10 Days in Berlin: When I Changed Lemon and Salt for Orange and Cinnamon. Part 2.

DAY 7

This time I decided not to waste another day locked up in my room, so at 7 am I was leaving the hotel to go to Berlin cathedral. My first day as a normal tourist!

From my hotel in Mitte, it took about 35 minutes to walk there, and I didn't mind walking. I didn't actually go inside the cathedral, but I spent a lot of time looking around the outside of the beautiful building.

As I sat, surrounded by lots of other tourists, I finally checked my messages. The Italian boy had asked me how I was feeling, María was worried about me and asked what had happened after KitKat, the Australians had messaged saying that this was their last day in Berlin, and my group of friends was asking where I was. I refused to explain and just told them that I had had very late nights and then I arranged a plan to meet up with them all in the afternoon without missing anyone out.

When it was time to meet, I walked to the Brandenburg Gate, the most famous monument in Berlin. Here I met the Australians. After a while, we went to Görlitzer Park to finally meet my friends.

This park is very big and is always full of groups of young people. It's not that the nature is particularly beautiful, it's quite a normal park, but its attraction is its size. People go there to sunbathe, meet with friends to drink, and some people even take picnics. Because of the amount of people that go to the park, there are lots of stalls around it that sell different types of food. I would also imagine that you could find people that sell drugs here too.

We had a really good time there, drinking wine and beer, and eating lots of unhealthy food. Hamburgers, delicious kebabs and French fries, everything that street vendors sell. We then started to plan what we were going to do for the rest of the day.

Berghain, Tresor, Matrix. They were some of the nightclub options that we had in mind. I couldn't really give my opinion on the matter as it was my first time in Berlin and I didn't know what the best places were.

At this point, I realised that because Berlin was such a huge and busy city, it was essential that we planned our evenings in advance. Just like we were doing that day in the park. We chose a club to go to and even decided on other possible alternatives in case we had issues getting in.

Although this might seem excessive for a night out, it is necessary. It is the thing that I would recommend most if you are visiting Berlin. Firstly, make sure you know where the place that you're going to is, and secondly, always have a plan B. You might need a second option in case you don't manage to get into a club, or if you decide you want to go elsewhere. Fortunately, I didn't experience this, but some Berliners that I met told me that sometimes the bouncers can be quite strict when choosing who can enter and who can't.

So as I said, it's better to plan ahead and have alternative options near to your first choice in case you have to go somewhere else. After all, there are plenty of good places to go to. Just remember that if you are going to be changing places, it's not like Florence here where you can move from bar to bar easily because they're close to each other. In Berlin, you need to bear in mind that the travelling distance from one side to the other can waste a lot of time. If you can't walk the distance you would have to get some form of transport, otherwise, you'll spend the whole night travelling. And trust me when I say that it's the worst feeling in the world when you've wasted a night in Berlin! So make sure you plan your time with your friends because travelling is another factor that could ruin your night. Don't waste your night trying to find other places to go to, make sure you've done that beforehand.

Anyway, we chose Berghain for that night. My two friends who had been living in Berlin for a while had thus far been unable to get into this famous club. Although you can listen to techno music in any club in Berlin, they say that Berghain is the best place for it. It is a sacred place for techno and isn't rivalled by any other clubs. So the 10 of us risked going there, albeit a bit worried considering the experiences my two friends had had in the past. But guess what? We were lucky. We all got in and the night was incredible.

There's no doubt that yes, waiting in line for an hour watching the rejection of several people was quite nerve-wracking. The bouncers were very intimidating. They don't let people past and when questioned on it, they give very little in the way of explanations. They sternly tell you it's because they don't want you to go in and then tell you to leave. I saw people begging to get in and I'll tell you now, it's not worth wasting your time. It's better if you have an alternative place to go to because the bouncers' decisions are not up for discussion. The answer is simple: yes or no. That's it.

Being good-looking, famous or rich are not necessarily traits that guarantee entry compared to other clubs that base the guest list on that. I think it would be very difficult to create a list of requirements needed for entry into Berghain. The best advice I could give you is to be yourself, don't pretend to be something you're not. On the contrary, doing this can be really obvious and only make things worse.

We divided ourselves into two smaller groups which I think may have helped us get in. That way we didn't look a big, noisy group. Also if you're calm, quiet and confident, and wear smart casual outfits, you're more likely to get in for a crazy, fun night. I think that groups of noisy tourists who want to attract attention are definitely the first to be rejected. And I also think that's the same with other clubs too.

We paid €15 to get in. It's more expensive than KitKat, but I can assure you that the price and waiting time is definitely worth it. This type of music is definitely not my favourite, but when you go to places that mainly play this genre, even if you're not a fan, you can feel the energy of the place and you get carried away by it. Then you suddenly find yourself having one of the best nights of your life.

