I just came back from a weekend in Berlin where I met some good old friends from my time in boarding school in Germany. Everyone of us has spread their wings and we are now all over the place, from Mongolia to Sweden, London to Berlin. My ex-roommate also just got offered a scholarship for Berkeley – which means that we had all the more reason to celebrate (and which also means that I know where I’ll be spending my Christmas holidays this year). Second time in Berlin in the last 5 months – I wouldn’t mind making this a habit…

I’m a happy bunny as soon as I get off the plane in Berlin. There’s something about this city that makes you feel so carefree and light – everyone here is a bit insane so it doesn’t matter if you let yourself go a little too. I’m sure this feeling goes back to the amazing two summer months I spent in Berlin during my gap year. The first breath of Berlin air transports me right back to this time. I was working in a small architectural office right off Alexanderplatz with an incredible bunch of young international people and other interns. I met so many interesting human beings, had my daily afterwork beer with architects and designers (…all these times at ‘Zur letzten Instanz’…), spent every Sunday at the Mauerpark flea market with open air karaoke, went to rock concerts and spent my nights around Warschauer Straße, brunched in quirky Kreuzberg cafés, stuffed myself with Pizza for 2.50 and chilled at Club der Visionäre every other evening.  It was great.

I’ll just take this opportunity now to include some Berlin photos from my gap year – looking through them I realized that I was hardly ever alone during the two months. Lots of people came to visit me including my ex-roomie, then my Grandma, a group of friends who were inter-railing as well as my siblings. Thanks guys, makes me feel loved!

Schloss Charlottenburg.

Zur letzten Instanz.

Berliner Dom.

This barrel in the middle of the Pergamon Museum was the best exhibition I’ve seen in a long time. 

Klosterkirchenruine – Lange Nacht der Museen.

I loved this place I had in Prenzlauer Berg. During the two months I moved from Charlottenburg to Prenzlauer Berg and then to Friedrichshain which was pretty cool to get to know completely different parts of the city. Next time up – Kreuzberg. Well, Berlin it’s been a pleasure as always, we both know I’ll be back for more.