Back in Berlin

We left Prague yesterday afternoon via a beautiful train ride. Our last night in town, we were able to wander out of the tourist area, across one of the main rivers, and found a charming neighborhood filled with wonderful bars and restaurants which was wonderfully absent of tourists. After eating some Czech food(meat for David and cheese for me), we went to a beer garden and had a few before heading back into the town center to sleep. The most amazing part of Prague without a doubt is the beautiful architecture which decorates all of the alleys and squares. You don't really get anything like it in America because the buildings are all so new in comparison. On the train ride back we ate in the dining car and enjoyed the beautiful scenery which surrounded the tracks.

Now that we're back in Berlin, we're trying to get a few errands done (getting my bike, David has to visit the Syrian embassy). Last night me and David meet up with Marla and we all went to this squatted trailer park in the radical district. They were showing this Israeli movie , 'Yossi and Jagger', outdoors with a projector. The film is about two gay soldiers who fall in love while in Lebanon. Apparently the movie is quite a hot topic of debate, as it was seen as important to the queer community in gaining visibility within Israel, but the film is also criticized because the army is romanticized and there are also no Arabs portrayed in the film. The war is portrayed in a way which makes it seem like an everyday occurrence, and is completely blind to the horror of the situation there. I suppose I would have to agree with the later criticism, and it kind of falls in line with my critique of the queer movement in the united states (gay pride parade, etc) as a whole. This desire to become part of the mainstream at any cost is rather awful, and queer friendly or not, the military and the greater social structures as a whole need to be overthrown. Enough of that for now. After the film we walked back to where we were all staying which took us along the Berlin wall. It was amazing to see all of the graffiti and murals which now decorate it.

Later this afternoon myself, Marla, and David are all planning on visiting several art museums throughout Berlin and perhaps grabbing dinner together. The demo to defend Kopi squat is this Saturday, and then I'm hopping on my bike the following Monday. I feel like I'm learning a lot on my travels and i have been having a lot of ideas for art/political projects which I'm looking forward to bringing back to the states after my trip is over. Berlin is a wonderful city, and studying art here seems like a more attractive idea the longer i spend here. Until next post, -i.

p.s. - I have lots of photos to post, but havent found the time to upload them yet. I'll do so at the next possible opportunity. Miss everyone.