Berlin
Until last weekend I’d not been to Berlin before - a non-achievement that becomes more remarkable/incomprehensible given that I lived in Germany for half of 1999 and studied the language for years. However, being a lazy student I considered the mere act of moving to Munich to be more than enough upheaval, hence the idea of travelling around the whole country - which would hardly have been hindered by my near total lack of social life at that time - barely even occurred to me. I also spent far more time in internet cafes and Irish bars than in more culturally worthwhile establishments. I didn’t go to any museums in Berlin either, but at this time of year there was a fine alternative in the form of the Christmas Markets. If you’re thinking it sounds slightly odd to spend most of a winter’s holiday shuffling around increasingly-crowded mazes in sub-zero temperatures rather than inside toasty warm buildings, maybe a nice gluhwein or a good currywurst would change your mind. Back in