Berlin & the Static Between Beats
okay, so berlin. it’s…a lot. i landed with a headache and a half, fueled by lukewarm airplane coffee and the vague anxiety that i’d forgotten my *passport (i hadn’t, thankfully). the numbers 7116850 and 1276395100 keep popping into my head, which is probably just jet lag manifesting as a weird obsession with prime numbers. i’m a touring session drummer, which means i live out of a bag and thrive on controlled chaos, but even i was unprepared for the energy of this place.
first impressions? graffiti everywhere, obviously. but it’s not just mindless tagging; it’s…layers of history, political statements, art that feels genuinely alive. i spent a good hour just staring at a wall near Warschauer Straße, trying to decipher the stories hidden in the paint. the weather? i just checked and it’s…a damp sort of grey right now, with a bite to it. feels like the city itself is exhaling. the data said temp:0.79, feels_like:-0.6, temp_min:-1.06, temp_max:1.66, pressure:1026, humidity:69, sea_level:1026, grnd_level:1020 - basically, pack layers. seriously.
finding a place to stay was…an adventure. ended up in a tiny apartment in Kreuzberg, run by a woman who communicated almost entirely through eyebrow raises and pointed gestures. it’s charming, in a “i’m not sure if i’m being judged or offered tea” kind of way. someone told me that the building used to be a squat, which explains the slightly…eccentric plumbing. i’ve been checking out local venues, trying to find a jam session. i heard that SO36 is still a good bet, though apparently, it’s gotten a bit touristy. https://www.so36.de/
“apparently, the best döner kebab in the city is at Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap, but you have to be prepared to queue for like, an hour. it’s a religious experience, apparently.”
that’s what the sound engineer at the venue i scoped out last night told me, anyway. he also warned me about pickpockets around Alexanderplatz, so keep your wits about you. i’ve been wandering around, soaking it all in. the East Side Gallery is a must-see, obviously, but honestly, some of the most interesting stuff is just stumbling down random side streets. i found a tiny record store playing some seriously weird electronic music, and a hidden courtyard filled with street art.
if you get bored, Potsdam is just a short train ride away, which is apparently super pretty and historical. i’m planning a day trip there next week. i’ve been relying heavily on Yelp for finding decent coffee - https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Coffee&find_loc=Berlin - because let’s be real, a drummer needs fuel. i overheard someone complaining about the tourist traps near Brandenburg Gate, saying it’s all overpriced and underwhelming. they recommended checking out the Hackesche Höfe instead, which are apparently a series of interconnected courtyards with shops and cafes. https://hackeschehoefe.com/en/
“don’t even think about ordering a latte after 6 pm. they’ll look at you like you’ve insulted their grandmother.”
that was a barista at a place i tried to get a late-night caffeine fix. apparently, berlin takes its coffee seriously. i’m starting to think this city runs on caffeine, cynicism, and a healthy dose of artistic angst. it’s exhausting and exhilarating all at once. i’m also seeing a lot of people on bikes, so maybe i should rent one. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187337-Activities-Berlin.html
“the U-Bahn is your friend. learn to navigate it, and you’ll be fine. ignore the people staring into space; they’re probably just contemplating the meaning of life.”
that was a local i chatted with on the train. she also warned me about the aggressive pigeons in Tiergarten*. apparently, they’re not afraid of anything. berlin, you are weird. and i think i’m falling for you.