London and Berlin...(more blogging about biking)

Disclaimer: not much eloquence (too little time) or detail (this is no travel diary).


London: What's not to love? What's not to love in all of Europe? Our hostel was an old manor house and the people were lovely. We successfully went to Saint Paul's Cathedral, walked the Thames River, met up with Elizabeth Rhondeau, watched the Olympics in Trafalgar Square, lost ourselves in Harrod's, relaxed in Hyde Park, shopped in Primark (cheapandchic), and went to Westminster Abbey. Katharine and I saw Wicked. Pretty great for a horrid jet-lag and a first day of the trip!
Highlight:(everything) Katharine and I exploring hidden streets and finding a cool old church square to live in someday.
Lowlight: When we rushed to catch our plane in Berlin. We literally ran the whole time and almost missed it. Somewhere between the near strip-search by security (I always get targeted!) and the tiny RyanAir plane, I lost my only jacket and my ipod. Blast! Luckily Katharine and I listened to her "Mourning" playlist (made after a high- school heartbreak) and nearly died of laughter.

Berlin: I think everyone needs to come here. SO new but in touch with its turbulent past! Not only did I completely shed any secret anti-German sentiments (I think most Americans harbor some) but I loved the city- planning and the food. Hearing the history of the city, especially during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War, made me understand the people so much better. From the moment we arrived Berliners have been kind and helpful despite the language barrier. I wish we could stay here longer and eat Turkish duners and ride bikes around the city bridges forever.
Highlight: When we searched for our hostel and arrived at a gay/transvestite club and thought...."okay, we can be brave." But, luckily, that was not it. It was up the street and is wonderfully clean and cozy. The Pergamon Museum currently features the MOST amazing exhibit on Babylon that fits into global context perfectly with the Iraq War plus it has a permanent collection to die for. Thirdly, biking in Berlin is like breathing...everybody does it. So Katharine and I rented bikes for the day. Good times (read on)
Lowlight: After finishing a 4-hour-long "free" bike tour of the amazing city we headed back to our hostel in the pouring rain (remember I lost my jacket in London.) I was wearing very shear yellow pants and a white shirt today....need I say more? K and I had a good laugh about my transperancy until I was crossing a busy, slick street. Everything felt like slow motion....anxious German driver + me (going the right way at right cross-walking time) + rain= my life flashing before my eyes and truly biffing it on the pavement with German screams and honking cars in the background. Let's just say it was one of the more dramatic moments in my life. Full of shame and forced "grace", I hurried back on my bike and rode on....in a see-through, black, and bloody ensemble. (PS: I sustained no huge injuries.)