After a long while without posting here I’m back to say that the last months have been very busy. I moved to another city, I started a Masters Degree graduation and to study became a “full time” job.

But this post is actually dedicated to Berlin, from where I am writing now.  The city celebrated 20 years of the fall of its wall last November. A huge party to celebrate this historical mark took place at Brandeburg Gate with some leaders of European countries, some exhibitions, concerts, etc. It was nice to see the party even under a strong rain.

But why is Berlin so fascinating? For me it’s because it provokes constant flashbacks. On the streets is possible to see the most remarkable haircuts from the 80’s combined with weird clothes from the 90’s. Radio channels (my favourite is 105,5 fm) play old hits that make you remember good moments from the past. The attitude of the Berliners overall is relaxed with no rush. There is no traffic jam, and as Nina Lemos, a Brazilian journalist, said it’s a city where no one cares about plastic surgery.

Berlin is interesting also in terms of architecture. To destroy the old in order to rebuild the new has become the city currency. Here it’s possible to find very classical palaces, to the modern Bauhaus lines to futuristic buildings at Postdamer Platz. A real journey on time in a walking distance on the city of the wide streets.

The writer Mark Twain captured the Berlin mood in his notebooks. When visiting the city at the end of 19th century he wrote: “The site it stands on has traditions and a history, but the city itself has no traditions and no history. It is a new city; the newest I have ever seen”. His experience here seems to be similar to the ones I have every time I come back. He also said: “I don’t believe there is anything in the whole earth that you can’t learn in Berlin except the German language”. Genau!

Photo: Hermano Silva