Yep. Reflections.

It's been about a week since I returned (a little over) and even though a travel blog is supposed to be about the excitement of traveling, and sharing photos of your adventures, I think it's also important to pay attention to the time period following the trip. I got a lot out of spending my time abroad this summer. For one, I gained huge amounts of perspective and clarity, which I keep harping on, but it's true. I never would be able to see my life in Detroit the same way if I hadn't left and gone somewhere completely different for a prolonged period of time. For another, I feel a lot calmer, as if the stress of the past year dissipated slowly while I was away. Granted, there were times when it felt kind of weird to be away, but you just push through that and accept life as it is and accept the benefits of being where you are.

I'm back and work is getting off the ground already. Crazy, right? Didn't we just finish last year? How could it possibly start already? But it is. Haha.

It seems, though, that my world has opened up again. I forgot that there's a whole big great world out there, ready to explore! And it's not as hard as it may seem to do. Glad to be back in Detroit (I missed it while it was gone), but can't wait to get back out there again.  Till next time.

 Awwww! Overall the BEST part of this trip....has been the people I have met in Dublin, The Burren Highlands, and Berlin. This is one of my new buddies who invited me to Skate Night Berlin, and honestly, as much as a once in a lifetime experience it is to go dancing in Berlin until the sun comes out, its also just as fun sometimes staying at the hostel and trading stories with other travelers. Love it.

 This part of the DDR museum in particular was really powerful for me. It discussed how children were taught in schools to throw balls and later those balls were traded for grenades, and the image of the teddy bear in the middle of the tin soldiers (which were also used to literally teach them tactical training) was pretty striking.

 Outdoor hallway to the Museumsinsel

 Mummies downstairs. More pretending I was archaeologist "Bones"

 Its a start, Berlin! Love locks on the river.

 Kathe Kollwitz "Woman with Dead Child." Will stop with the more depressing subject matter after this, (and trust me, after today at the Topography of Terror and Wall Memorial, could add so much more) but this one was striking because it stands on its own, in its own building in the middle of Berlin.

 Mitte Holocaust Memorial 

Berlin is a really, really interesting place. It is far from what I expected. I didnt have any expectations from Dublin or London, basically chose them randomly and tried not to learn anything about them before going there because I wanted to be surprised. But after taking German courses in college, and in particular knowing about the arts and culture that comes out of Berlin, I definitely had specific expectations and those were not met. Not that Berlin is not great, it is. But the way I pictured it is not the way it actually is. For instance, it is very green, particularly in the West. You never forget your first impressions of major cities and as soon as I hopped off the plane, miscommunicated with my German taxi driver, and was driving mostly in silence with halting German and English coming from both of us, the sights were immediately trees, trees, trees mixed in with the buildings on the west side neighborhoods. From the pictures I have posted so far you cant really tell, but the area I stayed in for almost two weeks is just covered with trees, park areas, playgrounds for children, and outdoor cafes. You are basically walking in a tree canopy when you walk outside in this neighborhood. Also, unlike other big cities, everything is really spread out. Its not like there is just one central district and you wander through the downtown. Every train station, every part, is a totally different part.

My first impression of London was that I hated it. The first day sucked because I got stuck in traffic on the bus, got sort of lost, didnt find the right places, and found myself wandering with no idea of what to do. But not in the good wandering kind of way. When I picture my first impression I smell smog and pollution, see the crazy rush hour traffic, see the obnoxious tourists paying no mind on the walkways, and seeing kind of boring, semi-historical sites. But the second day that all changed. I delighted in the fact that my second hostel was right across the street from Shakespeares family cathedral, and nearby to the Thames River and many of the major historical spots. The streets were cleaner in the second area and everyone was in a hurry but mostly very polite. I loved the multiculturalism of it, how there were Sikhs and Africans and English, and Irish and Chinese all on the same block, and mostly speaking with British accents which lets face it are fun. I loved the major markets where the produce looked so fresh, and the clean lines and mix of historic and modern with the tourist attractions like the Palace, and the Tower, and the Eye. I loved the rich history and learning about Jack the Ripper, and popular sports like cricket and tennis, and the history of the government (if you are into politics and havent see the film "The Queen" yet, you definitely should). I loved how concerned with other people Londoners were, but yet private and non-busybody like at the same time. It was a good overall vibe. Oh, and the theatre and just a smidge of romanticism without being over the top or gushy. It was lovely.

