Berlin is one of my favourite cities in Europe. I arrived with no clear direction of where I was going or what I was doing. In fact, I was only meant to stay a few days and continue travelling. However, the city has a charm that most people find easy to fall in love with. After hostal hopping for approximately a month, I knew a girl, Lenja, who I had been to school with back in the UK had also arrived at a similar time to me. I reached out to her, with no idea if she would respond.

We met for a drink in Alexanderplatz and next thing you know we moved in together. Prenzlauer Allee. We quickly signed some papers and opened the door to the most basic of flats i.e next to no furniture. We also had very little belongings. Me a large travel rucksack and she a couple of suitcases. We were so excited at the thought of having a base that was ours. We look back and laugh now. Lenja’s bedroom had a sofa and mine had what can only be described as an oversized cushion on the floor with a Union Jack on it. The kitchen was the best equipped room and I remember Lenja cooking a curry in it before I had to quickly rush off to Poland for a few days, hours after moving in.

I have fond memories of inviting the various people we had both met, from all corners of the world, over for my birthday. We then all took the S-Bahn to Ostkruez to Zur wilden Renate. My first real taste of Berlin nightlife. I probably don’t need to explain how the night went if you’ve already been to or lived in Berlin. We all straggled back to our empty flat and crashed out around midday the next day and enjoyed falafel wraps in a takeaway the next evening.