Thursday, April 14, 2011

cool places: berlin

i know i've used this photo before, but it just says berlin. hip. cool. relaxed.
i've done my share of traveling and it has, to an extent, made me a bit jaded. places have to work hard to impress me. and i can be pretty indifferent. hong kong - way too many fish heads on the menu; singapore - disneyland; wuhan - industrial hell; chennai - possibly the most uncharming place on the planet; goa - overrated and please don't even mention phuket. but there are some places that i love - you know, if you've spent much time here that manila is a favorite and cape town is positively wonderful. i like barcelona and london is always great. but there's one place that i just can't get out of my head and that's berlin.

i was only there for that one weekend when we had the blog camp there last september, but i find myself positively longing to go back. walking those tree-lined cobblestone streets, the hilarious singles night at the grocery store (not that i'm looking for a date, but still, the whole idea of formalizing the grocery store flirt is fantastic), galleries, special little shops, cafés, graffiti, wonderful decaying ballrooms, great restaurants that are so inexpensive, stores full of JUST MAGAZINES...i could go on, but i think it's actually making me sick with longing.

berlin must be the coolest city on the planet right now. i've just got to go back. soon.

8 comments:

Irina Sazonova said...

I absolutely agree with you. Berlin is most definitely one of the best places on the planet and it has this special atmosphere that you can't get out of your head. Also, even if you're not the party time, you gotta love the nightlife and the all-day brunches on Sunday.

Although Istanbul where I am right now is amazing as well, I look forward going back to Berlin in July.

Elise Ann Wormuth said...

I haven't been there, but it's definitely a place I'd like to go.

Anonymous said...

i totally agree with you on chennai and goa. and i think you need to add the maldives to your list of places to go to. i am positive we can sweep you off your feet.

Loredana said...

Would LOVE to see Berlin now! My "place" is Rome! Nothing beats it and nothing can take it away from me. It'll always be my home away from home.

Pia K said...

I did love love love the Berlin when I was first there 10 years ago, the trip last summer was great (for more than fab shoe sales reason), but it also left me sad, like really huge and dirty cities do, my feelings are torn, on the one hand magic and fantasticality on the other hand the commercialized, concrete-ghetto, eco unfriendliness... But guess were we're heading this summer again...:) A bit earlier this year, so I hope there might be shoe sales on already...;)

kristina - no penny for them said...

well, it would be wonderful to have you here again: berlin's waiting! :)

artist in the arctic said...

This post fanned my fire!! I loved reading your favorite spots on the globe. singles night at the grocery store? brilliant!

Sammi said...

I am on the same page as you here, I actually just wrote a comment on Kristina's blog saying I hope to go back some when. I am thinking of booking a trip for around the same time as we went, September. Possibly just do the weekend again.

Think you missed a word from the picture, "vespa" of course.

I think I could live in Berlin, I know I said I don't think I could live in a city, but I did very much like Berlin...