Berlin

I have been hitch hiking for over a month now in Europe (both in the West as in the East). The first city that I visited however was Berlin. Actually, I flew in from Ulan Baator to Berlin and stayed there for about a week at a friend's place in Fridrichshain (thats in the Eastern part of the city). Thanks a lot for allowing me to stay at your place, Christian!

It was an interesting experience to be back in Germany's capital where I lived 4 years ago. Berlin has not changed much. I mean it has, but not as much as I feared. I was initially afraid that the city would had given up its role as the cultural capital of modern Europe. How positively surprised I was to see that things were different than I expected/ feared!

Berlin is perhaps not beautiful (and I don't think it even pretends to be), but instead a place to enjoy many freedoms and high levels of tolerance that other European cities are not be able to provide. Berlin has taken over the role that Paris and Prague played about a 100 years ago or so. A city that embraces and cherishes differences, differences that other cities try to weaken or fight off through assimilation. It is also a city of poetry and art. A bohemian emergency exit in a ever faster materialising world. Its habitants might not be rich, but instead are able to decide to live the life which they wish to live (without social pressure to perform on the basis of capitalist dogmas).

Yes, life can be beautiful in a city which reminds us of such a horrific history. Berlin is still real, alive and will be so for another few decades. Maybe its really true that angels are protecting the city....

Love,

Marijn

note: Next time Frankfurt an Main