Anthony
Political Studies Major

The contrast between the subway systems of Berlin and Rome is severe.

In Rome, when the intensely-graffittied subway trains pull into the station, the ensuing onslaught of humanity is reminiscent of the final scenes of Titanic -- too many people, not enough room. Romans have never heard of the concept of a "personal bubble," which is why it is easy to find yourself ensconced in a cocoon of humanity 20 feet underground, pretty much a claustrophobic's nightmare. The cramped cars are occasionally enlivened by to live music (my favorite moment was when an accordianist, hearing our American accents, busted into a moving rendition of My Heart Will Go On from...the Titanic soundtrack. How apropos). Seats on the Metros are hard to come by, and our large group usually had to split up, going in sometimes as many as three different trains.

The Berlin U- and S-Bahns are the complete opposite. The trains are spotless, both inside and out, and are almost never crowded. Television screens keep the occupants up to date on the news, while electronic scroll bars keep passengers constantly apprised of approaching stations. While the Roman Metro system was easy to follow because it only has two lines, the Berlin Metro is orderly, despite the almost-dozen lines that go througout the city. When the cars are crowded, personal space is maintained. Conversations are in quiet, hushed tones, in comparison to the cross-car yells found in Italy.

All in all, the Berlin system is better, cleaner and overall a much more pleasant experience. Having ridden many American public transportation systems, Berlin's is still a welcome departure from the norm, while the Italian standards seem below those found in the USA.

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