Berlin

Berlin is very cool. The majority of people are unemployed/writers/photographers/artists (like me!) who collect in cafes and stores all over the city all day and night. The cost of living is insanely cheap. Rent is 300Euros/month. A beer is 1Euro (half the price of a water) and we just ate monster falafels for 3€.

We went to the embassy first thing this morning, and after I filled out 10,000 forms we saw The Berlin Wall (many times actually, it's all over) and Checkpoint Charlie (had a beer on a fake beach there) and took some pics of all the random touristy things the city has to offer.

All in all it is a very laid back city. There is a sort of laziness in it, in fact. We finished off the day with Alexs' amazing homemade risotto - my first real meal in a week - and just to Germanify mine, I put saurkraut in it. Even his German roommate thought I was too German for my own good.

It's exciting being here, the place where my Grandparents are from. But I don't see, hear or feel any resemblance or kinship. People still can tell I am not from here by looking at me. No one looks just like my Grandma, for example. But I have been picking up German quite quickly. Which must be in the genes.

Lots of French visa crap. No energy to write.

Had a "Berlin breakfast"

Trep Tower monument (google earth it)

Walked along the canals drinking beers. German beer is good. I mean reeeeeeeeeealllly good.

Alexanderplatz.

Tachles - squater art. 

Lots of pimps and hos. So many we tried to fit in.

Never lose your wallet while you are traveling. But, if you must, do it near a major city where your friend is living. Always the silver lining. 

I know have my white, temporary Canadian passport in my little hand. It expires in 6 months. All should be good but the French Embassy in Vancouver is, surprise, being quite unhelpful to put it mildly, about me acquiring another resident permit into the new passport. They have, as per usual, been both snotty and incomplete in their answers to me. No help is an understatement. Huge thorn in my side while I sleep is a good visual of them. I guess they don't realize they are representing their country. Or, maybe they do. I've not hear many nice things said about the French.

Regardless, there is nothing I can do until I get my regular passport in 2-3 weeks. Not even enter France, apparently. 

There is something cleansing about getting to a point in a horrible situation where you are past the breaking point, everything is out of your hands, and though nothing has changed, a strange calm seems to come from the chaos. That is me today. And a good thing too, as it will be my last day in Berlin.

It has been great to see the sights; chill with Alex; sleep in a bed; and give my legs a rest (although I did run this morning to a deserted airforce base) but I am jonesin' to get back on the bike. And see the rest of East Germany....then Prague!