Mart-deBlog

And so I lived a year in Berlin. The city has a place for everyone it seems, and with some time I cannot imagine anyone not feeling right in the city. It is impossible to say that I know the whole city, but I believe nobody can claim this, not even someone born and raised in Berlin. It is a city that is becoming, with every aspect changing, from its social make-up to the reconstruction of original architecture. New art forms ride on the constructive developments of the city, finding inspiration in the many changes. It is multi-layered, with underground scenes, metropole attitudes, neo-punk, immigrants, coffee culture,a heavy-laden past, electronic music, entirely different neighborhoods etc. Maybe I can say that I know some of these layers, the electronic clubscene, contemporary architecture, museums, parks, beergartens are all aspects which I tried to get to know properly. Nothing is really impressive, or shocking; it is all very real, actually quite friendly and open. Maybe I will return to the city at some point in my life, there is so much more; but within this year, I glimpsed somewhat of the whole in its many brilliant parts, and I am ready to go somewhere else.

Berghain is a techno club, hidden behind storage buildings, housed in an an industrial communist-style building. The bouncer face is tattooed all over and his skin pierced. Everyone is frisked and cameras are too be handed in separately. Entering, you find yourself in a huge hallway, with pillars repeating off into dark space. Having passed the wardrobe, you walk the stairs and enter the spacious dancefloor, an underground universe reminiscent of the club scene in Blade. Naked men dance fiercely on the thumping beat of the electronic music, transvestites walk around fabulously. Freaks appear in their normality here. The dark dancing room splits off into numerable alleys, another floor, separate bars, darkrooms, sexchambers and metal walking bridges. I have seen the most creative DJs in this wonderful place, electronic music that can be felt in your stomach. I lost myself here in my weekends, solitude adventures, or sharing in ecstasy with friends. Berghain was my rabbit-hole into Berlin's nightlife. One never leaves before dawn, one never leaves without stupor. It is attractively kitsch, partly a show, partly real; but always a dream...