Ich bin ein Berliner

I'm going to Berlin in November, which I am eagerly anticipating. I've been once before, when travelling across Eastern Europe in 2005, and thoroughly enjoyed it; clearly enough to return.

In the short, wet summer of 2005, we spent 5 days in the German capital at the offset of a 5 week jaunt across several countries. Although thoroughly enjoying our time there, we never really discovered the night life, which was something of a disappointment to a group of 20 year old males. Having unwittingly fitted the 'Brit abroad' stereotype in our previous city (Paris), mainly through an ill-advised visit to an Australian-themed bar, followed by being hoodwinked out of 20 euros by a French reprobate, we were keen to make amends, and threw ourselves into the historic elements of Berlin.

Whilst this policy ensured we can now talk about Berlin with some authority - as I am attempting to do now - it also meant our journey of discovery through its nightlife never really got going. Although we did have a couple of lairyish nights, these came solely in our hostel bar and in a suburban, gothic (in clientele, not architecture) lesbian bar, which as its USP had a ping pong table on the dance floor.

So second time lucky! In our November foray, we are determined that, whilst we may not entirely 'paint the town red', we will at least find the town.

(P.S. Apologies for cheesy final sentence. Forgive me.)