Semi-filtered scribbles calling attention to the smaller more intimate details and the mediocre honesty in The Befores, The Beginnings, The Goings, and Durings, The Wanderings and The Returns.
With finding a super awesome host for Oktoberfest opening weekend in Munich (Sept 21), my time in Berlin was cut short (or else taking the bus the day it begins - I'd probably not make it at all) so I ended up leaving a day early... plus its a 6-7 hr bus ride too. But I sped through as much as I could with my tired eyes wide open anyhow. There are the obvious places like Alexanderplatz, with all your touristy needs and trams on trams on trams and armycaps, and Friedrichstrasse aka shopping boulevard - moreso your highend brands, department boxes of shops, and well not my cup of tea, but a nice walk anyhow until it started raining.
Hamburg ZOB waiting for Meinfernbus
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz
Off Potsdamerplatz is a good handful of places to check in a day- pieces of the Berlin Wall (then larger memorial is just north of it, and more painted pieces off Ostbahnhof). Then continuing down the way about mmm 10 minutes is the Holocaust Memorial (Field of Stelae). Getting there around 11am, and you'll just possibly beat the school rush of giggling, skipping teenage hormones. And another lesser 10 minutes down is the Brandenburger Tor.
Brandenburger Tor
Hackeschermarkt had... yes, a market of currywurst stands, art, jewelry, bags, pastries etc and some thrift stores / independent brands further down inbetween the streets. Further on you'll come upon Kunstaus Tacheles, an abandoned shopping mall turned art center; oozing street art, street scribbles, and mannequins comin out the window up top.
Made in Berlin Vintage Store
Kunstaus Tacheles
Remember Zoe, the Super Aussie? Well, she apparently looked into my soul when we met and sent a nice lil list of more abandoned places to check in Berlin, like an abandoned train station complex called Suicide Circus just near Warschaeur Strass, grips of bars, street art, and skate park inside this bombed out train station... Teufelsberg, an old WWII spy tower on the other side of the city... and when you look close enough you can see the patched up bullet holes on some walls... AAAGGGGHHHHH it breaks my heart to not have been able to see them all and talk about it, so I'm stopping there. The one and a half days were a tease, but if I ever make it back out to Euro - Berlin is without a doubt going to be the first stop. A rough city with some serious hidden gems... it's like a dream that's over too quick yah? KL
Went to a sushi restaurant called Jam Jam for lunch during their all-you-can-eat happy hour. €11.90 per person, featuring a merry-go-round of sushi, noodles, fruits, and deserts. Pretty awesome when you didn't smack your hand against the glass doors trying to snag the plate you wanted.
Muffin Vitamins
Mail was a pain, but it had to be done. Don't ask me how much my 6kg box of shinanigans cost me... alright it cost €47 but it had to be done, and having the goods inside was well worth it (just go with it and humor me). It cost €3.75 for each of these small packages and I almost lost it when they said they don't accept credit cards when I'm staring at the machine right there. Killin me Germany. So, note to self they don't believe in credit, only debit. Ridiculous, and of course I'm debitcardless thanks to the ass in Ibiza.
After washing our hands of that madness, we headed to the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe costing €7 and finally accepted my credit card - I'm saving cash for the Train tix and groceries - where it's mostly ever only cash. Oiii god bless. But there was a good handful of exhibits we wanted to see, and meeting up with another friend of Anna's we started with Steve McCurry and his breathtaking images over the years.
Hi.
McCurry's work blew me away. From Cambodia to India to Tibet and Afghanistan. His story of finding the woman of his infamous Afghan Girl portrait 17 years later... To capture everything between tragedy, and joy, the painful and thriving, youth and age... I can only wish I could freeze it all the same when I photograph my travels, wanderings, everyday life.
Nowadays, few can really just let an image be taken of them, without wanting to change themselves or wanting something in return. Two extremes in a way, therefore altering any meaning the image may have had before. I suppose it's only fair, but at the same time, it would be nice to just trust how the dirt lays on your face, how the emotions shine in your stance, just, how you are - is perfect (otherwise the photographer will just say so anyhow haha)... in all seriousness, I just like to prove something, someone, somewhere exists. So, shh. be still.
In a nutshell I envy McCurry and how he goes about his profession. To be able to blend in, and show so many diverse areas of life. It's beautiful, depressing, enlightening, and heavy.
Art Nouveau rooms for rent
Cairo Exhibit
Inside Out
The rest of the museum was a maze, but enjoyed running through the other exhibits like Name That Thing, Art Nouveau, Inside Out, Cairo, etc til our feet felt like they were going to fall off. Made our way through Humana, a sweet second hand clothing store before climbing the stairs back home (I think there's one in Berlin too?) A great selection of vintage and second hand, but definitely smaller than the Kleidermarkt. Shirts ranging €5 to€15... And if you're lucky you may get to even talk the price down.
Anna helped me book my way down to Berlin, a 3 hour ride that cost €15 so about the same as a rideshare, but it all depends on the time and whatever you have too. This is just from the Centralstation of Hamburg (ZOB) to the Berlin Central bus station (ZOB).
Intimate shit back at the Karussell
CHOWDER
DANKE ANNA & friends. It was a short stay in Hamburg, but I don't think I could have asked for a better transition into Germany! The people, the food, the art. Dig it all. It's always refreshing to encounter people will similar aspirations... or let's be a little more broad, people with an aspiration in general. We are, who we surround ourselves with. And, to me that means we can either drag each other down with fake rainbows and excuses, making a hole in the boat, sink beneath the surface ... or motivate and push each other harder to keep on the path we cut with our own machete! No more distractions. More room for succeeding. Becoming the person you want to be means nothing if you aren't aware of the kind of person you are now.
