Berlin - A city that is the subject of controversy!
When it comes to the German capital, you hear many different stories. In some of them, the city is praised to the skies, while in others it is condemned until the end of time. You can have a mixed opinion about that city, which doesn't just seem to be the case nowadays. Even in the past, there were people who fell in love with Germany's largest city at first sight, but of course there were also others who could do little with this juggernaut.
Some things never change, although at least the news and reports you hear from Berlin could be a reason to be seriously concerned about this city and its people. There is rarely anything positive to be heard, and at least I can't remember anything worth mentioning recently. On the contrary, if you hear anything out of the capital, it tends to be bad news. Sometimes you just wonder why this city still exists at all. Some things might be exaggerated, even though there is a lot going wrong in many places.
Elections, civic offices, schools and roads - the list of problem areas could easily be extended and it is not really clear how things could improve here.
There is no silver lining on the horizon, but the Berliners still get up every morning and go about their daily business. Okay, there are enough people who prefer to stay in bed every morning, but the majority of the capital's inhabitants are quite hard-working and don't get discouraged so soon. Over the years, people have become accustomed to a lot of things and the hope for better times has not yet completely vanished. Even if many no longer dare to believe in it.
But Berlin also manages to develop a very special appeal. The city's population is growing, with more people moving into the city than are leaving it. And the German capital must also have a lot to offer for travelers. And not just for international visitors, because Berlin is also at the top of the list of the most popular destinations for city breaks in Germany. But surely the Germans should know better than that, or do people only come to Berlin to have a good laugh and a good scare about this languishing, dysfunctional monster of a city that just won't get off the ground?
I'd better only mention the capital's political staff in passing.
Whether you are a federal politician or a local patriot, if the current leaders really are the crème de la crème of their profession, you could get really worried about this city and this country. Where are all the professionals who might be able to pull the cart out of the mud and give the city a new perspective? They probably prefer to toil and work elsewhere, and I can certainly understand their decision.
I myself keep a low profile and most of the time I watch the drama from a safe distance. But even from there I can see what is going on. Hope dies last, a saying that probably also applies to the German capital and its inhabitants, who don't want to have their city talked down all the time. Of course, they all grumble themselves about all the big and small problems and annoyances they are confronted with day in, day out. But despite this, they don't let anything get to their city. Those who survive here have a tough skin and are good at coping and ealing with situations. Although most Berliners also find it increasingly difficult to defend their city.
"Quo Vadis Berlin?" is the one and only question that remains. Wherever things may lead, the German capital will probably be good for a few surprises in the future. And even in ten, twenty or a hundred years' time, people will doubt and despair about it when talking about this place. Some will still love it, and some will never stop hating it. It will probably stay that way forever, because some things just never change.....
