View of a Local in Berkeley, USA

Preeti currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden, but in this View of a Local interview she shares her tips about Berkeley, California, where she lived for 8 years.

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourselves?

I am of Indian ethnicity but lived in America most of my life.  Currently I live in Stockholm, Sweden where I blog about the culture and dating rituals of the Swedes at Lost in Stockholm. I love traveling (duh), reading (OMG, Harry Potter!), and taking photos, available at www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire.

How long did you live in Berkeley?

Spent 8 years in the city everyone lovingly calls Berzerkly. First, attending university there and then putzing around and working for a few more years.

What did you like most about living in Berkeley?

Berkeley is 180 degrees off from the East Coast (where I was raised).  It’s crazy, wild, colorful, full of protests and pot.  I loved walking around the city and people watching.  There is every type of person and style trying to make their way in Berkeley.

Why should travelers visit Berkeley?

As a city that holds one of the nation’s greatest universities, Berkeley has a history that is well, different.  From the 1960s famous demonstrations to world leading research departments to the ecocenter of the food revolution via Alice Waters, there is something for everyone in Berkeley.  There’s a special spirit in the city you just don’t find in other places.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Berkeley?

Tourists really need to stop gawking at the locals.  Yes, there is the crazy guy in his undies standing on a podium and yes, the hat lady does not sell hats, but come to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of the town.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Berkeley?

Take a tour of UC Berkeley, a huge campus that offers a great view to San Francisco.  Go to the top of Campanile Bell Tower or to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, which is high up in the Berkeley hills.

Also visit Berkeley Bowl, one of the best grocery stores. Fresh produce and vegetable galore.  Plus get a super burrito from them, tasty stuff!

CheeseBoard Pizza on Shattuck Ave is a coop owned pizza place.  There’s only one type of pizza served everyday and it’s vegetarian, but it is superb.  A definite local spot and a must for any visitor.

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Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

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TAGS: Berkeley, California, travel