Berlin Day 3, Cafe Hopping in the Vegan Haven

Thursday May 22nd 

After having such a packed day yesterday and feeling as though I’ve done almost everything I’ve wanted to in the city, I let myself take a slow personal day. The main thing left I wanted to do was try as many cafes and vegan dishes as I could before leaving this haven. 

I started at Sant Buena and got a coffee, did some people watching, and had a think. I felt the weight of the solo travel as it was a lovely place and would have been great with a friend. Nat told me that Harry Styles recently moved to Berlin and that he lived in the neighborhood and would sometimes go to Sant Buena, so I had my eyes open for him. Sadly, I did not see him, although I could’ve used his company. 

I ventured to my next cafe, which I was really excited for because I could use my laptop to journal and the menu said they had a vegan sandwich. It was a small place, what I ordered was definitely not what people come here to get, and I would soon learn that as they displayed delicately beautiful desserts and I was eating a pre-wrapped tempeh BLT on grocery store white bread. But, I was happy to eat something with protein to soak up the caffeine and sweets.

Another thing I wanted to try before leaving Germany was the potato salad. I forgot to order it at Curry 61 instead of the fries. I had the best German potato salad in Vienna, so good that I would return to the city just to eat it again. Surely, I thought I would be able to easily find some German potato salad that was prepared the traditional way (without mayo and eggs). I knew Curry 61 had some, but part of me wanted a higher quality serving of potato salad so I kept my eyes peeled.

The search was interrupted when I walked past yet another cafe, You’re Welcome, that I wanted to sit in because it was ‘So German’ and I thought it was still early enough to have another cup. If I was truly cafe hopping today, I wanted to do it properly. It had such good vibes inside, sadly not the best cappuccino, but still a great experience sitting by this cool piano in a vintage table set. 

I walked back to my hostel to drop off my laptop as I knew I wouldn’t be getting any more journaling done when my mom called. I talked to her for a while, long enough that I didn’t end up going to Curry 61 and ran into a market that had food, jewelry, etc. The market was so good, I hung up and focused on finding cute souvenirs and scoping out the best food trucks. I found the most beautiful ring seller and purchased one for $20. Investment, yes, but it's time I begin buying quality pieces that will last a lifetime. The ring was a twisted band, symbolizing how I plan to always be connected and in contact with my friends abroad. 

I tried finding some German potato salad but it was so hard to come by. I almost got served potato salad with egg and I even asked if it was vegan but when I saw an image of an egg on the box he was scooping it from, I aborted the mission. I asked another food stand if they had vegan German potato salad and the guy said they didn’t have it but pointed me to the store just behind that was a higher-end deli style. I ended up going there, as it was a must on my list and I was running out of luck, shockingly, and it didn’t even come close to the potato salad in Vienna, but I’m glad I was able to enjoy some while in the country. It was a steep price, but again, I designed a food tour for myself today and this was a necessary stop. 

Next, I headed to Alexanderplatz, debating on going up the Cathedral Dom or to the Park Inn rooftop. While deciding, I stepped into Primark and got a staple gray shirt to add to the wardrobe. I felt so inspired in my European stay by how I’d like to elevate my style. The issue is I'm afraid I'll forget all the amazing looks I saw and then be back to the same hopeless options that I have in my closet. I really need to get inspired in Madrid because I am in need of good summer work clothes. That is my homework for Friday in Madrid when I go shopping on Saturday on Gran Via. 

I chose to go to the rooftop, and it was a great view, but there was absolutely nothing up there. For real, it was just a cement rectangle with beach chairs and enough wind to blow over a tree. It was insane how cold it was due to the gusts of airflow whipping at me. I wanted to make my 6 euros worth it, so I tried to stay up there as long as I could but it was nearly impossible with how cold and uncomfortable it was. So, after about 20 minutes, I headed back down. I was content with what I saw, the view of the city and watching the trains come and go in the station nearby.

Fueling up for my long trip to Madrid was next on the agenda. I fell in love with the kebab I had with Natalia and I wanted to go back to enjoy it once more. I don’t think I’ll ever have a vegan kebab as good as this one and so had to return to make this my final meal in Berlin, the vegan paradise. It was a hearty meal, easily consuming over 1000 calories, but it is both my lunch and dinner so I called it a wash. Plus, I needed to get in all the protein I could here as it's difficult in Madrid.

I was in a food coma from the kebab and walked back to my hostel feeling ready to move onto the next city. Part of me felt guilty that I spent a precious day of PTO not really doing anything. But, I need to think of the trip as a collective sort, both to recharge from working hard the past six months and to enjoy the people I see and activities I do. And when you think about it, I could have gone bar hopping in Berlin or visited a biergarten, but that’s not my vibe. My vibe is cafes and vegan food and that is exactly what I did with my day. I wish I would’ve been able to explore some of the outer suburbs of Berlin, like seeing the East Wall Gallery or eating at Foresters, the vegan German food place. But, I would love to visit Natalia again and she’s going to be here for the next 8-10 years if she stays at the same school so there’s much opportunity for when I come back. I’ll need a bit more time between, but for sure would love to come back for the food alone, and to see my friend.

I stayed at my hostel for a bit, waiting for Natalia to potentially come say goodbye but I was cutting it close with my flight, so I left before she responded whether she was able to stop by. She ended up not being able to come visit anyways, so I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer. It was okay, we had a proper goodbye yesterday, I was hopeful to see her again, and I was ready for Madrid. I was looking forward to being with people constantly. Berlin was far more solo than I was anticipating, which was tough. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but I just enjoy being in the presence of my friends and family so greatly. Good thing there are three more cities to do just that.