Das ist die Berliner Luft

See the photo album!Like a breath of fresh air.After everything that's happened this past year, it was the streets of Berlin that, once again, made me smile. Imagine that, finding positivity in the land of the Germans.It was a short three days in the Hauptstadt before traveling up to Mecklenburg for Hilmar and Sonja's wedding. I crashed with Jeff in my old neighborhood of Friedrichshain, finally repaying him for his many visits to Brooklyn.The 'hood had certainly changed since I left it in January 2007: The scars of communism have been healed, the part-time punks grew up and got jobs and bought nicer things and had kids. But still, there was a certain energy on the streets. People were everywhere, but not in a claustrophobic sense. At night, the cafes spilled into the sidewalks and neighbors met in the parks.I spent the majority of my days enjoying the cafe culture of the Kiez. While preparing for an upcoming job interview, I hopped back and forth between free wifi connections at local bars. A tea usually accompanied me during the morning sessions, something stronger for the afternoons. All was washed down with a strong shot of contentment.The final evening of the mini-sojourn was spent with a couple friends and a couple more beers in Boxhagener Platz. The night was cool, though not yet crisp. The stars were well lit. An acoustic guitar sang out to an audience of about 50 in on of the park's corners. It wasn't loud, but it was lively. At this moment, Berlin war der schoenste Platz auf Erden.It felt good to smile again. Something about that fresh Berliner Luft. Sometimes you've got to look at a map to realize just how lost you were.See the photo album!