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!

Whaaaaa now I see what all the fuss is about! London is amazing. Omg lol. I think my mind was affected by the smelly bus fumes and then being caught in the dark and behind very slow-walking tourists. Now my mind has been blown. Especially by the Tate Modern.

 Group of young English boys playing a makeshift soccer game in the small plaza near the Southwark cathedral

 Shakespeare's Globe Theatre!!!! So excited. And yes that is my finger in the photo. And yes I did go to art school.

 Favorite by far in the Tate. John Heartfield, who used humour/satire to poke fun at the Nazi regime. In fact, I did find it hysterical and was CRACKING up laughing at the images as everyone else was silent in the gallery.

 Hitler with some sort of tentacle creature on his head.

 Nazi party leaders in "metamorphosis."

Dublin to London

I definitely don't want to prejudge. But. So far London is not grabbing me the way Dublin did immediately. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting. For sure. Actually I'm a little surprised from what I've seen so far, based on the dozens of books I've read set here, or written by London authors. I think there's a lot more for me to see and explore (well I mean....obviously. it's a gigantic city) but I've found it hard to get around with cars whizzing by with little room for pedestrians, people concerned with where they want to be, etc. Similar to New York. It's not really my style, but I'm going to give it a good try tomorrow by waking up early and planning out at least two to three fun events. Yes. Goal made.

More pictures specifically in Dublin..

 Pretty building with class. Nearby Oscar Wilde monument.

 Bustin out into street dance by Trinity :) 

  The arch...want to sit and draw this...

 Temple bar at night

  She's made of the paper leaves she's blowing out....

How has it been three or four days already!? It's flown by. Already I've seen Irish music, Irish dancing, the Irish coast, lots of Irish things....oh and Oscar Wilde's childhood home....and the Trinity college campus which is absolutely beautiful! I could just write a list of everything I've seen, and part of me wants to, because then that would preserve it. But that's also boring. Hopefully I can upload some photos and that will give you an idea.

 This is in western Ireland, on the coast in Burren. Picture doesn't do it justice because it is spectacular!

 This is the bridge connecting parts of the Dublinia cathedral. We got ice cream beside it and stared at its beauty :)

 This is the Temple Bar district at night, when it's alive!

 And last but NOT least, this is the singer-songwriter a friend and I stumbled upon and his voice was just fantastic. He played all these cover songs and did them in his own way and his voice was clear, bright, and passionate.