayern Munich (aka “Der Klassiker”, meaning “The Classic” in German) or a fixture against bottom strugglers VfB Stuttgart. Seeing my favourite player, Marco Reus, scoring would be the icing on the cake. As a huge follower of German football, especially for the Black and Yellows, the happening will certainly mean a lot to me.
The final city I would like to stay is Frankfurt am Main, Hesse. As the heart of Europe, one of the biggest cities in Germany and an important hub in various fields of Germany, Frankfurt is an intruding yet underrated metropolitan area for travellers to pay attention to. As a literature lover myself, the Goethe-House would be a scene I would not want to miss, as it is the place where famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and his family resided by. I would also like to pay a visit to the Städel Museum, Museum für Moderne Kunst (“Museum of Modern Art” in English, also known as the MMK), Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt and Historisches Museum (“Historical Museum” in English) to know more about the past creativity activities by the forebears of the city and their fellow Germans. I am also amazed to know that Frankfurt, being one of the known megalopoleis in Europe, is an essential economic core to the region (just like Hong Kong in Asia). It is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated cities in Europe. Therefore, it will be interesting to understand the history behind her development by visiting the Archäologisches Museum (“Archaeological Museum” in English). Since she is blended with the elements of fine art, chronicles and modernity, this is why Frankfurt is a fascinating municipality for me to drop by.
To sum up, the reason why I would like to visit Germany is that she is a country with the charisma for me to look around. As a literature lover, I would like to visit Frankfurt to know more about modern art and Goethe’s life. As someone who admires the history of Germany, I can visit Berlin to learn about it. As an enthusiastic football follower, I can go to Westfalenstadion in Dortmund to feel the beat of my favourite football club. In other words, be it sports, culture, history and arts, Germany is a country who offers me a lot of things to visit her. To achieve the aim, I am currently studying the German language on my own. It will be great if I have the money, time and language skills to be there soon!