Last day in Berlin.

Today was similar to yesterday. I made breakfast in the morning to celebrate my final stretch with the kitchen, then chatted with Jade for a while in the afternoon. I visited the Jewish Museum later - apparently free - and it was pretty cool. There were a bunch of really fascinating rooms and the architecture of the building was amazing, but I felt that the stuff in the exhibits wasn't really all that interesting. Lots of random household items that happened to have been owned by Holocaust victims, but a wallet looks pretty much like a wallet regardless of who owned it. I made the remaining food that Matteo endowed to me, an extremely boring dinner of mini penne and plain tomato puree. I had meant to add something else to it but I couldn't find any inspiration in the tiny grocery store that happened to be on my way back. It was a little frustrating today since all of my stuff was locked in Jade's room and whenever she was out I had no access to anything, but that's what I get for not paying rent I suppose. If it had been really desperate I could've just waited for someone else to walk in or out. She went to bed around 3, so I took my stuff and waited in the lobby until around 5 AM. Jade and I may meet up again in Vienna, since she's planning on being there for the next month or so, but I don't really know what my plans are. I waited in the lobby until about 5, scrambled over to the main train terminal of Berlin (nearly missing my train because I kept going to the wrong S-Bahn platforms). Since I never went to bed I'm not sure exactly when this entry should end, but I'll call it here.

Berlin is a really cool city. I kinda wish I'd gone to one of the clubs here since that's what it's most known for, but I also don't really think they would've been my scene and most have fairly hefty entrance fees. I also somewhat doubt I would've been let in anyway given my limited wardrobe - they're famous for being picky about who they let in and I doubt my black hiking thermals that I wear to Jack's goth raves back home would impress them very much. Aside from that, though, the city is fascinating. I found myself much more impressed by the east than I'd expected to. While it can be difficult to tell where the wall used to run, the east really does seem to have more of the attractions than the west, and many of them are cathedrals or art installations that run contrary to my prior notions of how the eastern bloc operated. It's a city that has so many neighborhoods, so much history, so many people, that I can't really get my head around it. I think it most reminded me of London, but even that comparison doesn't really hold. Berlin isn't dominated by skyscrapers the way London is, nor does it have anywhere near the number of iconic landmarks, nor is the average building anywhere near as attractive. But it still remains beautiful in its own grungy way, and I'm impressed by the multiculturalism on display.

Up next is Denmark to see my parents, which I'm really looking forward to. Hostels are a blast but I think I'll be glad to have a break from the constant commotion and lack of privacy. I still don't really have any idea what there is to see in Copenhagen, much less anywhere else in Denmark. I guess we'll find out.

After Denmark I plan to visit Stockholm, but from there things get murky. This northern campaign was one of the first things I'd ever formulated for the trip and it always seemed very clear in my mind; going forward I really have no idea what I'm doing. I'm still entertaining the idea of taking the ferry across the Baltic to Helsinki and poking around Finland for a few days, maybe trying to see foliage up north or something? I hesitate to stray too far from the cities for logistical and financial reasons, but I think some fresh air and forest would do me good. Of course, if I go to Finland then I'll be right next to Estonia, which I have never even considered visiting but maybe shouldn't pass on the opportunity? But then I'm not really any closer to my ultimate goals down in southern Europe... I'll have to make up my mind soon since I'll then want to book a flight south. Matteo has sold me on Turin, so I might see what flights there look like for a week or two from now.