My second time in Berlin has only confirmed my suspicion that I really could (should?) make this city my Europe base. I love the energy, the creativity, the experimentation, the never ending nights, the ever flowing beer, the people - the artists, the punks, the anarchists, the musicians, the hippies, the hipsters, the regular folk, the irregular folk. So many rich lifestyles are possible here, even on a budget that in most western european capitals would confine you to a frustrating and socially disconnected routine.
I get the feeling I can walk into any bar and expect it to be interesting or unique in some way; yet sit and order a drink without even asking for the price (in contrast, a Scottish friend of mine got into a huge fight in Paris because he ordered a couple of pints in a random, unremarkable terrasse, and refused to pay the 27 euro bill).
The Madame Claude bar last night was fun, even though I was exhausted from not sleeping in about 40 hours and had to leave before the place really livened up. It had all the ingredients for a good hang out place though : cheap beer (yes I keep bringing up the prices, but it's refreshing to be able to go out, grab a snack, bar hop with friends, go dancing, stumble around and pass out on a bench somewhere, and wake up with some money left in your wallet!), funky decoration, free foosball (I don't even know how to spell that, in french it's "babyfoot"), live music of different styles.
I shared a few drinks with fellow 2+2er HUSNG players ohly, teamsk and rumnchess. It's always nice to put some faces on those avatars, and the more I meet people from the forums the happier I am being part of this diverse community . I somehow managed to beat rumnchess in a best of 3 chess match for the case money in my wallet, despite beer flowing in my system and sleep deprivation, and after getting absolutely destroyed in the first round. So, I'm glad to report chapter 2 of my mid stakes chess gambling career ended well (chapter 1 was a 2006 match v.s an alcoholic ukrainian hustler in a park in Kiev - I lost every dime I had on me in front of a 20 person crowd, despite having drunk one beer to my opponents 8 or 9 during the course of the afternoon).
Other highlights of the trip include a night out in a string of straight-friendly gay venues. We ended up at the Back Door club where they were having some kind of weird "Britney Spears is dead" themed soirée (all the deco was B.Spears related, they even had a shrine with candles, etc.), but with mostly 80s pop in one room and electro stuff in the other. They tortured us for about an hour at the door, but once we were in the dance floors and atomosphere were entrancing.
I also got to rail some high stakes poker for a full night in a suite of the Grand Hyatt Hotel (a big thanks to Pistons and mtvdeuem for letting me in at the heart of the action in such a friendly fashion). So in the end my trip was a strange mix of super busto traveling and "baller" experiences, sprinkled with many a friendly encounter.
I'll only have a couple of nights in Prague, which is exciting and frustrating at the same time because I have so many people and places I want to see there after my december trip.
But I can't be disappointed in jetting off to Barcelona on the 14th - especially because I just found out I'll be there for at least two "Clasico" matches between FCB and Real Madrid. I'll make sure I get my hands on a camera at some point in the next few days.
Time is running short, so I'll just leave you with the link to a poker blog I enjoy; engaging,well-written, and best of all frequently updated : Suited Aces.
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