Getting Older – Around Monday 7th May, 2007

So, this weekend I finally turned the big 21. Bit of a strange thing, being in Germany for it, but in a way that might make it all the more memorable. I’ve been getting around Berlin a bit more recently, and it really is a great place. I’m very glad I’m here and not some smaller place where boredom can set in easily. I’m not sure I could ever get bored of Berlin, it’s a place that seems to always be changing (you could probably say it’s “happening”), and it’s also huge, so I don’t think one could ever feel like one had experienced everything here.
Last Friday a few of us decided to take advantage of the sunshine to go for a picnic in the Tiergarten. This was a very fun idea, and after a busy week it was nice to just laze around doing nothing for an afternoon. I also remembered to take my camera for this, so there’s some pictures not only of some of the sights in the middle of Berlin, but also some of the lovely people I’ve been spending my time with here J On Friday evening, one of our Swedish friends, Johanna, had a WG-Party, which was also much fun. One thing very strange about Berlin is the distance one finds oneself travelling for everyday events like this. Not many of my friends here live near me or each other, at least not in great numbers, but we all quite happily travel across the city for up to an hour to socialise with each other. It’s just something we’ve got used to, I think, or at least I have been doing. I suppose for those who’ve lived in a big city before, it’s probably not as big of a thing. Anyway, good party!

Which brings me quite nicely, in a roundabout way, to my birthday. Though the day itself wasn’t until Monday, uni commitments decreed that the more raucous of the celebrations should be redirected to the weekend, and so it was that on Saturday evening, we all went for a night out in Prenzlauer Berg. As the weather was still balmy, we began in the Prater Biergarten, a large-scale outdoor drinking affair which I’ve taken rather a shine to. After this we passed by another bar before finally tramming it down to Magnet, a club which can be (and often is) described with the blanket term “alternative”. It was only the second time I’ve been to a club in Berlin, but a good night was had by all, I believe. Thanks to everyone for coming!

On Monday I awoke with not that much of a shock to discover I had become 21. I opened all my cards from home before my morning lecture (unfortunately the Germans take a holiday on the actual first day of the month, not the first Monday, as in Britain). It went reasonably well, and I spent the rest of the day organising bits and bats before the evening festivities commenced. We had a rather nice meal in an Indian restaurant just round the corner, where I treated myself to the novelty of a duck curry, before taking ourselves off to the bar from the other night. As the weather had taken a somewhat drastic turn for the worse, we decided to situate ourselves inside this time, and thus made our way to the uncharted areas of the basement. This was really quite pleasant, and very Berliny. 3 couches (one zebra-striped) are complimented by two table football tables and old cinema seats on the wall. I had a great night, so thanks to everyone who came along!