We set off early the next day with a young couple and arrived in Brussels for an afternoon of sight seeing before a train ride to a party in nearby Leuven. The return trip revealed the more frustrating side to hitchhiking. After an hour, we were finally picked up by a young mother and with me squeezed in between her two children she drove us to a random service station. By this point we didn’t actually know which country we were in, but eventually a Greek couple took us onto Breda and the hitchhiking black hole known as Rotterdam. We stood at the side of the road for 3 hours in Rotterdam before treating ourselves to a train ride back home to Amsterdam.

Hitchhiking forced me to go beyond my comfort zone and gave me the chance to meet people I wouldn’t ordinarily meet. Getting to my destination became incidental to the experience and the compassion of strangers went a long way to restoring my faith in people. That alone was worth the risk.

James Parker

This summer, the School of Modern languages organised a trip to Berlin for German students to improve language skills at a language centre. Our lessons were for only four hours a day and so we were free after class. This was my second time in Berlin and on my first trip I saw all the ‘must see’ sights such as the Brandenburg gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie museum and Eastside gallery so I already knew how amazing the German capital was. However this time I wanted to focus on the things I did not do before and was able to sample some of the nightlife Berlin has to offer with the people on my course here at Leicester.

Berlin’s punctual and clean transport system is similar to the London underground network and so it is easy to follow. If you are going for a long weekend, buy a ‘tourist card’ for around 20 Euros which gives unlimited travel and is valid for three or five days. On the weekends, the U and S-bahns run all night, so there is no chance of being stranded. Also there are very price worthy snack counters dotted around the city when hunger strikes after a heavy night out.

The nightlife in Berlin is all about having fun and its laid back atmosphere of ‘anything goes’ is so unlike the stereotype many Brits have of the Germans. For example, ‘Hackesher Markt’ in the heart of the city is very similar to Covent Garden where fire eaters and musicians play in the square surrounded by restaurants. Also it has a very slick nightclub called ‘Dante’ overlooking the river Spree and Berlin Cathedral which plays commercial and R&B music.

On the other side of town in the former East is ‘Warschauer straße’ which is totally different and has many punks there. After being initially weary, we went to a karaoke bar opposite the station which turned out to be one of the most fun nights I have ever had. With a Buy One Get One Free offer on all cocktails, all inhibitions went out the window as we belted out ‘Last night’ by the Strokes and more embarrassing songs I would not dare mention all night.

In north central Berlin is ‘Oranienburger Straße’ which has many cool clubs and restaurants and nearby there is a huge beer garden in ‘Eberwalder straße’. The beer garden made the experience complete as it is typically German and was a great chance to meet new people.

To describe Berlin in a few words is incredibly difficult as the city has a very layered identity. There is honestly something for everyone in terms of nightlife and sightseeing in Berlin as it has been influenced by so many Eras and is steeped in culture. I recommend everyone to visit all of Berlin’s iconic sights, but to also think of Berlin next time you want a weekend break.

Imani Stewart-Forde