Virtual Gypsyz

October 25, 1994
Our first night in Berlin was an uneventful one, but I sort of got scared! I’ve never seen so many ugly people in one place before. We had to ask around for help to use the subway system to get to our hotel. Jon asked a guy who seemed pretty honest, but you never know about city people - Leigh and I were freaking out when he made us follow him out of one station to transfer to another. I was a bit MORE than suspicious. Well, it turned out fine in the end, as things usually do, and we proceeded to our hotel through a dark alley - gee, that’s what I’ve always wanted to do on a dark, rainy night in a not-so-good part of Berlin.

When we got to the reception area we were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, decor and even the guy behind the desk. He was very helpful in telling us which were the best clubs, cafes, and what not. He was funny, too! We had a ball when we watched Beavis and Butthead together. We decided not to go out, being that it was Sunday night when most places aren’t very “kickin.” Instead, Jon and I hiked over to the Burger King and pigged out on fries. Glad I had all that grease to sit in my stomach all night. The next day we woke up and had a scrumptious breakfast here in the hotel. It comes with the 40 DM per person per night. They even had Nutella! Yummy!

I made an itinerary of places to go and things to do, so we first visited what was left of the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charly. It felt so weird to be actually standing in a very place where people were almost forbidden to cross. I nonchalantly walked back and forth across the line as many times as I wanted. I felt like I made the most of the freedom now granted to every human being - yes!

Right Here, Right Now by Jesus Jones

There was an art shop close by where there were many works by Keith Haring, who painted a lot of the Berlin Wall. I got a t-shirt for my friend Laura at home saying, “You are now leaving the American sector,” for 14.90 DM. I know she’ll love it and I can’t wait to give it to her!

Then we rode the U-Bahn to Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of freedom since 1989. It was a nice picture, although, of course there was construction in front and a huge tour bus - nice additions to my picture.

Then we walked thorugh the beautiful Tiergarten. The fall colors were again orgeous. Lots of pictures again. When we walked out we saw the huge phallic looking monument that I can’t remember the name of, but it had a golden eagle woman at the top. Didn’t take a picture.

We saw the Bellevue Palace which was also very pretty, but I didn’t get a chance to take a picture because once again we had to make a detour to a restroom. God forbid you hold it at all. For every one of my pees she has about 5. It’s so ridiculous. At the most untimely moments: “I have to pee.” Big fucking surprise. Anyway, I felt a bit pissed off, but now I’m over it, but convinced she has diabetes or a bladder infection.

Then we went to the Zoological Garden. This was a lot of fun. We saw a Panda! Just like the one I saw in Busch Gardens oh so many years ago. I felt bad for him, thouh, because he was all by himself and looked so bored. I felt like this throughout the zoo, as a matter of fact. Berlin has a great variety of animals that I’ve never seen efore, but the habitats sucked. They were so small and barren that one wonders what the hell the poor animal can get accomplished in such a small area. There was a really cool cat with pointed ears that I’ve never seen. He looked like a dog with a cat head. Wow. Some of the animals, however, like the ostriches and zebras were quite active, and the rams, and the giraffes playing with their long nasty tongues and one licking the side of a wall. I heard an elephant roar a roar that sounded like a lion!

We ate at a steakhaus around the touristy area that cost only 4.80 Dm for all you can eat salad. It was pretty good, and I guess Jon was feeling good too so he paid for all of us. I felt a bit awkward, but very grateful. It was really nice of him. Leigh was really tired so we came back to the hotel and watched Beavis and Butthead again. “So, Mel, what did you do in Berlin?” “Oh, I watched Beavis and Butthead.” Whatever.

There were people across our hall having a huge party in their room so I got to read “The Hobbit” while listening to their very loud, but not bad sounding singing. Earlier in the night they stopped me in the hallway on my way upstairst to make a phone call to ask me my name. I said, “Why - what’s yours?” The guy said, “Ricky.” I was like, “Yeah right, that sounds made up.” He tried to convince me otherwise and said later in the night he would guess my surname. I suppose he meant when he was feeling drunker.

I called mama and dad. My brother picked up the phone and his voice sounds even deeper! He said he wanted to punch me for being in Berlin. At least I got some envy from someone! I called my sister the night before for her birthday and she didn’t seem very excited to hear from me. Oh well. I guess maybe I couldn’t really detect any emotions through the phone. Dad says I had $400 in my account as of Friday. Running low real fast! I was glad to talk to them. Mom said she’s sending me a package. Hope it has peanut butter! Peter made fun of Americans because of their obsession with PB. Well, I guess I was proof of it! ——->>>>>