Berlin

Back from a long weekend in the inscrutable city of Berlin. This is my fourth or fifth visit to the German capital, and I must say the overall impression has become one of confusion. Berlin seems to be many things at once: a quintessentially political city trying to build a progressive, transparent future onto a violent past (see Reichstag, above); the ur-hipster city; a den of vice; a magnet for the young and cool; an Eastern European backwater full of unemployment, obesity, and mullets; a contemporary art capital. Quite a lot to wrap one's mind around.

Fortunately, my goals were a bit less complicated than getting to the heart of the enigma. A little sightseeing with A, who had never been (here engaging in typical tourist behavior. I tried to say no but he just insisted on being photographed in this pose):

Getting into the scene with the help of T:
[Aside: random shout-out to LeDuc]
Bit of raunch:

And, of course, a little political protest in support of the (future) Indepdent Republic of East Turkmenistan.

Other highlights: 'secret' vegetarian restuarant hidden behind rubbish bins; clubbing with the Erasmus crowd (more fun in antrhopological terms than in fun terms); dauntingly enormous brunches at Russian restaurants (no 'Tatiana,' but hey); BRATWURST.