As the connecting point between Eastern and Western Europe, southern Europe and northern Europe, Berlin is one of Europe's most important transportation centers, looking down from the blue sky, Berlin looks like a white pebble lying quietly in the middle of the green sea, the emerald water flows slowly under your feet, and a light blue ribbon crosses from south to north - this is probably the Spree, the ancient Prussian style buildings and modern commercial skyscrapers complement each other, and the whole city slowly blooms with a quiet lightIt's fascinating.

When traveling in Europe the year before last, Hugo had arrived in this city full of countless possibilities, the former Berlin Wall made this land colorful, although Germany has completed the reunification at this time, but you can still feel the traces left by the years divided into East Germany and West Germany in the streets and alleys of the city, sometimes happy and unrestrained, sometimes conservative and stubborn; Sometimes energetic, sometimes gloomy; Sometimes relaxed, sometimes rigorous...... The contradictions floating in the air collided wantonly.

Hugo has always felt that walking on the road is a very interesting thing, not because of the ups and downs, but because you can use your feet, hands and eyes to feel the scenery along the way, even if it is just a daily painting of a small town, it can also become a window to feel the world. The meaning of travel is never about the scenery and culture of the destination, but about every moment on the road, including the smile that passes by.

After arriving at the Berlin airport, Allen's private luxury van drove directly into the tarmac and carried Hugo out of the airport, leaving the reporters waiting at the airport in the air, and waited until Hugo had left for nearly half an hour before they received the news, standing in place one by one, dumbfounded, at a loss.

learned that Hugo left Los Angeles and made a special trip to attend the Berlin Film Festival, which suddenly made Berlin, which had been neglected, the focus of attention.

As we all know, among the three major film festivals in Europe, Cannes has the most complete commercial process, Venice has the longest history, and Berlin is the coldest, most solemn and lowest-key, especially Berlin held in February is stolen by the Golden Globe Awards, Grammys, and Oscars in the United States every year - the closing time of this year's Berlin Film Festival is only one day apart, which also makes Berlin more and more depressed.

But because of the appearance of Hugo, especially the rejection of the Golden Globe Award in the first place and the choice of Berlin in the back, this also made the media more and more excited. The American media stationed in Berlin frantically poured into the airport as if they had been doping, and reporters from the European continent also smelled the explosion and followed suit. But the more than 100 reporters gathered at the airport were all played, not to mention the news, and even Hugo's shadow was not seen, it was a real disaster.

At this time, Hugo was riding in Allen's car and looked at the buildings outside the window and drew a glimpse of light in his sight, turned his head, and saw Allen's gaze that politely fell on him, Hugo couldn't help but smile, "Are you sure it's okay?" In fact, Rick has already made an appointment. ”

"When a friend comes to my hometown, as the host, it would be rude for me not to entertain him." Alan had a gentle smile on his face, "What's more, aren't you my money printing machine now?" It's still worth stuttering. ”

Allen's analogy made Hugo laugh.

Considering that the hotel where Hugo was staying at this time must have been surrounded by a media crowd, Allen invited Hugo to live in his apartment in downtown Berlin, much to Hugo's surprise.

Although Hugo did not stay in Europe for long, he vaguely knew that Europeans generally wanted to keep some distance, mainly because they were more respectful of each other's private space, and the most exaggerated Finland would even refuse to talk to strangers, and Spain and Italy would be better off in the south. Of course, this is not absolute, only relative. However, when Alan sent out the invitation, Hugo still did not expect it.

But when Alan motioned for the driver to pass by the door of the hotel that Rick had booked for Hugo, Joseph nodded in agreement - because the news media surrounding the hotel door was too exaggerated. In the end, it was decided that the bodyguards, led by Samora and Joseph, would stay in the hotel as planned, while Hugo would stay at Allen's house.

"I thought I should have been pleasing you, but if you think so, it's a good thing for me." Hugo said with a smile, which made Alan chuckle too. Looking out the window again, there are still traces of the war in the city, and the world-famous Potsdamer Platz (Potsdamer) in the future. Platz), which was still a construction site at this time, could not see the scene of prosperity at all, the Berlin Wall with only the ruins of the wall flashed in sight, Hugo said, "Perhaps, that wall should remain, you know, this is a witness to history, an irreplaceable time." ”

When the Berlin Wall was torn down, everyone was so excited and excited that they almost completely pushed the Berlin Wall in front of it, and it was not until 20 years later that people realized that it should not have been overturned so completely, because the wall was of historical significance, so the government began to carry out the restoration of the wall one after another.

