Rome:
Rome would be far from the hopeless romantic portrayed in myriad of Hollywood films and books. Rome is flippant and insouciant, a manifestation of the ‘hakuna matata’ attitude in Europe. Parks and monuments in disarray but maintained just enough to survive. Public transport only just hanging by a thread in the face of the hustle and bustle of a capital city. Cobblestone streets threatening the able bodies of every other tourist.
At the same time, Rome is aggressively protective of its ruinous city, insisting that cobblestones are here to stay and that if the bus doesn’t show up its entirely your fault. There are strange empty voids in the urban fabric in a city that has been built over and over again, filled with discarded mattresses and lonely, abandoned chairs, with only loud graffiti for company.
Yes, even the most glorious churches rising above the sprawling city have a tiny patch of pesky graffiti declaring love for some Sofia in the most obnoxious way possible. Its drivers could kill you if the sun doesn’t first, with only the constant stream of good food and free spring water (free!) as life support.
Rome is all glory, power, wealth and exuberance and yet utterly unashamed of its rough edges, showing off its good and bad side with equal pride. Too much worry and care in Rome would be like cleaning an ancient statue just a little too much; removing almost all charisma and character only to leave a sparkling white hunk of marble. The rule to live by would be if the Romans don’t care, you really need not worry too much either.
Berlin:
Berlin does not have free water. Good to know if you’re too used to that Roman privilege. Berlin is very proper, the sidewalks are of safe width and distance from the road, the biking lanes are always present, trees pruned, windows polished and even the traffic is respectful.
Chic, à la mode, cosmopolitan and international, we had really good Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai food in the middle of Germany. At night, people drink their beer, attend gallery openings and discuss politics. I feel like Berlin would disapprove of Rome if they were people, with its perfectly maintained tourist-friendly landmarks and an understanding, clear and open approach to its history. Berlin is the well-behaved, efficient student, the teacher’s pet who probably has everything figured out.
Amsterdam:
Amsterdam is the true romantic. If you thought Venice was the right place to propose to your significant other on a canal boat in under the stars, maybe reconsider. Its very cute too, with its dancing houses that are oddly angled over the canal banks, fairy lights lining the edge of every bridge and the genteel and happy-to-help locals. At night though, the city transforms. Three words will suffice: red light district. One night in Amsterdam was quite enough for us.
Gelato Update: Avocado Gelato is the next best thing. Sweetened avocado is so underrated.
From left to right: the infamous Pidgeon Lady feeding her flock in a Roman piazza, a beautiful Berlin bridge and an equally beautiful Amsterdam one