WEDNESDAY, JULY 10
Sun out. Wishing for more time in Prague. Four hours in the train ride from Prague to Berlin.
“It’s ugly,” said Chloe as we crossed the street to the bus station in Berlin. The low buildings, wide streets and modern architecture were such a drastic change from Prague. But once we hauled our bags up four (which means five in Europe) flights of steep stairs to the Airbnb in an East Berlin apartment, we began exploring a neighborhood with lots of life and diversity…a large Muslim population, and good food everywhere. Walking east from the Sonnenallee, young people hung out in a park, in the sun. Everyone was casual. One small canal led to another larger canal, the Spree, and Treptower Park.
The people here have a totally different vibe than in Prague. The streets and parks buzz with energy and excitement. Though the architecture may be dull and the streets wide, self-expression abounds — from hairstyles to shoes — and creative living — from bike to book sharing.
Excited to explore Berlin!
