Week 9, Day 6

It's my last day in Berlin :(

In the past week I've been to the cinema to see 'Inglorious Basterds' - I've refrained in the past from seeing this because I read a really bad review, but on the recommendation of a friend I decided to see for myself, and it wasn't actually that bad. It was funny in places, needlessly too violent in others, and I quite liked its take on the traditional western if not so much its re-writing of WWII or its picture of Jewish vengeance. I saw it in 'OmU' - in original with subtitles - in the film they speak French, German and English, so obviously (though not an obvious thought to me at the time of booking the ticket) subtitles, in german of course, came on for the French and English - but I muddled through! I watched in a lovely little cinema in Kreuzberg - Babylon - small screen, maybe 50 seats, very comfortable and loads of legroom.

I've also been to the Neues Museum and seen the very beautiful head of Queen Nefertiti. The main attraction (aside from Berlin's Queen) is the nineteenth building itself, which has only recently been spectacularly restored (by a British architect no less) since it was very nearly completely destroyed in WWII. Annoyingly I forgot my camera, so there are no pics to show you of the interiors - but it's an amazing blend of old and new, with glass, exposed brick, remnants of the previous wall paint and decoration etc. Very well done in my inexpert opinion.

Other than this I've not done much this week. Been to a few Christmas markets which all look pretty much the same (Alexanderplatz, Unter den Linden, and the KulturBrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg) - there's some which are nicer than others. I've also just been wandering around now that I have a feel for where places are. This is a snap I took crossing Jannowitzbrücke looking back to Alex and the Christmas markets.





I had a nice final Berlin breakfast today with Miriam (the friend whose flat I've been living in). Went to a little 'girlie' cafe in Dieffenbach Straße - das heißt Schönes Café.

I'm now packed and waiting for Miriam to return from her run so we can eat cake! Then its off for a farewell dinner and drinks, and just possibly an absacker in Minibar.