We found ourselves through ‘customs,’ which was just a dashing man in a plexiglass box who stamped our passports. No questions, no second guessing our reason for being here, nothing. It was simpler than i expected… Really? That’s it?.. I didn’t want trouble or anything, i hear so many stories about how difficult international travel can be, how one is hassled every step of the way and mundane objects (lotion, paperclips, water bottles, bushy eyebrows) become suddenly threatening in the context of airport security. Multi-tool aside, i really had nothing to be worried about.
The first vending machine i saw solidified the fact that we were in another land and yet fragments of my mother tongue would still be heard.
I know what “SNACK PACK!” means, and i see Kit-Kat bars, M&Ms, and the word chips…
A shiny scene, and the first taste of our neighborhood for the rest of Springtime. Hallo Frühligzeit, hallo Berlin!
This city loves its bicycles. They are everywhere and get demarcated lanes on the sidewalk that tourists stand in all the time, apparently.
We had a slight miscommunication with the landlord of our apartment. It looked like we wouldn’t have a place to stay so we got a hotel room down the street. It is a strange place with colorful decor and a carpet with little footprints in the pattern:
‘Shoes optional,’ it seems to say, though i bet people would not care for such behavior.
They are not very good at kissing… Either they’re saving themselves for marriage or they find the taste of fresh linens exciting.
I went and ordered burgers across the street speaking only in German, my first experience with such an interaction. It went well, as far as i could tell. Got the food i asked for at least, and it felt pretty good to accomplish the feat! At the entrance of the hotel, i see Scarlett leaving with a man who turned out to be our landlord. He showed us our apartment and gave us the keys. Since we’d already paid for the hotel room (and there was internet to be had at one and not the other) we stayed there. The television offered some hilarity on the KiKA channel. Scarlett and i were delighted and confused by what we saw. Given, by now we had both been up for over 24 hours so everything was kinda funny.
I had to look up what this thing was; turns out he’s a loaf of bread named Bernd who is disagreeable and chronically depressed. Rather than post the shoddy video that i took, i found the whole bit to share. Watch if you like, behold that which amused, bemused, and confused… If i could understand more of what he’s saying i would translate, but i only get bits and pieces.
We wait for the elevator! How thrilling! Boutique hotel! …The room numbers are stencilled into paint splatters! How different!
Some of the hotel room. There’s not much more to see, really.
Ye can’t see it from here, but that orange wall has a huge opening to the shower-box, with the mirror as a partial shield between the spaces. Not much for privacy in this one. The toilet had its own boxy space with a very shiny glass door that played tricks on the eyes when approaching in the dark. Tricksy toilet, wants to stub your toeses…
O wait, this was the other thing to see! This is the view out the window. The buildings appear to be subducting one another.
ON TO THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST! I was anticipating the usual eggs-und-bacon smorgasboard of the American hotel experience, but these were not to be had. It was a variety of bagels, and other shapes of breadstuff, many topping choices, from nutella to fresh veggies and lox. There was yoghurt and fruit, and a coffee machine that grinds the beans per cup served, and hot chocolate for the kinder. Beer and vodka cocktails were also available. And we were surrounded by graffiti.
Snazzy paint! A mere hint of what is to be seen.
Frühstücksecke mit einem Friedenszeichen / breakfast corner with a peace sign
First time i’ve ever seen a magpie, and it’s cleaning up someones leftovers from the night before. How pleasant~