You start to meet people and make friends quicker than you could imagine. It's not strange to see sexual acts there, but that doesn't mean it's a completely uncontrolled place, it is still quite strict. Because of the issues mentioned, Kitkat still holds the crown. Berghain also stays open long into the night, but this time we didn't stay as long, maybe around 7 hours, and I'd left by 9 am.

DAY 8

What next? Rest. While other normal people started the day and went about their lives at 10 am, Bianca went to sleep.

This time, María had come with me to my hotel because it had been one of the worst nights of her life, she had a bad trip and a terrible time. When we both felt 100%, we went out to eat. Or to have breakfast? I'm not sure which. But it was 6 in the evening and it was our first meal of the day.

We love falafel, so on the suggestion of my hotel's receptionist, we went to a place called Habibi Imbiss. It wasn't exactly close to us in Mitte, but the half an hour it took to get there was definitely worth it for the best kebabs and falafel I have ever eaten. And believe me, I've tried enough. Delicious food at reasonable prices. If you like Middle Eastern food, you can't afford to miss this place.

DAY 9

There had to be one day on this legendary trip when I behaved like a civilised tourist for the whole 24 hours. I dedicated myself to getting to know the city. I suggested to my friends that after resting and having a relaxed day after the night before, we should spend the day sightseeing and nothing else. For most of us, the city was new and we only had a few days to spend in Berlin, so they agreed with my suggestion.

The Berlin Wall is a must-see, of course. And not only the East Side Gallery, which is often the only part that tourists visit so they can get thousands of photos with the paintings and graffiti in the background. We also went from the memorial to the section where all the people who tried to cross the wall had died in the attempt. I recommend taking some time to explore this part, it's really interesting to learn about the stories of the people who suffered the painful separation from their loved ones for 28 years. There are lots of photos, informative plaques and even headphones for those who want to know more about life in Germany in the 1960s when the wall was constructed and the tragedy began.

This was my favourite part of the wall because there are lots of information points. There are even images and information on the buildings next to the wall, and there is a monument and small chapel that attracts tourists.

Walking along the East Side Gallery you will see lots of really good graffiti. As the name says, this part of the wall is an art gallery. But they are much more than nice drawings. There is a very interesting story behind each piece of graffiti on the Berlin Wall. The reality is that each wall contains a significant piece of work for Berliners. Each of these works portrays some of Berlin's history.

I was keen to visit the Checkpoint Charlie Wall Museum but because we were short for time we didn't get a chance to go there. It is entirely dedicated to the Berlin Wall and shows the stories of the people who tried to get over the wall. It shows ingenious victories of people reaching freedom but also the horrible tragedies of the deaths of others. Without a doubt, it's something I can't miss on my next trip to Berlin (which will hopefully be this year).

The tour of the wall around these two different sections that I have mentioned was quite long. It probably took about half a day, and we started our tour early in the morning. But there was another place that we were also eager to see and fortunately, we had time to go: the Holocaust Memorial, a memorial for the Jews murdered in Europe.

I heard some tourists say that it was pointless to waste time looking at "cement blocks" that weren't very interesting. I wanted to go and give them a kick where it hurts the most. It really annoys me when people say these things because it shows that they have no idea of the significance of the place. And the fact that they are unaware of culture and universal history is really depressing.

All the blocks are designed in a certain way to simulate a kind of cemetery. Each person feels and gets a different impression of the place, but everyone comes to the conclusion that it is a place that seems to have no beginning and no end. You feel like you can't find a way out. It can seem suddenly disconcerting, you're there and you don't understand much but you would like to find some meaning. You're there and you feel the same as the Jews who were killed, you feel lost and disoriented. So of course, this place is more than just thousands of "cement blocks".

Don't think that you're just going to get lost in this labyrinth. In the underground part, you'll find practically all historical information, as well as testimonies of people and the names of victims of the Holocaust. A sadly long list.

It was a day of lots of walking. We ended up exhausted and wanting to rest, but unfortunately for María and me, this was our last day in Berlin. So we were looking for a place to spend our last night together. Nothing crazy this time, because we didn't want to miss our flights the next day. Imagine how tired we were to have gone into this place for a few drinks without realising the name...

I didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to our journey through the streets from the Holocaust memorial to the bar. I was very involved in our conversation and didn't realise where we were going. Suddenly, I was already asking for a shot of tequila, which to my surprise was served with a slice of orange. And then I was even more astonished when I wanted to use what I thought was salt, but it turned out to be cinnamon that came out of the salt shaker. I'm not joking. Tequila with orange and cinnamon. IS IT LEGAL?

