This just in, Berlin

Berlin is big and roomy. Lots of wide open spaces (thanks to all those bombs) and eclectic architecture (bombs again). We are staying at the Circus Hostel, in what was East Berlin. This hostel kicks ass. I think the Germans might be even more organized than the Dutch.

Across the street from the hostel is Gorky Park where we eat dumplings and the "Proletariat" appetizer (fried potatoes, salted cucumbers, butter, black Russian bread, roast beef).

I presented my paper at the "Transgressive Bodies -- Flexible Genders" conference on Thurs. It went over well. The room was packed -- apparently people are interested in papes about trans- movies (my paper), German newspaper reviews of trans-films (the 2nd paper) and post/feminist porn (3rd paper). I think the porn might have been the draw.

Tomorrow we go on a walking tour of the city: think Nazis, the Wall, Rosa Luxembourg and that infamous canal, etc etc etc. On the train ride here we rode through old East Germany, which is not all hip and gentrified like East Berlin is. Skinny jeans are in here (in East Berlin), especially on the guys.