Berlin, finally

While my flight to Paris was a dream, getting to Berlin was not quite as pleasant. With a three-hour layover and an awkwardly positioned gate, I sat around and people-watched. Once on the flight, I remember the plane ascending and that’s about it. I woke up 30 minutes before we reached Tegel Airport.

Leaving the airport, I was a bit confused, as I just left. No baggage inspection, no passport stamp, nothing. I am still a bit worried about this. I’m also a bit upset that my passport has yet to show that I’ve traveled anywhere.

The group spent our first night in Berlin visiting a memorial to the Berlin Wall, where part of the Death Strip was left intact. It was a somber place and strange to think how many people would so clearly see a great big division in the city. Then, we took the S-Bahn tram back into the East to eat at a biergarten. Due to the weather (which is ridiculously cold), the place was virtually empty. After getting some rest at the hotel and a quick trip to visit the Deutsche Bank ATM in Alexanderplatz, we went out in search of a bar for Marissa’s birthday. This was no easy feat, as the only crowded bar we found was full of single mingling males with a woman host who was very broad-shouldered. The boys were not willing to settle. Eventually, we went back to a desolate place, drank a few beers and then got doners at the eatery next door.

Today, it’s been continuously raining. This has, unfortunately, only made the weather colder. This continues to make me wish I had followed my gut instinct to bring my boots more and more. We had to postpone the bike tour. Instead, we took the U-Bahn to see the bombed-out church. It’s such an old building, surrounded by a modern plaza. The contrast is startling.

We went to grab a quick lunch at the train station, when we heard all kinds of hollering from inside. We were in the middle of a bunch of soccer fans, singing chants and drinking until the cops made them disperse. It turns out there is a semi-final match today, thus all the excitement. From there, we walked through a disappointing flea market and oogled the cars at Mercedes World, which are arranged in class/price order. At the top, they had a separate Maybach showroom. No big deal. The leftovers of the group took a double-decker bus to an opera house, which was surrounded by historic buildings. My cake was delicious, and I’m not just saying that because I haven’t had chocolate in 72 hours.

On my way

I was so excited with my trip, I wrote this on the airplane, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean:

So I have yet to make it to Europe, but I am already in love with the continent if this airplane ride has anything to show for the continent. From the “Bon voyage!” farewells to the variety of languages, I am in heaven. I am currently debating between listening to Portishead, Led Zeppelin or Aretha Franklin from my personal playlist. The playlist that I get to pick my own songs for. Out of a multitude of albums from fantastic artists. Like I said, I am in love.

Unfortunately, listening to Justice and Mika makes me realize just how small of a space I am confined to for several hours more since I cannot dance in my seat, so I have ruled them out for the rest of this flight. I’m hoping that the rest of this trip continues to fascinate me with all the small details.

Unlimited wine, gourmet meals and a great entertainment selection is apparently what I find bliss in. There is also a chance that I am delirious, given that the only sleep I’ve managed was from 4-7:30 a.m. this previous night. I know I should probably get some rest, given that I’ve already watched “With Love From Paris” (appropriate title, but John Travolta has def lost that Danny Zukko flair) and an episode of “Mad Men,” but all these possibilities on my little TV screen have me captivated.

Hopefully, my adrenaline rush can come to a stop soon so I can get some rest. I’m thinking of putting on Coldplay now, but this just makes me wonder about current personal events. It’s funny how some people come into your life unexpectedly, but they manage to stick around with significance for so long despite how easily you can logically dismiss them. And how one or two songs will always bring you back to them, even when the lyrics’ real significance occurs from events after that song was added to your iPod by them.

On that emotional note, I’m hoping some “Sex and the City” will help my fall merrily to sleep, with dreams of Manolos and my journalism career being just as fabulous, like it does at home. Maybe my Mr. Big will even happen to be in Paris too. A girl can only hope.

Panic starts now

The heaping pile of clothes sitting on my suitcase was supposed to be expertly placed into it by my mother, on her insistence/need to feel like she's helping me. I have no idea where she's been since I got home after my hair appointment. At least I got some great boy advice from Manny, my hair stylist. He told me they were all stupid and scared of feelings.

Another bright note, my Wayfarers are missing. I remember throwing them into my locker at work yesterday. I've called twice, and nobody has found them. I guess finders keepers, considering I found them in a bathroom by Little Hall last fall. Still, I'm so angry - they managed to become my favorites, particularly because of the freebie bonus and thinking I didn't really care how I treated them. This was apparently a misconception.

Europe-bound in t-13 hours

Today was exhausting and then some, yet I can't wind down enough to sleep. I know part is still being alert from work, part is the excitement of leaving tomorrow and part is packing anxiety.

I don't know why, but I take forever to pack. And I am absolutely horrible at it. No matter where I go, whom I go with or how long I go there, I end up wearing/using/even just considering 30 percent of the things I bring with me. Plus, all the things I bring with me always come in a suitcase that somehow dwarfs everyone else's. One day, I swear I will master packing. For now, I'll just blame it on not having the right clothes.

Earlier, I ran around getting stuff for my trip. I ended up buying a small pharmacy from Target (later, I learned I am n

ot a fan of how fizzy Airborne is, fantastic berry flavor or not) and spending way too much money on too few electronics at Best Buy. Can't wait to get that credit card bill.

On the more inspiring side, I've had some Germans come into work, tonight being no exception. I've been telling them about my trip as a way to distract them from how much they're buying. Also, my European conversions have gotten fantastic. I almost feel compelled to try on a bra once I get to Berlin just to prove I can figure out my size in nearly almost any other country.