Hello, Berlin

I’m lying in bed in my friend Pippa’s apartment in Kreusberg, Berlin. It’s another beautifully sunny autumn day and the sun is streaming through the sixth floor windows. There’s no lift, stairs only. Without fail we’re huffing and puffing just a bit at the end of the climb. It’s a good thing too as this town knows a thing or two about icecream. I had two scoops of the most delicious eis, cinnamon (zimt) and black sesame.

I haven’t done much touristy stuff yet but It’s an amazing city. It seems much more spacious than London. Lots of trees. Tim, Pippa’s fiancé, tells me it’s the European city with the most forested areas. It’s nice, as I was missing the nature and wide open spaces of McLaren Vale.

Friday, we went to the Turkish markets which are filled with amazing fabric, street food and produce. While buying Jeruselum artichokes, I was tapped on the shoulder by a girl who I’d taught years ago in Adelaide. Then, later that night, at a party in a dissuade bus station, I ran into a girl from high school. The party was a great intro to Berlin and the underground diy culture which seems to be slowly being cleaned up.

Yesterday, we visited KaDeWe, a flashy department store in Charlottenburg. Where we had fantastic adventures in there food hall. Think David Jones food hall times 10. Poppa also introduced me to cool Spanish clothing label Desigual where I bought an amazing skirt. If you like Ed Harvey, you’ll go mad for this label.

Today we’re headed for flea markets and then more party to celebrate Pippa’s birthday. I promise I’ll start being a tourist on Monday.