24 hours and a bike in Berlin

Oh Berlin you killed me with your handsome men riding bikes at every corner. Actually, handsome men generally everywhere,walking dogs, in restaurants, walking home...but mostly on bikes. Back to bikes.

Riding around in peak hour with everyone going to work. In and out of bike lanes, behind buses and trams all to ride through the Brandenburg Tor. Through it. Through the middle. Amazing.

Then past all the sites, through the parks and the city proper. Hours spent at Hamburger Bahnhof and lunch with fresh pressed apple juice and then a glass of sekt by the river Spree. 

Back on the bike and through the rain and to Mitte and memories. All the shops are the same, which is odd but kind of comforting. Second hand shopping but nothing to buy. Then ice cream in the rain. Sour kirche und citronnen. Ride home past all the cool kids and listening in - vinyl records and talk of music deals and clips and gigs at the cookie club. Zig zag through the street cars then home.

More time on the bike towards the big wall. With everyone riding home from work. Graffiti and flowers stretch along the perimeter of that big wall. 

Then a martini in Prenzlauer Berg. Just sitting and watching the day turn to night. And now we are here. I wasnt going to come here for dinner. While I was drinking my martini I decided I wouldn't because really, that would just be lame. Of all the restaurants in this city.... but then I walked around the corner and it was there. Party lights under the oak trees. Full of people. Happy noise, and I just decided that it would be alright to come back here. And it is. A kir royale then a tarte with speck and cheese followed by a Riesling from Alsace.

Drinking my wine, with the world just doing its thing - people riding home from work and the buzz of the restaurant behind me, dreaming of being here forever. Living in one of those magical apartments with their pastel facades, and walking in the dark by the string party lights lining the road. Feeling safe and happy and in love with this beautiful city of Berlin.