Prenzlauer Berg, No. 1

A special request came in recently for more neighborhood shots (hi, Mom!) and so I'm kicking things off with this set. I took a couple of walks around our neighborhood, Prenzlauer Berg, over the weekend, and I spent a lot of time looking up. Most of the buildings around here were built during the first half of the 20th century, and restored after the fall of the Wall. As you can see, the extent of the restoration varies from building to building. One of my favorite things about the particular beauty of Berlin is that it's a rough-around-the-edges kind of beauty - even in the super-trendy Prenzlauer Berg.

That last shot is of our apartment here. When we see those flags from a block or so away, we know we're almost home.

November

We went out to a place called November for my brother's farewell dinner. Do you see that plate of Matjesfilet and Bratkartoffeln (herring and roasted potatoes)? It was delicious. I think I finally understand what that dubious-looking jarred herring and cream that they sell back home is supposed to taste like. Also, there were pickles in the cream. PICKLES!

Berlin, I love you.

Prater Garten

For the final match of the World Cup, we wanted a traditional Biergarten experience. We went to Prater Garten, just a short walk from our apartment. There were big screens set up beneath tents and televisions hanging from trees. When I saw the salted pretzels and giant pickles, I realized that eating dinner before we arrived was a mistake.

Congratulations, Spain!

Uruguay v. Germany, No. 3

At dinner, I looked up from my seat and felt a surge of gratitude for the precise moment I was living.

Uruguay v. Germany, No. 2

Oh, and about that soccer match: I thought you might like to see the eating part, too.

Uruguay v. Germany, No. 1

My 17-year-old brother is visiting us in Berlin this week. He's a varsity soccer player, and it's especially fun watching the World Cup soccer matches with him. I don't follow soccer at home, but here, it's easy to get into it. Especially when you're out at a pub, restaurant, or Biergarten surrounded by a crowd of cheering, groaning, fist-pumping Germans. I've surprised myself with some heartfelt whoops of my own!

The view

There is a leg that lives one floor up from us here in Berlin. It's the first thing I see when I look out the window every morning, and even after almost two weeks, I still jump a little every time. We have a balcony off of the back of our apartment, and before this heat wave hit, we were having dinner out there every night. I took the bottom shot one night last week at the close of a delicious meal of homemade pasta stuffed with chanterelles (or, Pfifferlinge, as they're called here) and ricotta.

Berlin!

As you've probably gathered from the shorts that Eli has been posting, we landed in Berlin on July 1. I'd say we've fallen pretty hard for this city. We're subletting a lovely flat in Prenzlauer Berg, and we already feel at home. We'll be here for six whole weeks! Pretty darn awesome. Film shots of our first two weeks here to follow, soon.

Berlin :: Day 9

Music - "Julius" by Phish

Berlin :: Day 8

Music - "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers Band

Berlin :: Day 7

Music - "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Justim Timberlake

Berlin :: Day 6

Music - "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton

Berlin :: Day 5

Music - "Waka Waka (Thie time for Africa)" by Shakira

Berlin :: Day 4

Music - "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan

Berlin :: Day 3

Music - "'54,'74,'90,2006" by Sportfreunde Stiller

Berlin :: Day 2

Music - "At the Beach" by The Avett Brothers

Berlin :: Day 1

This is the first in a series of daily shorts of our time in Europe this summer.
Music - "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga (James Carameta Tabloid Remix)