Berlin
I've been trying to work out exactly how my time in Berlin went by so quickly. It feels like I've just arrived and that I've been here a long time all at once. I challenged myself to do what nobody else I've ever spoken to has been able to do: define what makes Berlin such a great place. I can firmly say that I barely scratched the surface in my five days here. (Really? Five days?) There are so many different aspects, facets of the city that I'd have to spend several more paragraphs waxing lyrical about it to even sketch out its shape.
Obviously I barely scratched the surface, but I've had some of the quintessential experiences (although missed a bunch of the traditional ones). Berlin has amazing museums and art galleries. For 16 euro you can get a ticket to five of the galleries on museum island. I wandered about with some Aussies and Canadians through a brilliant Egyptian permanent collection and through some very depressing-looking modern German works; one day they might discover colours. The Natural History Museum was well worth the 6 euro entry charge and really showed just how organised the Germans can be.
In my wandering tour of what was once West Berlin I went up the TV Tower that really is everyone's navigation point. Given it was cloudy and my sense of direction in Europe has completely deserted me, it was really helpful. The views are spectacular and I can inform you that Berlin surrounds are pretty damn flat. There's a giant park with massive open spaces, only slightly marred by the sounds of passing traffic a little way away. There are plenty of monuments strewn around it too, but I'm not really sure how well they're kept.
East Berlin is vehemently protesting any changes to its artistic scene. The underground tour I went on took us through some of the areas and buildings that it's been suggested will be gone in six months due to commercial development. There's quite a bit of political graffiti about the place. Indeed, it seems to be their primary form of expression, which is logical given that their language ruins all comedy.
With my new hippy and party people friends - different Aussies and Englishmen - I checked out some of the pub scene (almost serene in its demeanour) and spent the hours of 1am to 5am jumping about in a rave at an abandoned train station. (It's not quite as cool as it sounds.) Wandering home in the cool morning light, my ears slightly stuffed with cotton wool, was quite refreshing. It's this activity that's caused me to lose most of my last day here. Fortunately I understand that's part of the Berlin experience too.
Basically, Berlin can be whatever you want it to be, and it's best experienced with a coupla other people so you can form a critical mass and really make wherever you are yours.
As for my next moves, my original plan was to go down to Dresden and then to Prague. No longer. Dresden has deemed me unworthy of paying a reasonable price for accommodation (ie. all the hostels are full) so I've decided to go to Barcelona instead, and then up to Paris.
Piccies: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150252750013475.368720.535023474&l=c4d95a496f
Obviously I barely scratched the surface, but I've had some of the quintessential experiences (although missed a bunch of the traditional ones). Berlin has amazing museums and art galleries. For 16 euro you can get a ticket to five of the galleries on museum island. I wandered about with some Aussies and Canadians through a brilliant Egyptian permanent collection and through some very depressing-looking modern German works; one day they might discover colours. The Natural History Museum was well worth the 6 euro entry charge and really showed just how organised the Germans can be.
In my wandering tour of what was once West Berlin I went up the TV Tower that really is everyone's navigation point. Given it was cloudy and my sense of direction in Europe has completely deserted me, it was really helpful. The views are spectacular and I can inform you that Berlin surrounds are pretty damn flat. There's a giant park with massive open spaces, only slightly marred by the sounds of passing traffic a little way away. There are plenty of monuments strewn around it too, but I'm not really sure how well they're kept.
East Berlin is vehemently protesting any changes to its artistic scene. The underground tour I went on took us through some of the areas and buildings that it's been suggested will be gone in six months due to commercial development. There's quite a bit of political graffiti about the place. Indeed, it seems to be their primary form of expression, which is logical given that their language ruins all comedy.
With my new hippy and party people friends - different Aussies and Englishmen - I checked out some of the pub scene (almost serene in its demeanour) and spent the hours of 1am to 5am jumping about in a rave at an abandoned train station. (It's not quite as cool as it sounds.) Wandering home in the cool morning light, my ears slightly stuffed with cotton wool, was quite refreshing. It's this activity that's caused me to lose most of my last day here. Fortunately I understand that's part of the Berlin experience too.
Basically, Berlin can be whatever you want it to be, and it's best experienced with a coupla other people so you can form a critical mass and really make wherever you are yours.
As for my next moves, my original plan was to go down to Dresden and then to Prague. No longer. Dresden has deemed me unworthy of paying a reasonable price for accommodation (ie. all the hostels are full) so I've decided to go to Barcelona instead, and then up to Paris.
Piccies: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150252750013475.368720.535023474&l=c4d95a496f