This is a slightly distorted view from my friend Dezik’s balcony (sorry, but my camera’s usually excellent ’stitch mode’ let me down). What a wonderful surprise to discover that Dezik lived in East Berlin which, as you can see, is still in transition.
My first 24 hours in Berlin were utterly miserable. It was about 90F outside but inside I was shivering under two duvets. However, I was excellently looked after in Russian, German and English by Dezik, Dima and Sofie. A friendly German doctor diagnosed toncilitis and three Penicillin later I was shuffling around the city, soaking up the World Cup atmosphere.
Here’s the Brandenburg Gate:
And here’s the view inside the cupola of the Reichstag. The cupola was designed by Sir Norman Foster and those reflective panels are designed to deflect light inside the Reichstag chamber. As you can see there’s also a walkway that leads to an observation chamber above:
Despite my illness, I had a great time in Berlin. I loved the bike lanes and trams and the laid back atmosphere. Dezik told me that unemployment is at 20 per cent in Berlin but the city felt remarkably safe. And the surplus of housing and lack of jobs means living expenses are relatively low. Dezik and Dima pay just 460 euros per month for a one-bedroom apartment. The city is overflowing with bars and restaurants and clubs and galleries. I was practically sold. Who knows, maybe one day?
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Pavvers, you posting that view out of my window now means I can blog-surf… without ever having to bother to look out the window. Great time-saving tool!
You are greatly missed around these parts. Luckily, our next Danish guest has arrived to soften the blow.