I don't know how common this is or isn't in Europe, but I've never seen a shot of tequila like it. I've never seen it in Italy. And as a good Mexican, I can tell you that this doesn't exist in Mexico. Ordering a shot of tequila with orange and cinnamon would be so disconcerting for us, it would be like ordering something like a piña colada with whiskey and banana, instead of rum and pineapple. It sounds weird, don't you think? Complete madness. But it's turned out... I loved it. Ever since I have only had tequilas like this. Seriously it's a tasty way to sweeten the shot. I thought it was delicious. And I confess that today I couldn't say if I prefer tequila with lemon or orange, something I will have to keep secret for the rest of my life if I don't want my father to disown me.

Remembering the last night with my friends in Berlin brings a lot of nostalgia because we were saying goodbye to friends from three different continents. And it's always difficult to know when you'll be able to see each other again. Israel, Spain, Canada, Mexico. Very different countries, all quite far from each other. Coinciding and getting together again would definitely be a matter of organising well in advance. But I know we'll see each other again because when we were in Italy we became a really close group. We always went out together and travelled often. They're like siblings to me. Amazing experiences.

Some might say I wasted my time in Berlin. But I think I spent it perfectly. Too much partying? Totally. Maybe I could have used the time to do other things. But you don't know what the concept of "party" in Berlin really means until you realise you spent a whole day partying when you thought it would only be one night. Things just get out of hand.

Berliners definitely know how to have fun and how to make us lose track of time. They even make us forget our phones! Or rather, we just lose interest in it. I would love to be able to show you lots of pictures of my time in Berlin, but as I've been telling you throughout both blog posts, there was practically no way to take photos on this trip. On the days we partied it was impossible, and the other days my phone had almost died, which meant I couldn't use it much in order to save battery... It's amazing that I never really cared about paying attention to it. On one occasion I spoke to some friends from Mexico to tell them about my adventures, but they told me off for wasting my time on the phone with them! Others told me to experience and enjoy Berlin and forget about my phone. My parents didn't say this, if they had known what had happened they would have killed me.

I know that I really didn't have time to see the cultural part of Berlin, but the truth is, I don't regret what I did or how I spent my time partying. I'll tell you something, unlike what many people believe, going to these clubs is not just about getting drunk, wanting to free yourself or experimenting with yourself. I think those who think that are quite wrong. You go to these places to meet people; groups of people who are very different from each other, but who share the pleasure of getting to know different people. And that doesn't make it problematic, in fact, it's what makes these experiences enriching. The conversations you can have with others when in a club are great experiences because realistically, the chances of talking to people outside of this situation are very slim. Being in a club you learn to tolerate everyone and you understand the world of others. Regardless of race, age, sexual preference, or whatever. Magically, the differences disappear and we are all the same. You make friends in a matter of minutes, and you feel like you've always known them. And in the end you not only party with your friends, you have fun with all of Berlin.

You can feel a total lack of control when coming out of clubs during the day and other times when it's still dark outside. But what matters is not the time, but with whom you spend it. With whom you experience and enjoy these times. I feel like this is the philosophy of Berlin, and why there are such long nights of fun.

Another thing that I loved about the nightclubs I went to, is that they completely change the expectations that we often have of the nightclubs. Waiting for modern and minimalist places where you have to be really well-dressed to get in. It's not that Berlin doesn't have places like that, there are always all kinds of options, but the places in most demand, such as the two clubs I spoke of, are not like the concepts of clubs we often have. This is simply because the typical Berliner is interested in, is a good party and having fun. That's it. Not going out in your best clothes and heels, not pretending to be something you're not. Appearances can often be deceiving and the bouncers in clubs know that. So the aim isn't to attract attention, you just need to be yourself.

So would I recommend Berlin? I think you would love to live in this city. Or even just to spend a few days here like me. It's the kind of place that if someone tells you they don't like it, it starts a debate and discussion until they retract what they said.

There's lots of art here too, different types to what can be seen in Florence, for example, but great nonetheless. It has a different kind of charm. This is the design capital and it also has a lot to teach us. The unification of Berlin, after the fall of the wall, has brought a new city as a consequence, that is reflected in its streets and urban landscapes by exploiting great artistic talents.

It is very normal to frequently find exhibitions of young artists, both national and foreign, in the neighbourhoods of Berlin. And it's very difficult not to keep stopping to look at all the unique works along the streets that reflect what Berlin is today.

Urban art is one of the things I enjoy most in a city, and the creative freedom that I found in Berlin captivated me completely.

DAY 10

My flight back to Rome was at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, so on the morning of the last day, I couldn't do much. I had breakfast at the hotel and then went straight to the airport.

In two hours I was back in beautiful Rome, where I met two friends from Mexico who were on vacation. They asked me what had happened during my stay in Berlin, and well, I told them the same thing I told you.

What would you have done in 10 days in Berlin?

● Bianca