nervy b(erlin)

the last few weeks have been crazy. i finished my last hausarbeiten (aka papers), turned them in, and since my birthday (last tuesday), it's just been constant play. i've gone to four museums/installations in the last week, especial especial favorite was the olafur eliasson light installation at the martin gropius bau, as well as the hamburger bahnhof: museum für gegenwart (aka museum of contemporary art). i mixed it up with the deutsches historisches museum (basically, the entire history of germany. i'll be honest: though fascinating, i mostly went because of the air conditioning...) bode museum--byzantine art, was also interesting although i was a bit put off by the sheer number of religious pieces. i think i'm just done with the really nasty bits of christian art (um, no more bloody jesus please?).

it's been hot hot hot here. really: 100 degrees today and no air conditioning anywhere. this is gross: but i literally do not have a memory in life that involves me sweating this much, even when i am sitting completely still.

this last weekend was officially my last in berlin: i'll be at melt!2010 next weekend, probably also sweating. and dancing all night. it should be amazing. this weekend, we went to lido (balkan beats) which is essentially crazy balkan dance music. yesterday, bar 25 all day long, probably my most favorite afternoon here: bar 25 is this beautiful building on the spree, with a dj room/dance floor plus outside lounges and an outdoor shower which was the most cooling and refreshing thing. i dont have pictures, as i forgot my camera but hannah's friend had one with so i will try to remember to post things, although i feel like i break a lot of promises re: updates on this blog. not that anyone reads this probably, but still. i'm not flaky in life, i promise!

my life is literally coming full circle this week. with things i don't want to talk about on the blog, but i really feel like berlin is providing all these nice ending notes and i'm just so pleased. i've run into people this week i never expected to see again, i've seen pretty much everything i want to see, i've been to the lakes outside the city, i feel saturated in culture and knowledge--my last opera visit is scheduled for tuesday (rigoletto at the komisches oper). i feel like i've done the things i'm supposed to do but that there is more and that somehow, i will find my way back here. i don't know how, but it seems impossible that i won't.

i just hope berkeley is everything i remember, because, hey: in a month and a week i'll be there.

ps. hey, with all my crazy linking you should be prepared for a week in berlin during almost all seasons. bookmark and visit, it's worth it.