Berlin is Uber Cool

Bright city lights. Bicycles. Grafitti. Skyscrapers and modern architecture intertwined with Old Europe. Currywursts on the go. There's no mistaking where you are.

You're in Berlin.

Where else would you be....?

The Fernsehtrum Sphere sticks out like a sore thumb, an obvious '80s relic that was a shining declaration of the all mighty glory of communist East Germany, (all of this made possible with the help of Swedish engineers, of course). On every busy street corner, the Ampelmannchen is there to guide pedestrians (and more importantly die Kinder,) to cross roads safely.

With its fushion mozzarella and sesame seed sushi and exceedingly well brewed coffee, Berlin is not a city representative of Germany, but a representation of a big city influenced by Germany. Wherever you look, Berlin is just super arty, super cosmopolitan, super quirky and uber cool. If you do not like gritty and edgy, may I suggest that you take the next SBAN out of here (incidentally always running on time like clockwork)....

As a city in the forefront of modern design, your hotel is obviously an epitome of this with its quirky rooms and its very own art gallery.



But don't get too excited and climb into your big, four poster flying grandma bed just yet -

- even in a place where arachist bars rule, there are still rules to be followed -

- particularly if you don't want to end up on the novelty segment of the local German news (right after the weather)....
Obviously some enthusiastic person got stuck at one point in time....

For those wanting a little more commerical, dodge the lurking Romanian gypsies holding scraps of paper - ("Exuse me, do you speak English?" "No."); skirt past the homeless man dressed in military uniform and a bottle of half empty whiskey shouting something in German to nobody in particular, and take a photo of one of the many bears dotted around the city.

(I believe that this one had been carrying two beers until somebody drunk decided to run off with one of his steins.)

When tired of your bear hunt, take a wander down to Checkpoint Charlie with its fake signs, fake guards and fake check point and have an overly commerical currywurst at.....Snack Point Charlie.

On the slightly less commerical side, take a moment to collect your thoughts while walking through the eerily poignant Jewish holoaust memorial, with its 2711 gunmental grey reinforced concrete stelae.

Next, in keeping with your sombre mood, it's the site of the book burnings. Incidentally, as a way of acknowledging the atrocities of past and as a sign of good will, there is now a book market here selling the very titles that were burnt during the Nazi reign.

And most importantly, right at the site of the book burnings, OH MY GOD - there's the "bank" from the ever so cool "Run Lola Run" :)

Finally, before I say auf wiedersehen and good night to Berlin & the good people who read this blog, let me answer the question that is on everybody's mind:

Yes, David Hasslehof did indeed save the world from communism, (point and click on the photo above and see for yourself). And - ja, lieben die Deutschen David Hasslehof.

Or maybe, I'm just joking :p