Here were my plans: meet up with a fellow student Stephen at IES in Mitte, and take the U-Bahn to Tempelhof, where we might see a nice excerpt of European symphony. Stephen was pretty excited, having studied musicians -- he claimed that one of the world's most renowned violinists would be performing in the show that night. The five of us waited in line at the entrance to the airport, which no longer carried the majority of incoming flights, or perhaps any at all. It was a darn shame, though, that we hadn't arrived 10 minutes earlier, because the box office sold out just before us. I apologize that I don't have any good photos to present, but I'm sure that as you all can understand, the sensation of hearing a symphony cannot be translated through words. I was not lucky enough to enjoy said experience, but I'm not going to let it get me down. I know a similar symphony will be performing in the Berliner Philharmoniker (a location built for a symphony, rather than a hanger for airplanes), so I will see if I can't make it there instead later in the semester.
Deciding to make the best of the evening in spite of our poor luck, we walked on out of the aging historical landmark, known best as the location where food and necessities were imported to West Berlin during the airlift, and hummed to ourselves, making our own music. Someone had the great idea to go and enjoy some ice cream ("Eis") in a nearby neighborhood, so we all travelled together. Berlin may be large, but the U-Bahn system can certainly assist with transportation.
Apparently, chili-chocolate is a popular flavor here in Berlin. I don't know why for certain, but I suspect it may have something to do with the two enlightening aphrodesiacs mixed together... Anywho, following our departure from the ice cream parlor, we heard of a concert in a park that was just finishing up, down the street. After splitting up, a couple of us walked through the thinning crowd, realizing that as 10pm had just rolled past, loud noises were discouraged throughout the major city.
Another fellow student, Ned, has been following the underground musical scene here in Berlin very closely. It was with him that I made a visit to two different clubs last week, named Berghain and Club 25. Berghain was once a power plant located in East Berlin, and the building in which the performances are held appears stark and imposing. It is located in the middle of nowhere. Bar 25, on the other hand, can be found on the Spree River. A number of these different clubs are meant for summer usage only, so I am looking forward to scanning through the internet for further information about these clubs.
"Something that has so much power must have life. Instruments have life."
Laurie Anderson
21 September 2008
If at first you don't succeed
You know the rest of that statement. I've had a little bit of trouble making my way around the big city over the past few days. Some of my clumsiness I suppose comes from a lack of foresight, and I suppose the rest comes from the way business here is run on a 24-hour, 6-day per week enterprise. On sundays, you may see a car headed down a busy street, but picture if you will, everyone in the city sleeping from saturday evening through monday morning. I think it's pretty crazy, but I suppose each country has their own customs. I know that some churches open up their doors in other parts of town, and I've been giving some consideration to making a visit to one of those. But late nights have really been catching up with me, and I have been finding it difficult to wake before noon or so.
Anyways, in terms of other fumbles I've made along the way, last night on the U-Bahn home I dozed off and ended up at the end of the line. I had just been patting myself on the back earlier that evening for holding off from taxis ever since I needed a ride from the airport. Unfortunately, as I shook myself awake a few kilometers west of my intentional destination, I looked at the clock. It was 3:15am, early Sunday morning. The stores were closing, and electricity was powering down all over the city. Luckily, I managed to hail a graveyard-shift cab and explain my address to the driver. The fee wasn't as exorbitant as I had expected.
Another thing that disappoints me here is the prevalence of American fast-food chains, like Burger King, McDonalds and even Wendy's. It makes it all the more difficult to live up to my initial goal of avoiding meals at said locations and really finding a taste of authentic German cuisine.
Actually, I did enjoy some of this much-proclaimed food while on a bike tour through Potsdam on Friday. I think it may be in the undiscovered locations, outside of popular tourist attractions, where the pristine German culture remains. That gives me all the more incentive to think outside the box and begin some traveling, even if it's only as far as a suburb like Potsdam.
On another note, if you ever travel to someplace outside the States, take very good care of your passport. I am very fortunate in that I live so close to the American Embassy which, provided I have any trouble with security, will hopefully be open to assistance. Your passport, however, is more important to you than your credit card, your driver's license and your cell phone combined. Even here, in an industrialized nation, you can't be careful enough.
On a closing note, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a break from alcohol for a little while. This would be primarily so that I could save for future travels. I suspect I might also be able to wake at an earlier hour and achieve more here in Berlin while the temperature remains above 10 degrees Celsius (about 50 degrees Fahrenheit). On the other hand, becoming a 'crafty consumer' is another piece of the complex problem that a student tourist growing up in a foreign land should try and figure out. Take time for your school, for your friends, keep in touch with your family, and be sure to take care of your self.
I'll be sure to report back with more photos next time, as I have heard a few requests for those.
Until then, tchuss! (bye)
[pronounced: ch-OOO-ss]
"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."
Muhammad Ali
Anyways, in terms of other fumbles I've made along the way, last night on the U-Bahn home I dozed off and ended up at the end of the line. I had just been patting myself on the back earlier that evening for holding off from taxis ever since I needed a ride from the airport. Unfortunately, as I shook myself awake a few kilometers west of my intentional destination, I looked at the clock. It was 3:15am, early Sunday morning. The stores were closing, and electricity was powering down all over the city. Luckily, I managed to hail a graveyard-shift cab and explain my address to the driver. The fee wasn't as exorbitant as I had expected.
Another thing that disappoints me here is the prevalence of American fast-food chains, like Burger King, McDonalds and even Wendy's. It makes it all the more difficult to live up to my initial goal of avoiding meals at said locations and really finding a taste of authentic German cuisine.
Actually, I did enjoy some of this much-proclaimed food while on a bike tour through Potsdam on Friday. I think it may be in the undiscovered locations, outside of popular tourist attractions, where the pristine German culture remains. That gives me all the more incentive to think outside the box and begin some traveling, even if it's only as far as a suburb like Potsdam.
On another note, if you ever travel to someplace outside the States, take very good care of your passport. I am very fortunate in that I live so close to the American Embassy which, provided I have any trouble with security, will hopefully be open to assistance. Your passport, however, is more important to you than your credit card, your driver's license and your cell phone combined. Even here, in an industrialized nation, you can't be careful enough.
On a closing note, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a break from alcohol for a little while. This would be primarily so that I could save for future travels. I suspect I might also be able to wake at an earlier hour and achieve more here in Berlin while the temperature remains above 10 degrees Celsius (about 50 degrees Fahrenheit). On the other hand, becoming a 'crafty consumer' is another piece of the complex problem that a student tourist growing up in a foreign land should try and figure out. Take time for your school, for your friends, keep in touch with your family, and be sure to take care of your self.
I'll be sure to report back with more photos next time, as I have heard a few requests for those.
Until then, tchuss! (bye)
[pronounced: ch-OOO-ss]
"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."
Muhammad Ali
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