Berlin is nothing like it. I dont mean to compare them but I do sort of have to in my reflections seeing as how I traveled and spent longer than the average time in both places. Berlin is not at all pretentious, very aware of its own history, and definitely filled with its own brand of culture--techno, house, nightlife that literally lasts until the wee hours of the morning, clubs, long rambling streets, stark buildings, parks. People are very laid back and in general pretty respectful and quiet. Thats what strikes me about Berlin, its quiet. You almost never hear people yell or even speak loudly.

Germany has been so relaxing. Berlin is such a chill town and I wouldn't have necessarily expected that, especially because a lot of people talk about the buzz of it. But I find it to be very laid back. Today a friend and I went to explore more of Kreuzberg, a neighborhood known for eclecticism, Turkish immigration, markets, artists, and more. It was nice and we found this awesome playground which is a pretty common occurence here in Berlin.

We also found a petting zoo.

Anywho, yesterday...I think it was yesterday? Went to all the museums I wanted to go to and explored some more.

 Just chilling by the river by the Berliner Dom. This entire area is filled with museums and is on the river and nearby I ate a wrap, contemplated the museum art, and rested.

 Side of the Berliner Dom with more exquisite details.

 One of (my) preferred paintings in the Alles Neue Art Galerie. Colors are nice and it looks very Germany.

 Mummies! The entire basement of this museum was awesome. I pretended I was "Bones" and deciphering the skulls and mummies and codes to learn more about their lifestyles. It was all darkly lit down there and had tons of ancient Egyptian materials.

 German flag flying high near Humboldt University. (Einstein!)

 "Flowers are so gay."  Note the 3D flower attached to the graffiti, this was besides the children's playground in Kreuzberg. 

 This is the coffee the most wonderful hostel owner in the world made me!!! 

Its been more than a couple days since I posted, but here I am again. Still in Germany. Today, took a day trip outside of Berlin to go to Brandenburg an der Havel, which is a small town on the river. I really needed to be away from the crowdedness and pollutedness of the city. It was well-worth the trip out there and it seemed more genuinely German, not that Berlin is not genuinely German but more like...small-town ish or something.

 Ive gotten really into making these weird picture collages. Also on all these train trips and bus rides it passes the time haha. This is all from today in Brandenburg.  Which apparently is "not where the typical tourist goes," according to several Germans.

 Sitting by the river, countryside Germany

 Haha I just like this! Downtown by the Sony Center.

 The (very typical tourist) Brandenburg Gate. Except with thousands of rollerbladers in the plaza in front.

 So remember I told you a friend and I did this Skate Night Berlin? This is an attempt at documenting it. Seriously, thousands of people rollerblading for miles and miles around the entirety of greater Berlin. With the roads closed off. Imagine it for a sec.

 More.

Skating

So many things I feel I've taken for granted on this trip, like the fact that I've been safe this whole time or can even have the privilege to do this in the first place. I just find it necessary to acknowledge the gratitude I feel at this opportunity which is truly privileged and lucky.

With that said, done quite a bit more exploring of Berlin. And that included a giant roller blading excursion around the entire city with thousands of Berliners at night. Called Skate Night Berlin, it's this big event with police and all shutting down the streets as you blade for 50 km!!! Crazy. So glad I had the opportunity to do it.

 Plaza filled with skaters

Also, still feeling this immense pull to London. Such a strong pull. Even though I now know for sure that I'm not going back before I leave, this trip, I am certain I will go back soon. It just captured me in a way that was lasting. In an "oh I could ACTUALLY live here" way.

Berlin is nice but I need to explore some more of the history. That's what tomorrow is for. But reflecting back, I felt so at home in London.

