You're Still the One (I Run to)
Place: Berlin, Germany
So I have returned to Berlin, once again, to this city that I rank my No. 1 in the world.
I mainly came here to see what 'Love Parade' is like. Love Parade is said to be the largest street rave party in the world. Due to some financial issues and problems with Berlin municipal government, this party was canceled in the past 2 years. So this is the first time it was held since 2003. To celebrate the return of "Love Parade," they use the slogan "The Love Is Back and Alive!"
After a long S-Bahn ride from Berlin Shonenfeld Airport, I checked in at "Hotel4Youth" in the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. I could not get a cheaper room but a single room. And since it is a 'super-peak' period (the World Cup was just over and there was Love Parade on that day), I was charged 47 Euro rather than regular 30 something Euro. It was actually a very nice room and I did have my own en-suite bathroom. There is also a TV in the room.
After a short break, I took the U2 (underground train) to Potsdamer Platz, the walked to nearby Brandenburger Gate and the Strasse des 17 Juni (June 17th Street), the thoroughfare that the "Parade" takes place.
Well, it was fun. There are so many people along Strasse des 17 Juni, drinking and dancing. About 40 floats marched along the Boulevard, from Brandenburger Gate to somewhere near Siegessaule (also called "Victory Column") and turn around. Each float has a DJ spinning dance music and many dancers twisting on the float. I heard internationally acclaimed DJ Paul van Dyk (who is originally from Berlin) and Tiesto were on some of floats but I was not able to identify which ones. many people, clad in their own national flags (there seemed a huge Polish crowds), moved and danced next to the moving floats. Even many people seemed quite drunk, it was great that nobody got violent or even disordered. Most people just kept dancing and twisting. And everybody was having great time there.
It was getting hot into late afternoon, so I only stay there for about 2 hours. I know after the float parade was over, the stage area at Siegessaule would start another dance party with all those famous DJ spinning for the following few hours. It was getting too crowded, so I just left, planning maybe coming back later that night.
Walking away from Siegessaule towards Nollendorf Platz, I accidentally ran into a street fair. It is not related to the Love Parade but Christopher Street Day celebration. Several stages around street corners were set up. On separate stages, singers performed and DJ sinned dance music from different era. Numerous food vendors sold food and drinks from all corners of the world: doener kebap, pad thai, crepes, tandoori chicken, currywurst, caipirinhia, and mojito. And everybody was having great time there.
By the time I finished sampling those food and drink (and listened to 3 different bands playing), I was so tired and had almost no energy to head back to Siegessaule for the last DJs.
It was such fun-filled day in Berlin, now a real party capital and a multi-cultural metropolis. I knew that already a few years ago. However, after the most watched World Cup Game, the world also learned that.
Even though I have visited here many times, Berlin always holds some pleasant surprise for me. Even just with some short stay or stopover, I can have enormous good time. There are endless parties and cultural activities. It is sort of like New York City, but has a lower price tag, cleaner streets, and more disciplined crowd (well, they are Germans, so...).
So far in my trip, I haven't got opportunities to rough it up yet. Every place I stayed I all ended having my own room and bath facilities (including that one night in Sofitel Athens Airport). But the hardcore backpacking experience is just about to begin. I will stay in shared dorm rooms most of time after Berlin. I will also start to travel to countries that are completely new to me. All of them are in former Eastern Bloc (Mmm... the area in Berlin I stayed is also in former Eastern Bloc - East Berlin).
So off I go to the Baltics.
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