Pete Hindle's Repository of Stuff

On Berlin itself, the wide open spaces combined with larger than life architecture impressed and work well together. The overall effect means that even with the scale and height all around you never feel confined. Plenty of cool cafes and bars (with good food and beer on the whole, with one notable exception but that's another story) offer readily available fuel. For a relatively short visit living from place to place just about works, though more spacious and less pubesent orientated accomodation (the Generator Hostel in all it's glory), which allows for self-catering and relaxation wouldn't go amiss.

Transport around the city was efficient and in abundance, encouraging experience beyond transmediale. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses all available and a travel ticket, which sorted us out for the whole trip was a great convenience. So convenient in fact that on our return to newcastle Clare had to remind us that this marvellous ticket did not in fact cover the joys of the NE metro"sorry excuse for transport"sevice as well (shame really). Possibly something to look into for the EU.

On the whole getting around Berlin was relatively easy and to some degree fun. Though I have to admit to getting slightly confused at Warschauer Str. when I ventured out on my own. But this was largely due to the fact I'd been following everyone else around up to that point, in rather a sheep like fashion it has to be said. Once I had found my bearings made a few enquiries and got myself a map, which admittedly I should have done at the start it all added to the experience.

General concensus for the trip was very much in the positive. A feeling of being energised and of broadening horizons. A determination perhaps to get out and about and check out the goings on elsewhere in the world, as well as in your own back yard.