Tonight I took my final walk home (I think).
Went to a "Brit Pop Party" per Xiaochang's request to a bar near Hackescher Markt, a tourist area notorious for overpriced drinks and lots of Australians. As thought, it was full of them (and Brits) but the 3 Euro half liter beers was not a bad deal even with the bantering of "Are you American?" questions. We decided after an hour (and it being almost 3 a.m.) to head home. We walked down Torstrasse back to our respective apartments and after saying goodbye and heading my way home, I realized it was the last time. So late and so quite, our nordic coordinates often give way to the sun going down around 10:30 p.m. and after a couple hours, light starts to peek out around 3:15 a.m.
I walked home slowly, taking in each stone and tree. Marking each store front I have known so well on this walk home. The French restaurant, Brecht house, cemetery enclosed with high red walls, discount wine store, scaffolding, parked cars, plastic bags, and empty lots. I stopped at a side street and looked down at the early morning coming through, not quite dark and almost light of omnipresent blue that tells you morning is coming - but you have just enough time to get home to your bed. The European style buildings seem to be the tallest I have seen since left Chicago, balconies extending into the light black sky, potted plants dotting the respective personal spaces. The sight is a cobble stoned street pointing into a triangle in the horizon, the tall old style buildings extending into the same skyline, perfectly straight lines with clouds showing the first signs of light. It is so deadly quiet the urge to scream is overwhelming, I don't though and keep walking.
I think to myself, my time here has been short but wonderful. Fulfilling in every aspect that I could have imagined. My experiences here have been vast and enormous, much like the sky I saw tonight. Everything has expanded and as I explained to a friend tonight, my "comfort zone" isn't even a zone...I am pretty sure there isn't even a zone anymore. I stored this moment tonight walking home and plan on keeping it close for a long time, telling my children about it and whoever may want to listen.
I kept walking and turned the corner to Invalidenstrasse, my home for the past five months. Past the overbearing communist building, looks as though previously a bank, but now part of Humboldt University. The small hotel with the yellow sign, the hair salon and before putting my key in the door I look across the street to the Nature Museum...a beautiful building that stands before me every day, still full of bullet holes but just as beautiful.
Went to a "Brit Pop Party" per Xiaochang's request to a bar near Hackescher Markt, a tourist area notorious for overpriced drinks and lots of Australians. As thought, it was full of them (and Brits) but the 3 Euro half liter beers was not a bad deal even with the bantering of "Are you American?" questions. We decided after an hour (and it being almost 3 a.m.) to head home. We walked down Torstrasse back to our respective apartments and after saying goodbye and heading my way home, I realized it was the last time. So late and so quite, our nordic coordinates often give way to the sun going down around 10:30 p.m. and after a couple hours, light starts to peek out around 3:15 a.m.
I walked home slowly, taking in each stone and tree. Marking each store front I have known so well on this walk home. The French restaurant, Brecht house, cemetery enclosed with high red walls, discount wine store, scaffolding, parked cars, plastic bags, and empty lots. I stopped at a side street and looked down at the early morning coming through, not quite dark and almost light of omnipresent blue that tells you morning is coming - but you have just enough time to get home to your bed. The European style buildings seem to be the tallest I have seen since left Chicago, balconies extending into the light black sky, potted plants dotting the respective personal spaces. The sight is a cobble stoned street pointing into a triangle in the horizon, the tall old style buildings extending into the same skyline, perfectly straight lines with clouds showing the first signs of light. It is so deadly quiet the urge to scream is overwhelming, I don't though and keep walking.
I think to myself, my time here has been short but wonderful. Fulfilling in every aspect that I could have imagined. My experiences here have been vast and enormous, much like the sky I saw tonight. Everything has expanded and as I explained to a friend tonight, my "comfort zone" isn't even a zone...I am pretty sure there isn't even a zone anymore. I stored this moment tonight walking home and plan on keeping it close for a long time, telling my children about it and whoever may want to listen.
I kept walking and turned the corner to Invalidenstrasse, my home for the past five months. Past the overbearing communist building, looks as though previously a bank, but now part of Humboldt University. The small hotel with the yellow sign, the hair salon and before putting my key in the door I look across the street to the Nature Museum...a beautiful building that stands before me every day, still full of bullet holes but just as beautiful.
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