"Why? The tearing down of this wall is historic, you know, that the country that has been separated for forty-one years has finally been reunited again. As a German, Allen's tone was quite interesting, which made Hugo very puzzled, and cast a puzzled look at Allen.

Of course, if Hugo knew that Allen's family background was in the fighter and military industry, he might be able to get the answer.

"The tearing down of a physical wall represents the formal unity of the state; But if the wall erected in the depths of people's hearts is not torn down, then there will be no way for the country to be unified. Hugo smiled and said this, then fell silent and turned his head to look out the window again.

When the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR were reunified, the problem was not solved, and capitalism swept through the GDR enterprises, leaving millions of GDR residents unemployed. The GDR perceived the Federal Germans as insatiable and the Federal Germans as lazy, a phenomenon that has been so intensely projected over the past five years that the German economy has struggled.

In fact, according to a 2008 survey conducted by Freie Universität Berlin, 12 percent of former GDR residents and 11 percent of Federal Republic residents said that Berlin would have been better if the Berlin Wall had not been torn down.

Of course, history has proven that after reunification, Germany became the largest economy in Europe and an important part of the world. However, as Hugo said, the ideological differences after the split still remain in people's hearts forever, and even after 20 or 30 years, the so-called "East Germany" and "West Germany" differences are still deeply embedded in the daily life of every inhabitant of Germany.

When Alan heard Hugo's simple words, he gradually fell silent, but with a smile on the corner of his mouth, he looked at Hugo playfully, and after a long time, he slowly looked away.

Hugo didn't know much about the geography of Berlin, and he only stayed in the city for three days, which was not enough to know the city in depth, so when the car stopped and Allen briefly introduced the situation of this area to Hugo, Hugo was completely confused and waved his hand, "I just need to know that this place can't help but be found by the paparazzi." ”

One sentence made Alan smile, "Welcome to my house, I hope you have a pleasant stay here." After Alan said this, he made an inviting gesture and let Hugo walk up the steps first.

In front of you is a detached villa, which does not seem to occupy a large area, but this quiet street is full of such detached villas, and the cold gray lines reveal the solemnity that only belongs to Germany. As you climb the stairs, the door opens automatically, and an old man in a black suit stands respectfully in the doorway, "Waiting to come, Mr. Lancaster." This made Hugo stunned, and looked back at Alan behind him in surprise, and then heard the old man say, "Welcome home, Mr. Strello." ”

"This is our old butler, Philip, who has been in our house since my grandfather's time." Alan stepped forward and gave Philip a warm hug. Philip looked at Alan quickly with a kind look in his eyes, but quickly restrained his feelings, politely pushed back a step, made way of space, and then smiled at Hugo and said, "Mr. Lancaster, you can call me Philip, and you can give me any orders during your stay here." ”

"Hugo, please call me Hugo. Americans, who are not always accustomed to the British, are not very accustomed to this. Hugo said a little teasing, but Philip nodded his chin slightly with a calm face, which made Hugo a little embarrassed. Sure enough, German humor is not on the same frequency as ordinary people.

And, most importantly, it was strange that Hugo had never really met a real butler. Hugo couldn't help but look at Alan twice, although he had already guessed that Alan should be from a prominent family, but since there is a steward of the inheritance, the situation is even more different.

But in the face of the old man, Hugo could only touch his nose, and then said politely, "Thank you, I will disturb during this period." ”

"Allen's request, I naturally try my best to meet it." Philip replied without humility or arrogance, which made Hugo choke directly: why did he suddenly feel as if he really shouldn't come over to disturb Alan?

Allen, who was standing aside, chuckled, "Don't worry, Hugo, Philip is just not used to strangers, he is the same for all my friends. "Philip looks to be at least seventy years old, so it's very likely......

Philip stood aside with a noncommittal look, which made Hugo tilt his head, "Sir, don't worry, I haven't called a maid, so I shouldn't ask too much." ”

Before these words came out, Philip glared at Hugo with a fierce face, but Allen, who was standing next to him, laughed directly, and then patted Hugo's arm, ignoring Philip's affection, "Haha, you go to rest first, don't you want to adjust the jet lag?" ”