Berlin
I would prefer to stay in Barcelona, but if the condition are not the ones I want, I am prepared to sell myself to some other country willing to pay me.
So it could be Berlin, or London again (me not very willing to go there).
Unfortunately I do not speak German, and Bea is just teaching me how to get to the station while avoiding dog’s shit on the way.
I suppose I will learn anyway, if fate decided this for me.
Anyway, the first impression of Berlin was positive, if I can judge from the few hours I spent there. It was a sunny day, and it helped a little bit my mood.
The night of the arrival I had some delay in reaching the hostel, as even the German efficiency failed a. after midnight b. in a festive day (Holy Friday it was then).
Once at the hotel, a three in the morning, no dinner available, sleep went easy, after a short zapping on German TV, broacasting cheap porno advertisements (same as in Italy, but with aahhh oohhhh and wooow in German).
Sometimes I wonder how these programs still survives, crushed by the fierce internet concurrency. Why would a decent fellow order a second rate porn on a TV show when a Miss Bruker from the next door is ready to offer a better show for free?
And why they do not transmit anymore the porno I was used to watch with no sound in the sitting room of my parents on Saturdays night when I was 16 years old? What today’s boys talk about after mass?
The next morning, wiser after these consideration, I prepared for my first train. I fixed with Federico, a cousin of mine living there to meet at the station, have some lunch together and then I would be on my own waiting for the train.
We get one table “al fresco”, had a mozzarella and tomatoes sandwich (actually I had one, as the bar we choosed was a little bit disorganized), talked about Berlin life and the cons and pros of living there, me eager to know what to expect.
Haven’t seen him for a few years, from the time when it was easier flying from London to Rome than to Brindisi. He sports a beard now and remind me of another cousin of mine, Carlo.
As he had to work, we say each other good bye and good luck, and I start to make some provisions. Water, biscuits, other stuff I do not remember. And get ripped off when changing my first rubles at a bank.
Then I went to the platform. Of course the train was late!