Melissa shares this latest update from the Escorted Tour she is currently hosting with Sandra...

And just like that, our journey ends in one of Europe’s most powerful and fascinating capitals. Berlin is not just a city you visit it’s a city you feel. Bold, creative, and deeply layered, it wears its history proudly on every street corner.

From the moment we arrived, the past came alive. Standing before the remains of the Berlin Wall, we were reminded of a time when this city and the world was divided. Once stretching over 150km, The Wall separated families and ideologies for nearly three decades. Today, the East Side Gallery transforms that painful history into hope, featuring over 100 murals painted on the longest remaining section of The Wall - art born from freedom and expression.

At Checkpoint Charlie, once the most famous Cold War border crossing, it’s impossible not to imagine the tense standoffs between East and West that played out right where we stood. Just a short walk away, the Holocaust Memorial offers a stark and moving contrast with 2,711 concrete slabs rising and falling, designed to disorient and provoke reflection, ensuring that the darkest chapters of history are never forgotten.

And then there’s the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most iconic symbol. Once trapped behind the Wall, it now stands united and glowing at night, a beacon of peace, resilience, and reunification. Seeing it illuminated felt like the perfect full-circle moment for our journey.

Despite its heavy history, Berlin knows how to celebrate life. There are Christmas markets on almost every corner filled the city with warmth steaming mugs of Glühwein, sizzling sausages, handmade ornaments, and festive lights cutting through the winter air. History may shape Berlin, but its spirit is unmistakably alive.

As we head home today, bags packed (and yes, much heavier than when we arrived!), we’re filled with gratitude. It’s been an incredible month traveling with an amazing group of clients, sharing stories, laughter, and unforgettable moments across Europe.

Now it’s time to trade Christmas markets for sunshine and beach days home, just in time for a Kiwi Christmas.