My favorite part about traveling is experiencing a place through the eyes of a local. My friend Nike is an artist that splits here time between Berlin and Los Angeles. One fall, a few years ago, she invited my BFF and I to come see where she lives in Berlin and where she grew up in Hamburg. 

We spent three weeks ‘living’ in Berlin. We did the museum and site seeing thing––as it would have been sacrilegious not to––but mostly we ate and drank our way around every nook of every neighborhood on bicycles. We strolled through forests and took the train to Hamburg where Nike’s mom was proud to show us Nike's high school photos. I cherish the time getting to know my friend better and to be welcomed in her family.