Jamie in Germany: Back in Berlin

This past week was my first time back to Berlin since Summer 2008. Which was my very first time to Europe. It was a little gloomy and it looks like Fall has already started to set in there with yellow leaves on the ground. The two times I've been there I have stayed with my sweet friend Nina who has lived in Berlin for years and knows the essence of the city.
When I flew in the first night we caught up at a french cafe down the street from her charming apartment (the building is from 1908) with a couple of glasses of wine. The next day was shopping on the main street at the Ka Da We, a major department store in Berlin. Complete with the top floor filled with gourmet foods. Yum...I always have to spend time browsing the foods and restaurants there. We had lunch at an Italian restaurant where I had an amazing pasta, I just wanted to cry it was that good. And the day wouldn't be complete without a double decker bus tour around Berlin, the most populated city in Germany:)
That night we went to a publicity event for a celebrity hairstylist. Complete with German soap and reality stars and World Cup players. Of course I didn't recognize anyone. I just enjoyed the wine and curry-wurst with my friend! Which of course the event was right in front of one of the best curry wurst restaurants in town.
The next day Nina and I enjoyed the more hipster part of Berlin with a stop at The Pony bar. Which has a great outdoor sitting area to people watch. I thought for a second, am I in LA? Then we ate at this fabulous restaurant called dudu (translation- youyou). I had one of the best curry dishes and sushi rolls that almost made Nina and I both cry. We topped the night off with enjoying a photography gallery called Lumas and watching the hookers on the corner.