Things to Like About Berlin

So since I had to spend the past few days in Berlin instead of London (aw shucks!), I figured I could use that time to research what puts Berlin on so many "Greatest Cities" list.  It seems like it has been listed as one of the greatest cities for just about everything... history, art, food, dancing, people, beer, etc.  So this is what I have learned while staying with fantastic CS hosts.  For reference, my original host was a guy named Cristophe who took me in when I had nowhere to stay for the night.  He let me stay in his flatmates room for two nights and when my host fell through for the third night he let me stay on for two more.  Cristophe lives with four undergrad friends who are all now attending various grad programs in or around Berlin in a great flat overlooking a small park.  After staying with these fantastic guys, this is what Ive discovered about the best and worst parts of Berlin.

Best Parts
1. The biggest must see attraction Ive found here is in this small playground near the river walk near the flat.  Its a playground shaped like... wait for it... a pirate ship with an enormous slide from the upper "mast".  And its not a weenie slide either... its a polished smooth metal slide with bumps and sheer drops.  The kind of slide you would be sued for in two seconds in the US after some dumb kid fell off of it.  But her in Berlin, it has gone un-sued for years and endures to attract at least one tourist a year (since I will now make an annual pilgrimage to this sacred site).

2. You can wander about public transportation, the streets, office and shopping buildings, etc. with an open bottle of beer.  Keki says its pretty much a requirement actually.  And any time after 16h00 the usual choice of refreshment is... you guessed it... a cold beer.  The only real drawback is getting embroiled in the debate between Berliner Pilsner and Berliner Kindl (both equally mediocre but always side with the one whose opponent seems the most adament and/or ridiculous... at least then you get a good show).

3. When you climb construction scaffolding next to a bar so you can drink the beer you brought from home, no one says a word.  In fact, when you vacate the spot, other clambor up to enjoy the view.

4.  Opening beer bottles with lighters is the most natural thing.  And finding new ways to open beer bottles is a novel sport.  Slamming the top on a counter is childs play next to opening it with your eye or with newspaper.  Literally had a discussion about opening a bottle with white bread, water, and a freezer.  Use your imagination.

5.  When they abandon an airport, they dont develope it.  Just open the fence every day so it becomes a kickass park where you can kitesurf on a skateboard down the abandoned tarmac.

6. They might have the best clubs in Germany but I wouldnt know.  What I do know is that they have the most random, improbable clubs.  In abandoned warehouses, on boats, in vacant lots, etc.  And the more unlikely the location, the more fun.  I dont have any numbers to back that up but Im pretty sure its true.

7.  You can sit by the river to drink and look at a victory monument rising over the Presidents estate.  Just for kicks.  Now Im not usually a fan (ecologically speaking) of buildings going right up to the waters edge but gosh is it fun to just chill in the Presidents back yard.

8. Theres not so much sun all the time and its been downright cold for me a few times.  Heck, today it was as sunny as it gets with clouds passing by every five minutes or so until a huge thunderstorm brought hail and lightning so hard I thought the sky was falling.  And its the middle of Summer.  The reason this makes the best list is because when there is sun, people go bonkers.  Apparently, sun to Berliners (Berlinians? Berlinpeople?) means walk to your nearest patch of grass, strip down to your underwear, and lie around like its the most natural thing on earth... even if your nearest patch of grass is outside of the Reichstag or by the river.  Not saying I didnt participate since the temperature was perfect... but I am saying it was an odd experience coming from the unspoken bathing suit only sunbathing rules of the US.

9. Döner.  Its shwarma but better.  And I never thought I would say that.

10. The grafitti.  I figure this one is pretty obvious with all of the famous grafitti on the wall but the graffiti is always around in the crazist places and always random and fun.  Even if its just a "Happy Birthday Francie" written on the wall near checkpoint charlie.


Worst Part
1. One of the bars we went to refused to play Janis Joplin for me.  A travesty, really.

So you can decide for yourself on Berlin but I think Ive made a pretty compelling argument for both sides.