13:30 Berlin — Saturday, March 17, 2007

That open-air market was quite incredible. Let’s just say it was sensory overload. There were rows after rows of fruits and vegetables, carts of sausage, stacks of cheese, bouquets of fresh flowers, little jewelry stands and the hustle and bustle of a Saturday morning. This was the real Berlin and not what you see on the postcards. It was remarkable to me that this was how people lived their lives. They lived with this magic each day. They actually bought fresh fruits and vegetables each Saturday, sat in cafes with friends and ate long dinners with bottles of red wine. It was natural to them. Looking at all the people surrounding me at the market, I was happy to be a part of it — even for a few hours.