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This is such excellent travel writing. I peeked in because we scribbled 'Berlin' onto the piece of paper that is host to the names of places we want to visit next year on a two-month interrail adventure to mark a milestone birthday. I love the images and the pictures you paint with words. And then the emotion of your connection, the past, the family living through other times. Moving, very touching.

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Thank you so much. I love travel writing - it's something I'd have loved to have done more of career-wise. But it's not too late to start. Next week I'll share images and words from Munich and surrounds.

Berlin is a wonderful place to visit, but I am sure everyone experiences it differently. For us, it felt like it "fit". It was more laid back, we stayed in an area that didn't seem above our income, if that makes sense. We felt like we could live there ... we haven't had that feeling in other cities. They are too expensive, too focused on appearance. I don't know if that makes sense. It just felt like a place we could "be". And we're not city people.

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That's so interesting, Monique. It makes total sense. Our city living was back in the world of work days, which can distort a remembrance. We have tired of cities but probably because we are country folk at heart. We're always on the hunt for cities that might change our minds again. Bristol has a small city feel to it, Edinburgh too. As you say, aspirations have to be tempered with affordability and authenticity. If somewhere feels like a theme park, it probably isn't for us. We have a notion to try smaller cities in places we haven't visited. Slovenia, Slovakia, for example. But Berlin, for sure and I have saved your words for a re-read on the train next year. Munich will be fascinating. It is a big rail hub for some of the journeys we are thinking of, so I'll be reading avidly.

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We LOVED Edinburgh for that same reason. One day I’ll go back there too - I was there in 2019 and still have that same feeling about it. You might have to put Perth (AU) on your list!

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Ah, now Australia is still on my bucket list. My grandparents retired to Edinburgh so summer holidays always included at least a couple of weeks there. Absolutely love it there.

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Hey Monique, would you mind if we share this fabulous post in our (non-Substack) weekly newsletter ... next edition goes out tomorrow at 6pm GMT (there's a crowd of just over 1350 curious souls peeking in and we reckon they'd love your words). We'd love to celebrate your writing over there. Barrie

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Please do!!

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Thank you so much!

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Thank you for the beautiful piece of writing, I understand you, I'm in love with Berlin! I hope I will be able to live there in my life, I've been there several times.

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Beautiful xx

Nothing as cold as a European winter ❄️

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I miss it already, Maggie. The food was fun too - I haven't written much about that yet. The döner was fantastic, one of the best I've had. But I really liked our evening meals - bread, cheese, wine ... nothing fancy.

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Oh I love this Monique! Berlin has so much atmosphere and these photos and words capture it beautifully... I hope you get back again soon!

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Thank you so much Zoe. Lovely to hear from someone who knows Berlin so well. I'd love to think I'll get back soon, but I suspect it will be a few years yet.

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Same... but one day!

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@writingwa You might like this

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Just glorious. Your photos are stunning.

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