Berlin story

I stayed at a backpackers in Berlin called the Helter Skelter, a hostel that failed to survive the pandemic. It was a party place, they said on their website, but although I didn’t fit the usual age of their clientele I really didn’t take much notice of the warning because Helter Skelter was also right in the middle of town and convenient to everything. From my communal room I could see right into the windows of the dressing rooms of the theater next door and watch the actors getting ready to perform. Later I could hear the crowds laughing and cheering the performances. It was the next best thing to sleeping in a dressing room myself

The music from the common rooms could be heard throughout the building which lived up to its party palace reputation. I shared a room with eight other women, all young and mostly South American. Between museum visits I would wander down to the pool room downstairs to watch them play and draw a quick sketch.

Despite the party atmosphere and the youth of most of the guests, my room mates were considerate and tried not to make too much noise then they arrived back in the early hours of the morning. I enjoyed my stay but didn’t get much sleep so decided to find somewhere more sedate for my next visit.