Raw Berlin

I just need more time.  That's all I can say about this city, and the staff here in Berlin.  I need more time.  

Like a year.

At least.

First, let me introduce you to the cast of characters.

Blakley: whatever you need - he's you guy!  Party? Call Blakley.  Life advice?  Definitely Blakley.  Paris, Berlin... wherever... ride bikes with Blakley.

Ingo: our fearless host.  What else can you say about this lovable German?  

Kylie: the New Yorker.  No, we don't really speak the same language, but we try to meet at the Mason-Dixon line.

Me:  I fall down a lot.  (Thanks Blakley.)  And I like to dance.  And wear neat hats.  And purple jackets.

The beginning of a great night....

Our fearless leaders (Ingo and Blakley) are maybe two of the world's most generous people.  They are happy and kind and ridiculously fun. They love their jobs and their city - they eat, sleep and breath Berlin.  

Imagine a city that is constantly changing, growing, moving and transforming before your very eyes.  Minute by minute - it is different.  It is relevant - it's history is relatable.  You ride through the city and see bombed out buildings, squatters villages, shanty towns and graffiti.  You ride past the Berlin wall crossing from the East and the West several times just to get to your destination - yet even during MY lifetime, this has not always been possible.

The Holocost Memorial.

Bike tour with Blakley in front of the Reichstag or German Parliament.

Sniper tower from the Cold War.

Berlin Wall.

Bike tours by the Berlin Wall.

A bombed out building.  Not everything has been restored from the war.

Modern Berlin - overlooking the river.

East side gallery - the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin wall.  Now filled with amazing paintings and art.  Behind these are beach bars where people hang out all night.

This is truly the city that never sleeps - as I discovered as we rode our bikes home after a night out to a beautiful sunrise and to the sound of roosters crowing "Kiki-riki" (this is what German roosters say... French roosters say "Coco-ri-co"... where did American roosters get "Cockadoodle-doo?"... but this is a separate conversation.)

Evil geniuses at work.

This building (in the middle of Museum Island) would display anything you could create with the words it provided you.... thus, "Bend Ueber...." compliments of the evil masterminds above.

Absinthe.

This is an old bombed out building (squat) that they've turned into a 5 story bar.  Complete with dance floor.  And tons of bands.

Staircase to the top.

Its art is available to everyone in full view.  Banksy said, (and yes, he's British... but this applies) 

Bus stops are far more interesting and useful places to have art than in museums. Graffiti has more chance of meaning something or changing stuff than anything indoors. Graffiti has been used to start revolutions, stop wars, and generally is the voice of people who aren't listened to. Graffiti is one of those few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make somebody smile while they're having a piss.

This city recognizes its history - both good and bad - it doesn't wallow in it.  It is modern and ancient all at the same time.  To live in Berlin, I think, would be to be a part of history in the making.  Paris is Paris... it always will be what it is right now.  I think this is the best way to describe it: 

Paris (to quote Blakley... who I think was quoting Wolf) is beautiful, but Berlin is raw.