It’s a late Tuesday afternoon and I’m waiting on my bus to start its engine and take me back to Hamburg. I spent the last four days in Berlin! It was a nice trip, though it flew by really fast. I stayed with Greg and he was a great host – I had my own pullout couch to sleep on and everything – he really made me feel at home. (If you’re reading this, thanks again Greg, you’re a great friend!)
I left for Berlin early Saturday morning and arrived at the bus terminal at 2 pm, where Greg was waiting to greet me. From there, we went straight to his house so I could drop off my things. Before we parted ways, Greg gave me some tips on how to figure out Berlin's (super complicated) transit system. I hopped on the u-bahn and headed for the station near Iwona and Kasia’s hostel. I ended up waiting for them outside of a shopping centre because I couldn’t figure out the directions to their hostel. So while sitting around waiting to be found, from behind me I heard a familiar voice say, “are you lost young lady?” Haha, it was SO great to see one of my best friends after so long – in a foreign city nonetheless! The three of us ended up having a lovely day together, as we explored the city and had dinner at a delicious Thai restaurant. From there, we headed back to the girls’ hostel to get ready for a night out. Greg joined us for the night and the four of us checked out a couple of cool places, including a beach-themed rooftop bar, where people were sitting around and listening to live music. We then went to what Greg described as a “club,” but what was really a bar in a basement. The girls and I were keen on experiencing the livelier scene which Berlin is so famous for, so we convinced Greg to take us to Berghain – a club that I’d read about in nearly every “must see” list on Berlin. Greg tried to deter us from going, but finally gave in, which we all very much regretted later. This is because after lining up for about two hours in the freezing cold and watching about 50% of the people in the long line get turned away, we too were turned away by the doorman at Berghain. SO, of all the times I’ve ever been out I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to this – not to say I’m some spoiled, bouncer-schmoozing, expectant girl. But come on, to be turned away in a foreign city? We were all shocked, and Greg was just left shaking his head. So, why were we left to such unfortunate circumstances, do you ask (and why did my poor friend Greg try to convince us not to go to this ridiculous club)? Because (after doing some research I learnt that) Berghain is one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, specifically because of its social engineering. They award entry to people based on who has already gone inside so that you never get too many tourists, or too many straight people, or too many white people, or too many women, or too many coloured people, or too many men, or too many... you get the idea. I learnt that this specific system of selecting who can and cannot be given entry into Berghain is ultimately what makes it “special,” as it ensures an eclectic mix of people are present inside the club at all times. I also learnt that some people (specifically electronic music lovers) make trips to Berlin specifically to attempt (up to several times on any given weekend) to be awarded entry into Berghain. This is made possible for these poor souls because Berghain is open continuously for about 4 days in a row every week – God only knows how that’s possible, and one is left questioning what the hell is going on inside. After that failed adventure we were all exhausted, cold and ready for bed!
 |
| Gendarmenmarkt |
My second day was spent with just the girls at what was hands down the coolest flea market I’d ever been to. It was massive and sported lots of funky vendors, goods and fashion. The market was nestled alongside a park that was packed with people who were lounging and picnicking on grass fields. There were several live musical acts stationed throughout the park, including a giant communal karaoke event. It was so much fun! From there, the girls and I parted ways, as they were due to take a train to Paris that evening. I spent the second half of my day adventuring on my own. I saw remains of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Tiergarten Park, and the Holocaust Memorial. I then walked to Potsdamer Platz, where an Italian Cultural Festival was taking place. It was small, so I checked it out fairly quickly before heading back to Greg’s for some much needed rest.
The following day was spent with Greg, who did a great job of showing me a local experience of Berlin. We started our day at “Dali Berlin,” an exhibition that I had anticipated seeing since I’d arrived in the city. Salvador Dali’s work is incredible, and to have seen some pieces in the flesh was a real treat. From there, we headed out to a funky, multicultural neighbourhood where we ate delicious Lebanese food at a little place Greg frequents. The shops and cafés in this neighbourhood were great, and when it began raining we had the perfect excuse to check a couple out. Once the rain subsided we saw a handful of other places – including Mauer Garten; the East Berlin Wall Gallery, a beautiful old church that’s been taken over by squatters and artists in protest of the city’s previous attempts at destroying it (where we got to see a small art exhibition); YAAM, a cool reggae beach club that sits along a river where you can find everything from rickety beach chairs to ganja-selling Africans; and finally a view of East Berlin, where we also saw a piece by Banksy (or so the rumors go) sitting proudly against a brick wall.
Today was my last one in Berlin, and I wanted an early start. After getting up, saying goodbye to Greg before he left for work, and having a quick breakfast, I set off for the famous Pergamon Museum. The museum is located at Museum Island, the name given to the space where several great museums sit alongside each other amidst manicured gardens. Immediately upon walking into Pergamon, I understood the reason behind museum's notoriety, as I was welcomed by the great Zeus Altar from 160 BC. It was so majestic and took my breath away. From thereon out, each subsequent room contained artwork, artefacts and remains from classical antiquity, ancient Islamic empires and the Ancient Near East. It was a great way to spend a few hours. After a quick lunch at Alexander Platz, I headed back to Greg’s to get my things and took a train back to the central bus station, which is where I am now. Overall, it was a solid trip!
If you’re into the aesthetics of a city, then Berlin may not be for you – it’s a city which is playing catch up over the reality that not too long ago two completely different sociocultural worlds were fused into one. There’s construction happening everywhere, it’s not all that clean, it’s a little unorganized. But, Berlin has a TON to offer pretty much anyone interested in anything – you will find an array of cultures, excellent food, art, music, a night life tailored to all sorts of people. It’s a sprawling city and maneuvering around it can be complicated at times with the impressively complicated transit system, but thankfully you can ask pretty much anyone for help and every sign is translated in English as well. In short, I loved it. It was a great place to spend a few days and I definitely could have spent a few more!
