The old lady and the young girl

This article is inspired by the conversation of three friends sitting at a terrace of a small and cosy bar of Le Marais in Paris and enjoying a glass of white wine. The French capital was their meeting point, since the three of them were spread around Europe:

Putting Lugano aside (where I spent 6 months of my life), Paris and Berlin are the cities I’ve visited most. But it is not a simple coincidence: one can never get tired of either of them, both are incredibly startling cities that cannot disappoint.

If these cities were people, Paris would be an old lady whereas Berlin, a young girl. The French capital is melancholic and old but keeps its beauty intact. In fact, it is the kind of city that gets better as time goes by. It is the perfect haunt for couples, since everybody –even the ones who haven’t seen Casablanca— bears in mind the phrase: “We will always have Paris”. For this reason, walking by the Seine or having a trip on a bateau-mouche is one of the most romantic and calm situations one can have. Even if the river crosses the city centre, it is easy to let one’s mind wander and forget the stress and strain of big capitals. Moreover, Paris is a huge city so it is impossible to know every spot travelling there just once. There is always a new bar, shop or alley worth visiting. And getting lost through Saint Germain or Le Marais is priceless. These two neighbourhoods are like two little villages alien to the rest of the city. Furthermore, Parisian babies must be born with a fashion magazine under their arms, since people in Paris are the most stylish ones I’ve ever seen.

On the other hand, Berlin is the complete opposite. It is a quite new city that it is being rebuilt since the end of the Second World War. It is the perfect place for young people and there are all kinds of attractions for them. There is party assured every day of the week and all kinds of musical events to discover new talents. Because this is what the city of Berlin tries to do: discover new things and create a city identity formed by the perfect mix. Walking around its streets one can find all kinds of people and styles: an old woman with purple hair and ripped stockings, a punk guy with his baby wearing Baby Dior or the most posh girls trying to be like Paris Hilton. And the most astonishing thing is that nobody will turn to see them better because this is how Berliners are. In Berlin everybody can express himself without being ashamed of it.

So, considering all of their differences, one has to bear in mind that going to Paris or going to Berlin are two kinds of totally different trips. It is important to know when is the right time to travel to one or the other.