i had my white balance all wrong on these because of some settings i used on photos i was taking the night before, but i decided i love the blue cast they had, so i didn't fix them. i am still processing, both photo-wise and in my mind, my fabulous weekend in berlin. i didn't expect to fall in love with berlin the way i did. i think i had some preconceived notions of it based on other german cities i've been to and how i imagined it would be. and they were pretty much all wrong.

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we spent most of our time in prenzlauer berg and mitte, both old east berlin. i don't think i expected the level of charm that was there. tree-lined streets, cobblestones, unique independent shops, well-dressed people with real style (and no bad socks), picturesque little balconies, sidewalk cafés, galleries. it was just wonderful and charming and laid back and welcoming.

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for a city divided so long, berlin is surprisingly comfortable in its own skin. it's neither more nor less than it is and it's certainly not trying too hard. it doesn't need to. and the city seems to know that. there's also no residual schizophrenia evident from the long division it underwent. it seems that berlin was much more than the wall and it retained a character and life of its own despite that dividing line. just imagine the  history it witnessed and bore on its strong shoulders, coming out of it unscathed and with its charm intact. in a way, it's a bit like being east berlin and west berlin preserved a sort of independent, unique spirit that other cities - filled as their streets are with chain shops and restaurants - don't have. and frankly, maybe being east berlin protected it from too much capitalist western influence, allowing it to flourish as it so undoubtedly did. it must really be among the best of the european capitals.

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i can't believe i waited this long to visit it. i've been reading for ages on various blogs and in magazines like *wallpaper, how great it is, but i guess it really is one of those things you just have to see for yourself. and i'm really glad i saw it in the company of a group of totally awesome, smart, funny women. that undoubtedly made it even better.

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