Berlin, Germany

I had never been to Berlin, as I've never really given Germany a chance. Berlin changed my mind, it's awesome!

Living in Berlin, I mean, booking a place in the middle of summer, is crazy expensive. We got a pretty okay deal through Airbnb and scored a lovely apartment from a half Aussie, half German girl in the best area: Kreuzberg. The crib came with a cosy courtyard and our own little patio/garden.

The dead animals by an artist ROA and the anti-police message "Love art hate cops" by 1UP Crew.

This used to be one of the most well known murals in Berlin. It's not painted over by property developers or such. The creators "took it down" as a message against gentrification. "However, for me the white – well, in this case black – washing also signifies a rebirth: as a wake-up call to the city and its dwellers, a reminder of the necessity to preserve affordable and lively spaces of possibility, instead of producing undead taxidermies of art. It stresses the social function of artistic interventions where others fail to advance." (Full article)

While Berlin Wall came down in 1989, sections of it are still standing. The longest of them "East Side Gallery". A 1.3 km long wall full of street art. The people who have gone and "tagged" their names on the paintings should feel ashamed.

Berlin is famous for the non-stop parties. From the sounds of it the music is not my cup of tea, but we ended up at a 90's party at "Cassiopeia", which was awesome. The club was huge and had lots of variety and well time just flies. Never have I ever made it home in Berlin before 6am.

Is it still Berlin or is it Thailand? I'm gonna miss these outside terraces! That's another thing I loved about Berlin, the vibe of the city. It's not another touristy city, it's about the atmosphere.

And these place names!!

Apart from a cool name it serves great food and has live music! An excellent tip, wear rubber gloves, while eating ribs, so much less messy and so much more fun!

We went on this free walking tour. Our tour guide was a passionate lover of street art and explained us a lot, while also talking about the history and the future of the city through an urban outlook.

Kreuzberg Spaceman by Victor Ash. It is thought to be the biggest stencil in the world.

This mural by El Bocho has many theories, of what the message of it stands for. I like what our tour guide personally thought. That the girl is thinking of what Berlin used to be like and how it is changing now and turning into.

These ones were all over Berlin and I love the meaning behind them. A project by French artist SOBR (Sobre). He photographs people at raves and parties around Europe. His criteria for subjects is that they have to show a real love of dancing and show grace whilst doing so. The stencils of the photographs then go up on the walls.