enamored of public transportation; and a few other things, in brief.
It’s officially Day 8, and while I have some rambles entries to account for the Missing Days, they require more editing than I’m willing to deal with at this particular moment. So, instead: Random Numbered One-Liners With Titles In Bold Lettering!
1. Berlin Public Transportation = In God’s Image, Probably, If You’re Into That Sort Of In-God’s-Image Thing.
It seems the one-liner has been built into the title: but one of many things I love about Berlin’s trains are the cool little buttons that are easily depressed when a rider wants in or out, and which light up very excitingly whenever the train arrives at a station. (I have tried, in vain, to insert a helpful photo here, but for some reason my attempts have failed. Apparently, I suck at digital camera technology from five years ago.)
2. Holy Shit, After Two Days Here, I Still Don’t Speak or Understand German.
It’s true! And for some reason, that small detail interfered with my ability to “get” the two All German Plays I saw tonight at the Schaubühne and two nights ago at the Volksbühne—but what’s “getting it” mean when it comes to Art, right? and I still got to step onto a jangling beach of shining coppery and silvery coins tonight as I walked to my seat. So I wasn’t sweating comprehension. (crap. that’s way more than a one-liner. I guess I suck at brevity, too, especially when rushing.)
3. Hey, Europe’s Full Of White People!
Also true! I’ve spotted a few POCs, although most of the Asian brothers and sisters I’ve seen have been working at flower and fruit stands, not, say, getting a drink at the bar or taking in a night of Theater. However, I haven’t really been out much, nor have I conducted any legitimate research on the subject, so I can’t draw any conclusions. I mean, I can, but they’d be totally groundless, which I know doesn’t stop a lot of people from drawing conclusions, but I’ve got integrity & shit. Really.
4. I’ve Got Integrity & Shit.
I just felt it deserved its own item number; no one gives me enough credit for this one, so I’ll give myself credit. Giving oneself credit is a hella integriful thing to do.
5. Beer Is Cheap, And Yet I Still Insist On Whiskey!
The Beers Of Berlin (and Prague) are totally wasted on me. I did try some, but I just couldn’t stick with it long enough to experience the magic.
6. I Almost Purchased Artwork From A New Yorker Ex-Pat Today!
I really liked the piece; but then I figured that would be sort of ridiculous. And I’m trying not to really spend money on this trip aside from the whole transportation & eating/drinking thing. The lucky few will get a postcard; and I did purchase chocolate for my parents, because they’re really into that antioxidant chocolate thing, and I sort of owe them for, you know, bringing me into the world & shit (now you all know who’s responsible).
7. My Lineage Spotted on Schoenhauser Straße!
And speaking of who’s responsible, I descend, on one side of my family, from a long line of swiss-german bookbinders. I would have gone in and said “Mutter, Vater: Ich habe wieder!” or something like that. But the store was closed, and I don’t speak German (see #2).
(Uh, I had a photo here, too, but same problem. Numbers 1 & 7 totally aren’t being presented as they should be.)
Okay. Tomorrow I head back to Prague. I get to ride the Deutsche Bahn again: joy.
