Berlin, The City of All Cities.

December 21, 2013

18:55 Berlin, Germany

10:55 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Berlin. So much to say! It has been a pretty awesome experience. I just went with the flow and followed my instinct. If I felt like I wanted to go down a certain street while exploring the city then I did. I didn’t think twice about where I was. Because I can’t really get lost here. All you have to do is find a train station; look at the map and find a new starting point. My hostel is right outside the Neukolln train station so if I get lost I can always reroute back there if I’m getting tired of being in a wandering lost state.

I didn’t look at a map for any of the monuments either. I just let myself stumble upon them. I seen all the sightseeing bus tours, and the walking tours and I felt bad for them.

They are like sheep. I want my freedom to roam as I please and take as long or as short of a time I want. While I have been in Berlin I tried to make myself appear as much like a local as possible with trying not to look completely lost with a map in my hands walking around speaking my English thoughts aloud. It worked so well people were asking me for directions and such in German. That’s where my cover gets blown… I have to tell them I can’t speak German.

I don’t think I would ever walk around another country with a patch or some kind of indicator saying I’m from Canada. I feel that’s a great big banner to the Locals that you are easy to mess with and that the potential to be robbed is way higher. As a traveller you become so vulnerable. If someone robs you there really isn’t anything you can do. Sure you can go to the police but good luck trying to find them and then communicate with them. So the more you appear like a local the more they won’t bother you. There is no fooling a local who knows the way a city is like. Of course I’m no local but acting like one is my best bet. So far I have had no incidents and I’m lucky. Berlin is very massive with so much opportunity to get pickpocketed. I’m always sure my pockets are zipped and I’m aware of my surroundings at all times. Feeling the vibe of the people around you is important too. Go where it feels good. Compared to Edmonton; Berlin feels so overpopulated. Of course it’s not considered that but it’s a massive city and I have not even touched a tip of it. I have explored such a small area; yet it’s so massive even still. I rented a bike the first day I got here and again today. Yesterday I just took the train and walked around. That’s where I found most of the cool stuff but it was mainly spent in the center of the city. It’s awesome to see how well connected the city really is. There is the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, M-Bahn, the Tram, the Bahn, and then practically every street has bike lanes. Seriously, Canada should learn a thing or two from Berlin. The bike lanes are awesome. You don’t piss off drivers and you have space for you so you know for sure that you are safe as long as you stay in the bike lane. Bikes all have to have front lights and back lights to ensure night biking is safe too. Supposedly if you are caught with out it you get fined. You do not mess with the Polizei. German police I hear are very tough on people. They even have Traffic lights just for the bikes too. Telling you when it’s safe to cross an intersection. It’s awesome! More stuff that’s crazy about Berlin. Public drinking is legal. At least I think it is. I see it everywhere. And the one night club I went to last night was insane too. I think it’s in an old abandoned train station that kind got turned into a club. The sound system, Awesome. Lighting is very…. Well it’s dark and very creepy looking. It looks like a dungeon. I was walking towards where the sound of music was coming from and you walk along this cemented corridor where there is a dim red light every 6 to 10 feet and on the ceiling is a strobe that goes of every 15 seconds or so. Very weird vibe. I was wondering what I got myself into. I get to the dance area and it’s so dark and the only light is the strobe that goes off every once in a while. And the music that is playing kind of like industrial underground minimal techno. It’s hard to explain. There is no melody and people get excited when they start the main beat up again. It’s like a non-stop metronome. How can someone enjoy this music? Now I know why some people say you have to be high out of your mind or not all there to enjoy this kind of music. The Tresor club opened very late too. Midnight. And it probably closes at 7 am or so. I really don’t want to find out. Not in a place like that. And I was reading up on the best clubs in Berlin and it’s on the top 10. I don’t think I understand why. But what I’m used to is still a very young kind of party. Here in Berlin it’s very mature; casual and anything goes. Drinks are cheap as long as its beer. Long drinks and cocktails are more expensive than at home. Can’t go wrong with a delicious beer costing 3 euros. Another weird thing is you order your drink and you have to pay the bottle deposit. They give you a chip. When you finish the drink you are supposed to bring the bottle back and you get 50 cents back. It’s different but it prevents people leaving their bottles everywhere and the bar doesn’t lose out if bottles get broken. Canada has a lot to learn still. I even see Electric cars that are plugged into an electrical socket to be charged while they are parked. It’s crazy!! Gosh there is just so much to say about Berlin. The vibe, the buildings, the way they do things here. I could literally go on forever. I’ll be leaving Berlin tomorrow and heading to Cologne to see the wicked cathedral. And seeing what else Cologne has to offer. I really don’t know much about it. Stay tuned and you will surely find out. I’m going to party tonight at a more tourist friendly place with possibly better tunes we will see. There are too many bars and clubs here. Just getting my pre drink on here at the hostel where drinks are 1,50 Euro. You seriously can’t beat that.