Oh, Berlin. I love so many things about you, but the abundance of glass in the bike lanes is not one of them. This morning on my way to work I ran over a ton of glass well-camouflaged by the rain. I flinched, tried to make myself as light as possible riding over the glass, then quickly said a prayer to the Bike Gods that I be delivered safely to work on time. Sure enough, as I approached work I began to hear the all-too-familiar “pffff tssssssssssss” of air slowly emptying from my front tire. I got to work on time, but it’s going to be a long walk home tonight. Berlin folks, why do so many of you smash your empty bottles in the streets? I see it happen all the time. Why are so many of our parks covered in garbage? Come to think of it, are these the same people who defaced this iconic East Side Gallery mural as well? Have you no respect for this incredible city we live in?
(Okay, my rant is over.)
Photo: 'My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love,' Defaced, East Side Gallery, Berlin, 2013