Tuesday, September 21, 2010

things i love about berlin - blue berlin: part 2

i had my white balance all wrong on these because of some settings i used on photos i was taking the night before, but i decided i love the blue cast they had, so i didn't fix them. i am still processing, both photo-wise and in my mind, my fabulous weekend in berlin. i didn't expect to fall in love with berlin the way i did. i think i had some preconceived notions of it based on other german cities i've been to and how i imagined it would be. and they were pretty much all wrong.


we spent most of our time in prenzlauer berg and mitte, both old east berlin. i don't think i expected the level of charm that was there. tree-lined streets, cobblestones, unique independent shops, well-dressed people with real style (and no bad socks), picturesque little balconies, sidewalk cafés, galleries. it was just wonderful and charming and laid back and welcoming.


for a city divided so long, berlin is surprisingly comfortable in its own skin. it's neither more nor less than it is and it's certainly not trying too hard. it doesn't need to. and the city seems to know that. there's also no residual schizophrenia evident from the long division it underwent. it seems that berlin was much more than the wall and it retained a character and life of its own despite that dividing line. just imagine the  history it witnessed and bore on its strong shoulders, coming out of it unscathed and with its charm intact. in a way, it's a bit like being east berlin and west berlin preserved a sort of independent, unique spirit that other cities - filled as their streets are with chain shops and restaurants - don't have. and frankly, maybe being east berlin protected it from too much capitalist western influence, allowing it to flourish as it so undoubtedly did. it must really be among the best of the european capitals.


i can't believe i waited this long to visit it. i've been reading for ages on various blogs and in magazines like *wallpaper, how great it is, but i guess it really is one of those things you just have to see for yourself. and i'm really glad i saw it in the company of a group of totally awesome, smart, funny women. that undoubtedly made it even better.

12 comments:

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Oh, to be on that adventure!... love your photos and your perspective...

SE'LAH... said...

I'm totally digging those toss pillows and the Buddha. Peace around the world.

Beautiful captures my dear.

Anonymous said...

what a pleasant surprise

mrs mediocrity said...

falling in love with blue berlin...

Lynne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lynne said...

love the blue bird. The bluebird of happiness!

Joanna Jenkins said...

You know how much I love blue. These are terrific. Glad you enjoyed Berlin.
jj

kristina - no penny for them said...

it's really special to see berlin through your eyes - you pinpointed so many things that i tend to take for granted, having lived here for over ten years. it makes me happy to hear how much you liked it and makes me appreciate my home town even more - rugged edges and all.

that little sparrow didn't even realise you were giving it its fifteen minutes of fame...

Polly said...

it's so nice to read about Berlin through your eyes, and so nice to learn how much you loved it. I just wondered why you were surprised with (former) East Berlin's tree-lined streets, cobblestones, independent shops, well-dressed people and no bad socks? I found that interesting

thank you so much for your comments on my south-west France album! it's so nice, and inspiring
Pxxx

Char said...

beautiful and blue....it seems the right color for berlin. and different too than what i would have expected. all my ex-husband could really tell me about it was castles and beer.

Jess said...

Your red lanterns photo is on the front page of Etsy right now! I knew I recognized it :)
Congratulations!

SH -ic said...

haha your blue -tick make me laughhing when I saw a blue bike here in denmark
I did call you secretly --
not really but was thinking at you
. have a look in my blog Horzont meets meeresgrund
there you see..
love andrea