Blog Rewind: Berlin

I traveled to Berlin early Sunday morning (April 1st).  I packed all my things the night before; which involved unpacking everything I had brought and repacking it.  I had extra time and no stress, which was a new thing for me in the morning... so I had a lovely little breakfast with my hosts, and we eventually made our way to the train station down the road.  The train came at 9:37 am.

The regional train that runs through Gusow follows a pretty lovely route.  I usually just like to watch out the window.  It goes through quite a few fields, and I can't help but wonder what the train route has seen in all it's years there.  The tracks have been replaced and modernized, but who knows how old the route actually is?  It certainly saw the invasion of the Russians in WWII, and may even have carried troops to Berlin... but for me, riding it in the spring is amazing, as the fields are filled with yellow "Raps."  On this trip though, I was too early for the fields to be growing much.

I had to change trains 3 times to get to the Yorckstraße Station.  The problem was, I had two suitcases about 50 pounds apiece, plus a backpack with all of my computer stuff in it, which was at least 40 pounds, plus a duffel bag that was a good 30 pounds.  Changing trains on a platform crowed with people in a hurry while hauling that much crap is pretty tough.  Not to mention that to change trains you actually have to carry everything down 50 or more steps, walk under the tracks to the appropriate track, and then carry it all back up, find the train, make sure it's the right one going in the right direction for you, and finding a spot aboard without pissing anyone off too much.  They don't say anything, they just give you a long-suffering look.  I find it better to look angry than apologetic... or maybe I'm actually angry by that time, I'm not sure. :)  In any case, I finally made it to Yorckstr. and had to wait a bit for my friend to pick me up.  She over slept... so I had about 25 minutes to myself to wonder if I was even at the right station.  It didn't help that there are actually two stations... one for the underground line, and one for the bus line, and the other station was about 100-200 yards away, down a number of stairs and up some more, across the street.  I finally met my friend, who is Sicilian and studying in Berlin, and we made for her apartment so I could put my baggage down.  It took several more sets of stairs and at least 1 more tram to get there... I was worn out by this time. 

We rested a bit, and then headed out into the city.  I was in Berlin and saw quite a bit when I was 18 and spent the summer with Andreas and his parents.. but at that time I didn't speak German, and I hadn't studied history, and I really had no idea what I was looking at or the significance of it.  So, it was a bit strange when she asked me what I would like to see, and I had to tell her I didn't know... then tell her I had seen whatever we were looking at 11 years ago.  But, having traveled as much as I did in 2008-2009, I really don't care that much about sightseeing anymore.  You can only look at so many buildings and parks before you stop caring about seeing them just because they're famous... you need another hook into the significance of the thing.  Normally I do a bit of research... but for this set of visits, I was more interested in spending time with friends.  Which is great too, because that's just what I got to do.  :)  We walked along the old wall between East and West Berlin; chatted, caught up on the 3 years of news between us, and discussed the nature of tourist attractions. 

The Berlin Wall is kinda legendary, and somehow, for all its gory and harsh past, it's developed its own kitsch, with small hawkers and vendors selling surplus gas masks, Russian hats, and various other iconic communist objects along the streets at exuberant prices.  It's a huge tourist draw in any case, and we found it hard to imagine that it was the border between oppression and freedom, where people risked and lost their lives to cross.  The two images just of the places, tourist attraction and border, simple don't mix, even though it's become an attraction for it's checkered past.

After walking quite a bit in the cold, we met some of her friends, and had a beer in a cozy little bar on the northeast side of Berlin.  We had a pretty good time, but I felt more quiet than I usually do, sitting with three Italians. :P  Still, it was a good time, and we all talked in German, which was nicely equal, since we were all speaking a foreign language.

Later we went to an Arabic restaurant.  Well... more of a joint than a restaurant, as it was quick food.  I had a shalawa... or something.  It was surprisingly excellent, since I didn't know what half the ingredients were and was sure I didn't like the ingredients I did recognize.  Afterwords, we went to a Turkish bar... very low key, but agreeable.  And at long last, around 11 or so, we made our way back to my friend's apartment.  I curled up on the air mattress at the end of the hallway, and fell fast asleep. 

Morning came, and after I repacked my things, we headed out, caught the tram about 9:30 am, and I was on my way to Vienna... but that's another story.  ;)

Das Neue Leben Fangt Schon An

It's been a while since my last entry... and I don't really know where to start.  Hmmm... simple first, then expand.

I've now been through Berlin.  I visited a Sicilian friend there, and met a few of her friends.  It was pretty cool... and by cool, I mean the weather was cold too.  Anyway... saw some things, had some laughs, did a lot of walking, and had some good conversations.  That was Sunday.

Monday I took the train to Vienna... I left my friend's apartment with 2 suitcases, a backpack full of computer crap, and a duffel bag full of everything a duffel bag can hold.  I think we boarded the tram at 9:30 am... I spent the entire day on trains, and eventually arrived, with all my stuff, in Vienna around 8:30 pm.  It was a long day of sitting, but I found myself still worn out. 

I had to change my plans do to unforeseen circumstances, and an unread email (didn't read the fine print) and so had to be in Freiburg by Thursday night to get my keys... otherwise I wouldn't be able to get them until this coming Tuesday... which means I would have been without a place to stay if I had kept my original travel plans.  Longish story... but Thursday was also a very long day, and night, and lasted well into the early hours of Friday morning. 

Today is Saturday, tomorrow is Easter... and I decided that instead of sitting in my new place, which is pretty spartan by any measure, and waiting for the stores and everything to open up again on Tuesday, I would take the train to Lautenbach to visit the German cousins (short history: two brothers in 1850, one went to America, the other stayed... and the two sides are now back in contact).  So... here I am, and I'm glad I came.  I caught up on the news, and the "family" here is every bit as lovely as I remember them being.  Very, very glad I came... even though I was embarrassed to show up so suddenly on their doorstep, especially on Easter weekend (I called one day before and kinda asked/invited myself over).  Still... better than sitting in my room all weekend without internet, telephone, tv, or heating (it's still kinda cold here in the Rhineland).

And, for now... that's about it.  I will say that with the way Thursday and Friday were going for me, I was seriously considering the possibility that I had made a mistake in coming back to Germany to try for a Master's Degree... but now I finally feel like I've found my Zen (or not so Zen) center, and that I can handle everything in front of me again.  It's been a whirlwind week.