Shopping

As most of you know, I'm not really a big shopper. I don't generally enjoy it, mainly because I can never find anything that I want. Oh yeah, and because I never have any money. I've got to say though, yesterday it was my favorite thing ever!
I went shopping in Kreuzberg, which is essentially split up into two parts. One part, where I am staying, is a little grittier, tons of places to go out at night, lots of punks with tattoos, a little more non-conformist, and the shops reflect it. The other part is a bit hipper, trendier, for lack of a better word, cleaner. It's kind of like Williamsburg (New York :)) but not nearly as annoying or filled with hipsters. Or at least, Berlin hipsters don't annoy me as much as NYC ones. I had a blast shopping in both parts.
The main reason that i like shopping in these areas is the predominance of Second hand Stores!!!!! There are so many here and they are good quality (although the prices do reflect this) Also, you can get lederhosen and other traditional German costumes. Becca, I thought of you in one of the dresses I saw! The other stores were the usual mix of interesting knick knacks, music (lots of independent music stores! Not a Virgin Megastore in sight!), books, and Berlin Designers. In some of those designer stores, I wanted to buy everything! Luckily for my credit card, i did not. I had a hard time convincing myself that who you are is more important then what you have! Doesn't sound like me huh? I've got to say though, I really enjoy the European fashions more then American ones. I don't know exactly what it is, but it seems much more like me. Also, when I entered a small shop, I didn't feel like the owner was judging me. They didn't come and hover over me and ask if I needed help, they just let me browse.
I think this blog is not necessarily conveying how happy I was yesterday during my 5 hour shopping stint. The streets were so cute, everyone was sitting outside in cafes eating and drinking. It was the complete experience that I enjoyed, not just the actual shopping part. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, that I am going again today! I'm going to a different area of town called Prenzlauerberg which is also meant to have some killer second hand shops, and some typical Berlin designs. I'm trying to get a sense of what is available before I start buying too much! I went last Sunday to a great flea market in this area, and think I will go back tomorrow to get some of the things I have been thinking about all week! This concludes the awesomely superficial part of my trip! I love Chocolate Muesli!