Berlin 08/07/2010 to 12/07/2010

We met up with Patrizia in Dusseldorf and embarked on the 5 hour drive to Berlin, where we would spend the weekend. Our timing couldn't have been worse, as Berlin was experiencing an unusual heat wave with temperatures soaring up to 38 degrees. To say it was hot was an understatement. The days were bright and sunny but there wasn't a single breath of air which made the heat unbearable. Regardless of the weather, we still managed to have a great time in this vibrant, fun and diverse city.

We stayed in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg area with many cafes and outdoor restaurants and bohemian feel. The best way to see the sights was taking a tour bus which also meant we were guaranteed to feel the wind on our skin. That reprieve didn't last as it didn't take long for our skin to start to frazzle. You can see parts of the wall and outlines of where the wall used to be all around the city. A visit to the East Side Gallery is highly recommended. It's an open-air gallery where artists from around the world have transformed the wall with their paintings and powerful messages. You can spend hours taking it all in.

Berlin has an abundance of cultural activities centering around museum island, but the lack of air-conditioning made it intolerable so unfortunately we had to give it a miss. An executive decision was made and we cut short our stay in Berlin as the temperature in the car with the aircon was more bearable than the temperature outside. Berlin is funky, vibrant and cultural and no doubt we'll be back.