Flying into Berlin began the European leg of the part duex. I had started out here back in September and it only seemed apropos to end the trip on the same continent. Europe has a sense of familiarity to me unlike the other places I visited. Europe’s culture has so many similarities to that of the states, so I feel pretty comfortable and at home there. The other ideal part, I knew a lot of people around Europe. Isn’t this one of the best parts about traveling? You meet a variety of people along the way, from all walks of life. Julia and I met a ton of Europeans all around the globe.  Starting in Berlin kicked off my unofficial “Who can I visit in Europe? tour.”

The first friend that I visited was a gal named Nora who I had met almost three summers ago while hiking Machu Picchu. Nora and I stayed in contact over the years, and she had always extended the invitation for me to visit her in Berlin. I’d been there before (almost a decade ago) and I was eager to get back. People rave about Berlin. The culture, music scene, night life, history.  I was ready to see it again.

I spent 4 days in Berlin and enjoy my time immensely. At the risk of sounding incredibly basic over here, Berlin has been through so much and it shows. Of course we all know this–World War II, The Berlin Wall, The Iron Curtain, but once you dig a little deeper and see the layers upon layers that have come from these harrowing times, it’s a true testament that the city and people are still functioning let alone being vibrant, cultured and bustling.

I was talking with Nora and some of her friends one night. Everyone was chatting about  Germany and the overall vibe of the country. I had told them about a Norwegian guy I met along my travels who told me “Germans have no sense of humor.” Being nearly 1/2 German I took a bit of offense to the statement, but foolishly let him continue. He proceed to tell me about how he was in the military and had met some German soldiers during his duty. At one point during basic training, the guys were all heading to shower after a day of training and this Norwegian guy turned to the German guys and said “Wait, I gotta go get my gas mask before I go in there with you.” He thought he was hilarious and roared with laughter recounting this memory.

In the midst of talking history, politics and culture, I mentioned this experience to Nora and her friends. Their response was sobering.   “Maybe Germans have no sense of humor but that’s because we don’t think anything about that story is funny. There is nothing funny about the sad times of our nation. What the people went through.  What the country endured.  We still feel it today.  We aren’t allowed to be patriotic of our country. We have to walk a fine line with being proud to be German.  If we are too proud of Germany or too patriotic, then we get label Nazis.”

They then asked me a question. “When do you think we are “allowed” to be patriotic and proud?” My mind ran through a Rolodex of ideas. . .Oktoberfest? German food? Lederhosens? The polka? Finally it dawned on me.  “During the World Cup?” I answered.  “Exactly,” was the response.  “We are allowed to be proud of Germany when it concerns futbol.”

I spent the rest of the week exploring the city by foot and bike (lent to me graciously by my host Nora,) visiting cultural sites both modern and years ago.  I was lucky enough to be there on May 1st, Laborer’s Day , which is a public holiday celebrated by one huge outdoor party.  Prost Berlin.  Thanks for having me.

On this little year long adventure of mine, I’ve flown Emirates airlines twice and loved every second. . . as much as one can really enjoy air travel.  For some reason Julia and I found Emirates to have the cheapest flights both from Australia to Asia and again from Asia to Europe.  We met people who told us that because Emirates is based out of Dubai they have access to loads of cheap oil (fuel) and can therefore still make a profit off prices lower than their competitors.

Either way, this airline is just the best.  Warm hand towels on arrival, great food (yes, really,) all the free alcohol your little heart and altitude suppressed body desires (yes! really!), and tons of in-flight entertainment. Plus neither flight was crowded so we were able to really stretch out.  I’ve said it once but it bears repeating, I’ll take a 7-10 international flight over a 4-6 hour domestic one any day.

Emirates, you do it right.  If you ever need someone to review/blog about your business or 1st class flight amenities please let me know.  My schedule is wide open!

And here are 11 reasons why:

*Everyone is SUPER friendly.  I’m not sure people always feel like being friendly but regardless the country’s friendliness is through the roof.  Whether you are buying groceries, asking for directions or talking to someone on the street, the people are so smiley, kind and warm.

*The word for “yes” in Japanese is “hai” pronounced “hi.” Walking around it just sounds like everyone is greeting one another. I found it to be wonderful but confusing.
Me: “Excuse me sir?”
Stranger: “Hai.”
Me: “Oh hi. Um, is this the right direction for the Himeji castle?”
Stranger:”Hai.”
Me: “Oh hi. I mean, okay great thanks.”
Stranger: Hai.”

*Sushi! Duh!

*No one steals. This was told to us early on, but it didn’t change our behaviors much.  I have a purse that I keep strapped across me mostly at all times.  It was quite entertaining though to see how much trust this culture puts in one another.  A very common way to save a seat at a coffee shop, was to  put all one’s most trusted valuables on the seat (I’m talking a stuffed wallet on top of an iPhone, on top of a Mac Book pro) and walking away for 10-15 minutes, completely trusting that all the items would be exactly where they were left.  It just boggled my mind.  Women would leave huge purses in the Starbucks at the mall, walk out, and go to the bathroom down the hall.  It was unbelievable to me because I have been on such high alert with my possessions for so many months.

*Speaking of money, people take credit cards.  I don’t mean to belabor a point on the whole money thing,  but it’s so incredibly nice when traveling to have a country that takes credit cards.  Most times I have cash on me when traveling, but sometimes using a card is necessary.  When Julia and I were in China we stopped at a Dairy Queen for ice cream.  Neither of us had money, but I told her I was sure they took a card because they were a large establishment.  We order, got the goods, went to pay, and the cashier shook her head.  Sorry no cards.  I was so annoyed. I left fuming. Julia said “Wow, you need to calm down.”  Ha ha sisters.  They know how to talk you off a ledge.  I was mostly put off because I wanted ice cream but also because it was the principle of the matter!  You are Dairy Queen, a chain, you should take a credit card!!  Mom and Pop shops?  No. I get it.  Those stores have to pay a fee with card transactions and for the little places it’s most likely not worth it.  But chains, yes.  You are a huge corporation.  Take the darn card.  Japan takes the card.

* The convenience store food is super delicious.  Sure it’s not the best Japanese food you’ll ever have, but for about $3 you can get a delicious bento box (the brown paper bag lunch of Asia) or yummy sushi rolls.  It’s affordable and delicious!

*Things work.  They just do.  Trains are on time, ATMs always dispense money, trash is conveniently separated (recycling, non-receyling, liquid, paper,) even the way food is wrapped is thought out (pull this tab, which opens this sealed packaged with minimal effort.)  Things just work.

*You know when you walk into a sushi place in the states and the chefs behind the counter all greet you?  I thought that was just a thing they did at sushi places.  No, this is a Japanese thing.  You walk into any restaurant, bar, store, or even gas station for that matter and everyone greets you by yelling out some type of hello and welcome.  Sure, they may not lift their eyes up from the shelf they are stocking or the money they are counting, but it’s still just so cute.  Japanese shoppers seem to totally ignore it when it happens, opting to continuing going about their usual business.  Me? I gave a big smile and a wave like these people were my best friends.

*The toilets.  The toilets in Japan are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.  They are have everything.  Some standard accessories on your average toilet may included: heated seats, music (yes, I’m serious,) water spray of varying degrees, and automatic seat sanitizer.  Unfortunately, everything is written in Japanese, so it can be a bit of Russian roulette when pressing buttons.  Or as Julia said one day after exiting the toilet, “The heated seat was nice, but I do feel a bit violated.”  I didn’t ask for more details.

*School children.  They may, in FACT, be THE cutest things ever.

Japan, I loved you.