Hallo

So I've been in Germany for almost four days now but the pattern of travel/being is definitely different. I am much lazier, slower. Haha. It's very enjoyable, though. Berlin is the type of city where you can do that. Laze around, stay at a cafe for way too long, sit in the sun on a beach towel in a beautiful park. Today I went with a new friend to go grab Thai food from this smaller food market---another friend claimed it had "like a 1000 Thai people...," original friend and I now have a joke that we have to divide by ten everything he says, so it was really more like 100 Thai and Vietnamese people. But we enjoyed the food and sitting out in the sunshine and just people-watching. Now I'm again sitting and lazing, but at the cafe right by the hostel. I have no desire to sight-see the way I did in London, at least not during the moment, and almost everything in Germany shuts down on Sundays so not that much is going on anyway.

This is the first time that I've felt like I genuinely don't want to return home. Most of me has wanted to for most of this time, but today was the first day where I have felt this genuine desire to just stay here and not return back at all.

Plans are to visit historical sites on Monday or Tuesday, as well as other neighborhoods. The highlight of here so far has been all the cute little dogs. Just to be honest. :)

 Berlin collage, hehe

"Wieder einmal in der Welt voran"

Okay okay, one more post, with some more pictures!

 Tower Bridge

 Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare's family cathedral

 Another favorite piece. The artist described this--pardon me if I butcher her words--as representative of the grayness of life as it has become mundane, inhuman as (technology takes over? We become mechanized?) yet still underneath the gray you can see a hint of color like the blood that runs through our veins keeping us living. It looks very layered in person.

  Another by Heartfield. "Now first in the world" the scientist claims, explaining he has found something even better than grade A beef!, in a blend of unknown sources with no government accountability.  Hysterical.

 The view from atop the Tate, along the River Thames, with a street performer who looks farther away in this picture than he actually was. 

Anddddd.....

Hello London

Ahhhhh! Today was more London exploring fun. The more I see it, the more I realize how much there is. I meant to write more that second day, when I just saw all that stuff (The GLOBE THEATRE!!! WHERE SHAKESPEARE WAS.....if that doesn't excite me I don't know what does in this world!) but it was time to head out for some tour or something.

Last night I went on the "Dark Underbelly of London" tour where they trace Jack the Ripper's footsteps, go over medieval English torture techniques, etc. It was pretty cool. I was hoping it would be a little more scary but it was actually more informative than anything. It's fascinating. Also, seriously spent so much time in the Tate Modern contemporary art museum, and it was amazing. Can't help but share more pictures from there.

Today I spent the morning in Camden market, where there are super cheap wares of all sorts. Tapestries, Knock-off "brand name" shirts, delicious ethnic foods of all varieties, Pens, Magnets, Souvenirs, Postcards, etc. It was so exhilarating, and I finally purchased some souvenirs and even some things for myself! Then, I spent the entire day with my cousin. It was lovely. We went to M&M World...don't worry, pictures are below, out shopping at Picadilly and in Oxford (Top Shop anyone? They have frozen yogurt IN the store, WHILE you shop for trendy outfits!), went to this gigantic toy store and played with the toys, then went out in squares and listened to live street performers. This one woman did her own renditions of Destiny's Child "Survivor" and "I Will Survive," etc and she had this rootsy, soul voice kind of like the English-Brazilian version of Joss Stone. It was great. Stephanie commented on how I brought her up even later on but I LOVED her performance!! We went on the London Eye and saw the entire city from that gigantic ferris wheel and ended the night with a Malaysian FEAST which even the owner was pleasantly surprised at how much food we tiny Asian girls could down. It was great.  Can you tell?? I could blabber on and on about this.

Pictures!

 Our tour guide discussing ghosts and torture in the London tower

 The church where Jack the Ripper first stalked his victims, which happened to be prostitutes

 Camden Market! Way more exciting than it looks in this picture.

 Chinatown, dim sum, happy.

 This picture had to be taken, obviously. Abbey Road.

 Yes, that is my finger again.

 Up at the top, so high up! Hi London!