Back when it was booming, the Berlin Love Parade grew from an expression of solidarity and freedom after the fall of the Berlin Wall into a giant dance music phenomenon. The Love Parade was the elixir of the early post-Communist era. The sheer size of the parade itself meant it was somewhat loosely organised at best, but once it got going in the mid-afternoon, it was an unstoppable force, crossing the city then melting into a seemingly infinite number of afterparties in clubs, flats and anywhere two people could get together. One of the most common expressions of the parade was the hedonistic clothing, brought on by the youth-loving and tolerant crowd of straight and gay participants. Often, dancers sported bright, glowing colors, including furry leg-warmers and faux-feather boas - mixed with leather and S&M styles. Half the fun was seeing how far people would push it outside of their ordinary daily lives. Of course, one big party creates one big mess, and in some cases, crime - although the Love Parade was always relatively law abiding, despite its size. As early as 1997, the Love Parade went international, with the first offshoots taking place in Sydney, Buenos Aires and Leeds. The event became a regular feature on San Francisco's calendar too, but all these came to an end with the 2010 tragedy.

Berlin after 1989 was an amazing experience. Anybody who was there remembers it vividly and will tell tales of the energy and excitement of the two worlds - West and East - colliding like surf at the beach. But that was 20 years ago and much has changed. The sort of rawness, especially of East Berlin, has given way to a first-class city. Business mingles easily with pleasure and electronic music has evolved into countless forms. From amazing shopping to clubs and pubs, Berlin is still the place to be. If you're planning a visit, our partners can help you arrange your hotel and tours. If you're on the cheap, check out Berlin Hostels, and be sure to read up on the sights and things to do in the city. See you here!