Among the things I love, travel, skateboarding, soccer, eating, and drinking rank high on the list. I am a glutton for satisfaction in all of these areas. With the World Cup in full swing, I managed to indulge in my all favorite things on one quick detour to Berlin, before I made my way to OC London.
I was extra excited that Germany would be playing the US on the last day of the group stage. I chuckled to myself as I imagined being the lone, loud-mouth American screaming in the pub at any US success while surrounded by angry German fans. I couldn't wait.
In a stunning moment of irony, however, the lefty/philosopher/political-activist friend I was visiting took me to a bar filled with similar types. What's more, this watering hole didn't allow any national symbols. No T-shirts, face paint, or anything with flags. Half the Germans were even rooting for the USA! My asshole American dreams were crushed. Still, the space was great, the weather was good, and the beer and brats were exactly what I needed to have a great time. And, as you probably know now, Germany ended up winning the game 1-0, which sent both teams through to the round of 16.
Whether it's having a few drinks on a canal-crossing bridge, partying until way past the sunrise at Berghain, eating some currywurst, or just chilling in one of many parks, Berlin is a city of leisure. Life is cheap and easy here, and I had a memorable holiday. Check out a few quick pics I took while exploring the city.![]()
Riding a skateboard is one of the most freeing things I've ever experienced, so I figured a wall ride was in order.
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A section of the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km strip of the Berlin Wall that remains as a memorial to freedom.
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My friend's room is huge by New York standards. He pays €330 a month, lives three blocks from the train, and is right in the middle of the cool neighborhood of Kreuzberg. What will $450 get you in New York?
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These are shots from the backyard of About Blank bar, where we watched the Germany vs. USA game.
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After trying to get the right shot of my bratwurst and the scene in front of me, it promptly rolled off the bread and onto the ground. I picked it up, ate it, and ordered another.
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This is a view of the Molecule Man sculpture in the Spree river from the Oberbaum Bridge, which was part of the border between East and West Berlin.
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Tempelhofer Feld is the largest park in Berlin and is home to a monolithic skatepark. It was a very Stonehenge-like approach and atmosphere.
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You can live on this quaint street in Kreuzberg for €330 a month.
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Good pizza from Il Casolare in Kreuzberg. I ordered this pizza thinking the four toppings would all be mixed together on the pie. My local friends laughed at me and said, "It's Berlin, completely appropriate," when I told them they were separated.
I was extra excited that Germany would be playing the US on the last day of the group stage. I chuckled to myself as I imagined being the lone, loud-mouth American screaming in the pub at any US success while surrounded by angry German fans. I couldn't wait.
In a stunning moment of irony, however, the lefty/philosopher/political-activist friend I was visiting took me to a bar filled with similar types. What's more, this watering hole didn't allow any national symbols. No T-shirts, face paint, or anything with flags. Half the Germans were even rooting for the USA! My asshole American dreams were crushed. Still, the space was great, the weather was good, and the beer and brats were exactly what I needed to have a great time. And, as you probably know now, Germany ended up winning the game 1-0, which sent both teams through to the round of 16.
Whether it's having a few drinks on a canal-crossing bridge, partying until way past the sunrise at Berghain, eating some currywurst, or just chilling in one of many parks, Berlin is a city of leisure. Life is cheap and easy here, and I had a memorable holiday. Check out a few quick pics I took while exploring the city.
Riding a skateboard is one of the most freeing things I've ever experienced, so I figured a wall ride was in order.
A section of the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km strip of the Berlin Wall that remains as a memorial to freedom.
My friend's room is huge by New York standards. He pays €330 a month, lives three blocks from the train, and is right in the middle of the cool neighborhood of Kreuzberg. What will $450 get you in New York?
These are shots from the backyard of About Blank bar, where we watched the Germany vs. USA game.
After trying to get the right shot of my bratwurst and the scene in front of me, it promptly rolled off the bread and onto the ground. I picked it up, ate it, and ordered another.
This is a view of the Molecule Man sculpture in the Spree river from the Oberbaum Bridge, which was part of the border between East and West Berlin.
Tempelhofer Feld is the largest park in Berlin and is home to a monolithic skatepark. It was a very Stonehenge-like approach and atmosphere.
You can live on this quaint street in Kreuzberg for €330 a month.
Good pizza from Il Casolare in Kreuzberg. I ordered this pizza thinking the four toppings would all be mixed together on the pie. My local friends laughed at me and said, "It's Berlin, completely appropriate," when I told them they were separated.