Deutchland!

I had a really great time in Berlin, but the week had a slow start.

On arrival in Berlin, I stank. Other people's sweat gathered in mosh pits of PukkelPOP and my own from the 6 hour train ride. I just wanted to find the closest hostel take a hot shower, grab some good food and crash.

Talking with other travelers, I had learned that HI affiliated hostels are typically huge, impersonal, institutional, and unsocial. But being that the HI was the closest and most likely to have available rooms, it would do for one night.

A man at the train station, who sensed that I didn't know where I was going, came up and pointed me in the direction of the HI hostel. A few blocks later, looking at my map with my mind not anywhere near full power, I realized that the man, who had eagerly asked if I needed help, had pointed me in the completely opposite direction. (Ha, Ha. Real funny.) So I stopped a younger roller blader. He oriented me correctly on the poor map that I had from my travel book. I thanked him and then he took off.

A block later he had taken off his roller blades and asked if I wanted a personal guide to the HI. Amazed at his generosity, I gladly accepted.

Willy told me a little about the city and himself as we trekked. We found the HI (a massive and boxy white building). He had to run but gave me his number and told me to call him later in the week for a tour of the town if I'd like. I thanked him. He took off as I admitted myself to the institutional building in front of me.

The HI was exactly as I had been told. Microwave fast food bar, add-your-DM TV & Internet access, and the respective unfriendly staff. But it was clean, quiet, and had better than average bathrooms.

But, from me to you: Only use HI hostels as your last resort. In private hostels (and most Hostels of Europe hostels), there are more personal people, food, and better service .

My first night in Berlin ended on a good note though. Hungrily, I asked and was directed to an Italian restaurant around the corner that had great food and a friendly staff. When I was finished and had thanked them for the excellent meal and told them that I couldn't wait to come back again.

They were pleased that I would come again because they didn't have the correct change to give me and they suggested that I could just pay the next day when I came back. I thanked them for the offer but, because I couldn't promise that I would be able to come back, I bought another two bottles of Fanta to enjoy back at the Hostel.

In front of the hostel I started talking to a group of other travelers, from Kentucky, on vacation from a study abroad program, going to school in Krakow. Among stories they told me a great one about how they had rented a car in Germany and then wanted to drive it through some of the eastern countries. When they arrived at the border their car was confiscated due to a part of the contract that they hadn't read. After being kicked out they had to find their own way back to Krakow… They stressed that they were lucky to be alive.

Before I excused myself and caught some well needed Z's, they gave me a book of coupons for Berlin that also and a three-day U-bahn ticket and they invited me to visit them in Krakow. Stoked!

Fanta more common in Europe than Coke. And here it's Fanta is available every fruit flavor of Fanta that you could want. Lemon is really good if you can find it!

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