Bridges of Berlin: Rosa-Luxemburg-Steg

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Or as the proper title should be: Lichtensteinbrücke Re-discovered, since I already wrote about this particular bridge.

Berlin is one of the few metropolitan cities that I did not fall in love with instantly, like Vienna, Paris, Prague, or Delhi. It is a rough city with scorching summers and winters that make you aware of every little bone in your body. The bus drivers are rude, the racism is prevalent, it is incredibly difficult to find an affordable apartment for under 900EUR/month, and so on, BUT if you are into art, photography and theatre, it is incredible. Not to mention that the sheer amount of bridges in Berlin will give Paris and Venice a run for their money.

Here’s the thing, for every rough and drab neighbourhood, there is a wonderful park around the corner to balance things out, and you are never far from water in Berlin, be it canals, rivers or lakes. For passionate bridge lovers like me, this is my ultimate playground, and sometimes I end up re-discovering a bridge from a completely different perspective from what I originally wrote and photographed. The Lichtensteibrücke for example, is something I discovered on my way home from work one cold winters day. There are two parallel bridges next to each other that link the zoo to Tiergarten park, the other being the Rosa-Luxemburg-Steg.

After 18 months of working around the corner from these two bridges, I finally found the gorgeous path that is a wonderful alternative to my usual route to my preferred bus stop. Had it not been for my officemates who let me to the Schleusenkrug beer garden nestled in the area, I would never have discovered it. What a difference to view the bridge up close in summer, as compared to the anonymous distance of winter! The canal is alive with cyclists, joggers, people picnicking or strolling, as it is a path that runs parallel to the zoo on one side, and the canal on the other.

In spite of the tragic story surrounding the Rosa-Luxemburg-Steg, named after the historical and political figure Rosa Luxemburg whose body was found there after supposed being thrown from above, the area remains a favourite among passers-by by day. The area comes with a caveat, however, and it is not advisable to walk alone at night in these parts, as Tiergarten insists on competing with New York’s Central Park.