Tag Archives: Berlin

Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit H: Recyclinghof

I know I said yesterday’s post was the final Berlin one, but then I ran to the Recyclinghof today to get rid of a broken fan. It’s so easy and clean and well-organized, and you can get rid of all kinds of things from clothes to cars that you don’t need. I stopped at DoshaContinue reading “Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit H: Recyclinghof”

Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit F: Karl’s Erdbeerhof

So, in May sometime, these adorable little strawberry-shaped kiosks popped up all over Berlin overnight. In the morning, the one down the block from me propped open its awning (even though mine is not strawberry-shaped, alas), and a friendly lady in a strawberry-printed apron started dealing out several really delicious regional varieties, in 500g packagesContinue reading “Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit F: Karl’s Erdbeerhof”

German Pflasterstein (Cobblestone) Rating System

This cracks my friend Birgit up, so I thought I’d share it. As I’ve mentioned before, cobblestones are tough on Lucky, my Bike Friday, with his 20-inch wheels. And cobblestones (pflastersteine or kopfsteinpflaster) are actually getting increasingly common in Berlin as the city tries to find ways to limit rain run-off and recharge its failingContinue reading “German Pflasterstein (Cobblestone) Rating System”

Rear Window, Berlin Edition: Update

Breaking news, everybody. The stubbornly vacant-seeming 4th-floor apartment behind my building has cropped up with a pot of purple flowers on the patio, and the door that was previously cracked open from the top, Euro-style–to permit the circulation of that all-important (yea, even magical) German substance, Frische Luft–is now open open, as in someone couldContinue reading “Rear Window, Berlin Edition: Update”

Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit E: Schöneberg and Friedenau

I did one of my long errand-running bike rides this week, and though I didn’t find most of what I was looking for, as usual I gained some serendipities I wasn’t expecting–mostly, a tour of the lovely 19th-century West Berlin neighborhood of Schöneberg (and a bit of Friedenau). Schöneberg immediately struck me as quite differentContinue reading “Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit E: Schöneberg and Friedenau”

Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit D: The Berlin Wall Memorial Museum

Germany as a nation has gone through traumatic and horrible times, and the people in charge have at times done traumatic and horrible things to their own citizens and others’. In this way Germany is exactly like every other nation state I know of. But as I’ve mentioned before, what sets it apart from manyContinue reading “Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit D: The Berlin Wall Memorial Museum”

Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit C: Björk at Waldbühne

Sadly, I don’t have any pics of Björk performing because (a) she forbids it, and (b) I was so far away the pics wouldn’t have looked like much anyway. She promised that photos would soon be up on her website, so you can check there in a day or two (they’re not there now). ButContinue reading “Berlin is Awesome, Exhibit C: Björk at Waldbühne”

Mauerradweg: Südroute

This was the final, longest, and hardest stage of my circuit of the Mauerradweg. I rode 70 km from Wannsee to Warshauerstraße and would not recommend doing that. Not because it’s boring or unattractive: there are stunning lakes and villas, sweeping field views, lovely forests, beer gardens, canals, parks, and interesting urban sites. But thisContinue reading “Mauerradweg: Südroute”

Mauerradweg: West Route

The vast majority of this 50km stretch (not counting the ferry crossing of the Wannsee) of the Mauerradweg meanders through rural landscapes: along maybe a dozen of Brandenburg’s 3,000 lakes and through lush meadows, shady timber plantations, and wilder forests of birch and beech. There are even a couple of *gasp* steep hills (short ones,Continue reading “Mauerradweg: West Route”