Berlin and Back



In Berlin, right by Neptune's fountain in downtown.



Sitting by the fire once again, back in Denmark. This past weekend was a new one in many ways, all due to the discovery of cheap airfare to Berlin last weekend.  Ten minutes after the discovery and following some quick negotiating amongst ourselves, and a few less than confident nods of agreement, the flights were booked.  Four of us were going to Berlin, and we soon had a four person room booked at the U Inn Berlin hostel for three nights.  I have been abroad for over a month, and I felt it was around the time for me to start doing a littel exploration beyond the borders of Denmark. And so I did.

I was not expecting the difference between Copenhagen and Denmark to be as significant as it was, cities less than 50 minute flights from each other.  First noticed, was the vast size of Berlin.  Taller buildings and wider thoroughways, we could get onto a metro or tram for 20 minutes and never leave a heavily urban area. There were dozens of public transit hubs all over the city, whereas in Copenhagen there are two main train stations to get into the city with smaller metros connecting the city area. The architecture was also generally less pleasing to the eye, putting forth a feeling of trying times and a shaky history.  Despite this, the monuments were an awesome sight, immense and grande, they emitted soilidarity and power (appropriately so for the time they were constructed).

The people were different too, it couldn't be taken for granted that most people spoke English as it is in Denmark.  They were very friendly, and offered help with tram directions without us even asking, which would not happen in Denmark.  Another obvious and much appreciated difference, was the cost of everything. Hostel, food and drink, and transportation where all much cheaper than can be found in Denmark.  We felt like we were getting a deal on everything, when in reality we could have just been paying normal prices. Your sense of value becomes skewed when living in a place with such large tax rates.

While there, I took a walking tour of the 'alternative scene' of Berlin which explored the street art and graffitti. I had no idea it was such a big organized presence. Apparently multiple well known artists create various murals and post-up drawings around the city, each recognizable by style, subject, and/or statements. Everything we saw on the tour we would have never seen on our own, since so much of it is underground and not considered 'tourist' attractions. We also made it to multiple monuments around the city, a huge flea market on Sunday morning, and the Ritter Chokolate factory.



Street art in a Berlin alley. 







We had some great food too. The first night, oddly enough we went to a Mexican restaurant where I was able to experience the German rendition of a burrito and margarita.  Not so bad at all, although I do miss my tex-mex. Nava had a birthday that night, and the waiters handed out sparklers to the entire restaurant, turned off the lights, and then brought out a melon filled with some kind of fruity rum drink topped with a birthday candle as we all sang. Determined to get some German food, the next night we ate at a restaurant recomended by our hostel. I was finally able to order some sausages and saurekraut, along with some 'dark beer'. Delicious, I think my travel companions were relieved as I had been nagging about getting saurekraut all weekend.



Mexican food, in Berlin?



A great time, but we agreed that the traveling did make us all appreciate Copenhagen that much more.  Copenhagen is so much more personal and approachable.  A large and advanced city, yet still very in touch with its history and quaint lifestyle. Copenhagen just seems much easier to get to know and be a part of. Phew, I did end up in the right place.



German food, 'Parade of Sausages' it was called.