Wander: Berlin, after my own heart.

Whenever we spoke of our travel plans to Berlin we were often told, "Berlin is great, you'll love it...but it doesn't really look like Europe." 

That last comment was always an interesting one to me. Europe is often perceived as the "old-world" and visions of beautiful and decorative early century buildings flood the mind. Did I expect to find that in Berlin? No. About 90% of it had to be rebuilt after the war due to all of the destruction it had sustained. Would that change my perception of its worth or affect how we experienced the city? Not at all! 

Those big beautiful buildings found in other major European capitals are gorgeous, yes. But there's so much more to a city for me! It's the people, the culture, it's infectious energy and promise. There's an obvious beauty to Paris or Rome, whereas in Berlin you have to look a bit deeper which is why I find it so fascinating.

At face value, Berlin appears rough around the edges with its graffitied Soviet-style architecture which graces many parts of the city. But there lies the beauty!

Given Berlin's VERY dark history, I found Berliners to be very resilient people who have embraced change. They've had to rebuild (literally) and imagine new identities for themselves to numb the memories of the past. The creative presence found on every wall, and every passerby is a testament to that change. There is a creative energy here that I have never encountered in any other city. It's rather difficult to put into words what I mean by that, except to say open yourself up to Berlin and you'll see what I mean. 

After all, Berlin is all about self-discovery. 

A few things we've learned while in Berlin:

- Berliners are very friendly and ready to chat

- it's a very international city, with ex-pats from every place

- it's not all sausage and sauerkraut

- to be curious

- bike culture is alive and well

- public transportation is easy to navigate

Wander: Berlin, Germany

Sprechen sie Englisch, bitte? Do you speak English, please?

This is our first time visiting Germany, and I suppose the first place neither of us could speak the language. So upon landing in Berlin our lack of German was immediately sobering. Tegel is probably the most chaotic airport I've ever flown into (and that includes Heathrow) - pair that with a couple of tired travellers who don't speak the language...fear certainly took over.

What we quickly learned though is most people in Berlin speak great English. As long as you're prepared to learn a few greetings, niceties, work on pronunciation and at the very least know how to ask them if they sprechen sie Englisch, they're more than happy to converse with you in English with a smile. 

We feel much braver exercising what we've learned and are inspired to look into language classes when we get home. German may not be the prettiest language but its a really fun one! 

Being in Berlin the last several days has been nothing short of amazing! The people here are great - friendly and fascinating! The sights, the food, the graffiti and the eclectic culture that envelopes you as you wander through, has an infectious effect. There's something about Berlin that feels like coming home. Especially if you're a creative person! The fashion and overall style of Berliners is exactly what I'd fill my "personal style" Pinterest board with. 

In just a short few days, Berlin has captured my heart and my imagination too. The thought of leaving makes me sad as I feel we've only just scratched the surface, but I'll forever dream of a return trip. 

And when we finally get back here, we'll be armed with a whole new vocabulary.

Ich liebe dich, Berlin. I love you, Berlin.

Ps. I'll be following this up in the next few days with a second post about Berlin.

Wander: To walk among Scots.

To state the absolute obvious, Edinburgh is an OLD city with many tales to tell. Every block you pass through has seen its share of dramas, battles, and love stories dating back centuries. The same could be said about the rest of Scotland. And of course Europe.

Being from Canada, our own history is just a blip in time compared to the history that has existed here. I mean, you can't help but appreciate knowing some of Scotland's more "modern" buildings are as old as your own country. 

I've never had a head for remembering historical battles and/or dates - a "history buff" I am not. But there is something to be said about walking streets, alleys and sweeping landscapes that embody so much life.

Any place will have a spirit about it. Scotland just so happens to walk among many. 

Wander: Edinburgh, Scotland

Kevin and I road-tripped through Ireland several years ago, we've wandered London a couple times too. The UK is not new to us and there is no place we feel more at home or are surprised by every time we visit.

Our trip to Ireland so many years ago really inspired our interest and love of whisky which has only deepened with time. Visiting Scotland to take in its history and its yummy whisky roots, well, we've talked about taking this trip for a while. 

We've rented an apartment in Edinburgh through Airbnb and our plan was to keep our plans fairly loose and treat this city like it were our own. 

Edinburgh is quite small and we realized, very walkable too. Despite its small size there is so much to discover! The key is to let yourself wander. While wandering ourselves I found a beautiful quote that could easily keep us company while we travel Europe this next month. 

"Not all those who wander are lost"

Fitting for life as well. 

A few things we've learned while in Scotland:

- The Scottish are lovely, warm people

- Haggis is delicious

- Whisky tastes better on this side of the Atlantic

- Eggs, and fish 'n chips too

- After a week of hearing it around you, a hybrid of an accent takes shape! Apparently mixing a Canadian accent with a Scottish one creates a softened Irish lilt

- Don't travel like a tourist. Embrace your new surroundings like they were your own.