When it rains in Berlin...

So they tell me Berlin is the next big hotspot. Some even say it's been a big hotspot for years and if you didn't know about it, you weren't with it. Truth is, I think you need to know someone in Berlin to fully appreciate the place. It was our first stop; we had the backpacks and the excitement, we just didn´t get the weather...

We arrived in the evening and headed straight from the train station to our hostel in Friedrichshain. A friend had recommended the A&O Hostel as a good budget option... My verdict? Unless staying in a hostel overrun with German schoolchildren aged between 'just became a teenager and want to make sure everyone knows about it' and 'I'm far to cool for school but I sure do like to kiss my boyfriend any opportunity I get' is your idea of fun, stay far away from this hostel. Also, the only guy staying in our room was a Swiss didjeridoo player (provided some interesting entertainment) who became a bit of a tag-a-long. He was funny though and found an interesting way to stay dry in the rain!

The area around the hostel is quite good though, great for cheap places to eat and drink (we had a full meal with bread on the table for 2 euros each!) and home to a large student population. When we were there however, university term had not yet started and it was all strangely empty. Couple that with two days of solid rain and a very sick Stephanie and you get a pretty blah impression of Berlin. The trouble is there isn´t one 'easy to orient yourself from' centre. There are lots of interesting places to see, but I imagine a sunny day would make it less frustrating to walk around the city. Also, having spent the past four years in London where most of the museums are free, I just wasn´t prepared for the entry prices at galleries and museums around Berlin. We did make our way to Brandenburg gate however which was quite impressive and the public transport system is great!

Also, I met up with a friend of a friend's (thank you Daniela!) on our second night there and we went to a great little bar in Friedrichshain for herbal tea - highlight of my trip!

Final verdict: go with someone who loves to go clubbing and has thoroughly researched where to go, or go in the summer, or go with a friend who knows Berlin and can show you around.