Berlin Vibes

I have been here for a little more than a month now. Although I live in Buch-Berlin, I have gone out to the city enough to make generalizations. Here are a few fun things I would like to share with you all about Berlin. (I like lists apparently so here we go.)

Berlin is....

1. laid-back: whether it's what people wear or how they act, there is very little to no reason being a real snob. When I was coming to Europe, I was amply warned that flip flops were a big no-no in public, however, recently, since the weather has been getting warmer, I have seen plenty of Berliners break that rule!

2. indie: the art scene here is on display everywhere--the city is covered in graffiti. Some of it is very rude, but some of it is truly art. In fact, there is a graffiti tour of Berlin that one can take.

3. divided: by this I am not referring to differences between East and West Berlin (right now, I find East Berlin more interesting just like everyone else... I still haven't figured out what the heck is in West Berlin-- my fault, I think, for not exploring it), rather I refer to the different regions in the city. Each region has its own subculture, its own vibe. For example, when you want a good place to watch football games in a biergarten, Prenzlauer Berg is good; on the other hand, if you would like to go to the hippest and fastest-growing region of Berlin, go to Kreuzberg.

4. historical... but not obviously so: when you take a good tour of Berlin, the tour guide will tell you that... oh, see that old looking building right there? yeah, it was built 30 years ago, they just put some old statues on it. Much of Berlin has been destroyed and rebuilt. (WWII bullet wounds to buildings can still be seen).

5. a good capital to live in: it's economical and safe for raising a family plus the big city feel is present but there are still parts of Berlin that feel very small and intimate.

LILY