BG with GB: Berlin, Germany with Genna Bellezza, dear god

At approximately 1pm on October 1st, Genna's cab pulled up in fro of Hostel Aloha. I greeted her by running down the cab to make sure it stopped and jumping in it to hug her. Genna and I haven't seen each other since June, which is way too long because we are attached at the hip during the school year. Typically, we are eating somewhere (and it's not healthy at all) or I am yelling at her to do accounting homework with me. There have been some stressful nights "running the numbers" so neither of us fails out of the class that is now the basis for my major. Usually though we drive Roxxy around the city with the windows down blasting ridiculous music as we attempt to find new restaurants to try.

Anyways, it was a joyous reunion and after checking into the hostel, we headed into central Berlin. Of course, being Genna and myself, we had to stop for food somewhere. We managed to polish off two oven brick baked pizzas at a little Italian restaurant not far from our hostel.

Over the river into Museum island, which is not exactly an island. It's a cluster of beautifully designed museums.


In front of fountain in museum island

We proceeded to walk down Under Linden (or something like that) as it is the main preserved street in Berlin. The buildings, like most in Europe are ornately decorated and surprisingly not ridden with bullet holes or anything like that. I was a little disappointed. One thing I find very different about Berlin is the size of the streets. People literally run when the green light to walk comes on. It's almost impossible to cross the whole street in one green light. To be honest, it's kind of annoying. I mean the longest street you cross in DC is maybe six lanes across, but you have enough time and the clock tells you how long you have. In Berlin, it's the equivalent of crossing a highway in Georgie, like ten or twelve lanes.

Anyways, I digress. Genna and I came upon Berlin's version of the Arc de Triumph and then the Octoberfest tents. Now, I must explain that Berlin conducts Octoberfest in a much different way than Munich. In Munich, people sleep in tents or couch surf or stay in hostels that must be booked very far in advance. The whole event is based around different tents selling beer, yeah not my scene. In Berlin, there are tents selling alcohol but also lots of food and some carnival stands. We wandered around, rode the ferris wheel and ate a ridiculously large waffle. No syrup so we had to substitute with powdered sugar, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Yeah my arteries are basically clogged after this trip.


On the ferris wheel


view from the ferris wheel, Octoberfest tents

Later, we wandered far and wide to find another section of the Berlin Wall. Yes, very far and wide because i got us lost in the forest for a good hour. Well, it was more like a park but i was totally holding the map the wrong way... This part of the wall had descriptions of Germany pre war, when Hitler was coming to power. The pictures they had blown up were very eerie. It's always worse when you are just in the square and at once it held thousand of Nazi supporters. Again, I think all these sights are set up as reminders - don't do it again Germans, or others.

It was getting late so we trekked back to the hostel to shower and change. We headed out to my favorite place, The Louisiana Kid. We got some great burgers and then Maria recommended some places that we go out for a drink. We walked up the hill and were drawn into Susan's. This was a new restaurant and very nice inside. They were also having a two for one special. The bartenders, David and Blondie, were hilarious with their mixture of German and broken English. Genna told him that we bartended a little back home and he asked if it was like Coyote Ugly. (You would have to see the movie to understand that NO, it was not like Coyote Ugly). After a bachelor party of men from the UK came stumbling in and tried to talk to us, we decided it was time to retire to Aloha.


It was there opening week, hence the fruit salad and streamers in the drink.

Well, I realize I am behind on blogging. I am doing my best to catch up. This was actually written while listening to a French history lecture in French with Liz. Yeah, I have negative idea as to what century we are even discussing.

XO