Berlin Alternative Tour

Today started with the stunning sunrise rays at 7 am beaming through the window to wake me up from my sleep, which motivated me to make myself some coffee and prepare a bowl of muesli with a glass of multivitamin juice. Over breakfast, I wrote my postcards to my loved ones, feeling grateful for the moment.

After ticking some items off my habit list (brushing up on my beginner German, reading pages from my current read, answering some emails and messages…), D, K, and I went out for a walk in their neighborhood and enjoyed a delicious Vietnamese lunch. The meal was satisfying enough to keep us on our feet throughout the day, and the Vietnamese coffee gave us a boost of energy.

In the afternoon, I took the Alternative Tour of Berlin, which was an eye-opening experience. The 3-hour tour took us to an overview of Berlin’s street life, gentrification and squat life. The tour group consisted of about 20 people, and we explored the different chains of restaurants and stores in the area. We also went to an alley along Rosenthaler Str. with graffiti, wall and street art, and got to know two prominent Italian and Spanish artists who are able to express their ideas through Berlin's walls.

As we took the subway to Kreuzberg for more street art, our tour guide told us about the club scene, which I found less interesting. However, my main takeaway from the tour was how amateur and professional artists get to have their spots on the walls. They either go through a lengthy bureaucratic process to obtain permits, resort to illegal access to buildings and rooftops, or even organized ensembles to tag trains in minutes.

Reflecting on this experience, I realized that art can be expressed in various forms and that there are different paths to success. Sometimes, it requires taking risks, breaking the rules, and thinking outside the box. The tour made me appreciate the talent and creativity of artists and the value of their work.