Day 73: Failed Tour

I don't think I've mentioned how wonderful radiant floor heat is. Our apartment is equipped with radiant floor heating and we've been enjoying it since the weather has turned.

When we first moved in, we had high hopes that the dials were for air-conditioning or a fan (this place would have been so much better with ceiling fans, but that's another summer). So, once the weather turned, we were able to use the dials to pick a temperature. There are other digital read-outs on other gauges in the apartment, but this is the most common style in our place (see photo to the right).

Our toes love hitting a warm floor first thing in the morning (or the middle of the night for a bathroom run). And this kind of heating helps heat up the entire apartment. I wish we could install this (easily) at our home in the U.S. as it's a fantastic way to stay warm with less effort and lower temperatures (from what I read online).

Todays' goal is for Chris and me to do an underground tour. The kids have opted out of this one as they are not comfortable under ground, as well as the content of the tour might talk about details of the Nazi regime.

Chris comments that we have to leave in 2 hours. I think we need to leave in 1 hour. Why are we off by an hour? His watch (and all our computers) say it's 12:30pm, but our microwave and oven say it's 1:30p. Surprise! It's time to change the clocks for "Fall-Back" daylight hours. We wondered and guessed it would happen, but had no idea when it would happen. Good thing our digital devices are smarter than we are. Now we'll be on-time for the rest of the day. Phew.

During the morning, we buy our tickets to London (for next week!) The tickets are super cheap. One way starts at around €17. But, we choose to fly out of the closer/bigger airport, add on bags, and select seats, so our price is closer to €90 per person. Still, we are constantly impressed by how inexpensive it is to travel around here. We are set for our departure from Berlin.

We have only paid to take 4 bags with us, but we have 6. We're planning on shipping two big bags back home. We are not interested in carrying around so much luggage (and a lot of it is summer clothing), so we'll pay (through the nose) to ship them home. Side note: We had 7 bags on the way here, but one of them broke. I think I mentioned this before? Checking in at the airline in Austria, the wheel broke off as the woman put it onto the belt. She said we should make a claim in Berlin (blame the Germans!). But it was cheap-old luggage, we're not concerned... except now we have to go home with more stuff (souvenirs) with one less bag. We might need to ship a box or two as well.

Chris and I gather all our summer clothes, shoes, exercise stuff. We put in extra sweaters or pants we think we can live without for 3 weeks. In addition, we gather items from the kids. We put in tour books that we won't need anymore, leaving only the UK and Scotland books. Two full luggage bags are ready to ship.

After lunch with the kids, Chris and I head out to the Underground M tour. We're set to arrive 30 minutes prior to the tour. You cannot buy tickets online or in advance, you have to show up in person, get in line, and book your tour then. So, we walk and Bahn to the ticket office.... only to find it's sold out. We're not too surprised, but we're still disappointed. The woman at the counter suggested showing up 1 to 1.5 hours prior to the tour to buy tickets. She also mentioned that it's holiday time for Berliners (or Germans, I don't remember). We didn't know this and are not sure why it's a holiday time (as Chris' office is still working and doing stuff normally). In any case, there are no tickets, so we can't go today. However, Chris asks if I can buy tickets for both of us (without both of us being present) and I can. Plus, they open at 10am. I can buy tickets early in the day (so we don't have to wait around for 90 minutes or chance getting sold out again). We plan to go later in the week.

But, we have time set aside for now. We could go back home. Or, we're right across from Humboldthain park, and it's a lovely day. We decide to Skype the kids that we aren't underground (so they can feel relief at our safety) and we will be back later as we are going for a walk.

The park is beautiful. Lots of people are out and enjoying the weather and beauty.

It's nice to have more adult-time conversations. We talk every morning, but there is always a quick step to our pace and knowing we're going to run out of time, so we often talk quickly. Today was nice and leisurely.

Back at home, we finalise more details for our visit to London (hotels and such) as well as our plans for when we are there (a side trip to either Oxford or Cambridge?), including booking a day trip that includes Salisbury, Old Sarum, and Stonehenge. It becomes very evident that tours and trips in London are MUCH more expensive than in Berlin. And there are NO family pricing, so each person must pay and arm and a leg to go up the Tower Bridge, or the London Eye, or to see Stonehenge. We will swallow our sticker-shock and proceed with caution.

Once again, it is that bewitching hour of dinner. Where to eat and without a reservation? We decide on Yumcha Heroes (we've been there before) and if we can't get in, we'll walk around to find something else. But, restaurant miracles still follow us around! We can get a table (we just need to eat within an hour). Yay! Delicious dumplings are ours for the evening!

And bonus (in a sort of way), one of our dishes did not come (and wasn't on the bill, so there was a miscommunication there) but it means we all have room for dessert. We head next door to Giorgio Lombardi to get gelato. Because of the blankets outside, we enjoy our dessert at a sidewalk table. And it's a good thing the tram on this street is diverted due to construction, we are forced to walk the mini-hill home and work off some of what we just consumed!

Tonight, I leave you with this thought (sorry to get a little political). I saw this photo (on the left) on Facebook the other day. It depicts one kid holding a Kinder chocolate egg (which have plastic toys inside) and the other an assault rifle, stating the gun is legal but the egg is banned "due to safety of the children". Just thought I'd add to the commentary with my own photo (on the right). These Kinder eggs are all over Berlin. The kids have eaten their fair share while we have been here. The only safety problem we've experienced is ensuing bickering accompanying the "unfairness" of who gets which egg and which "prize" from inside.

Day 72: Olympiastadion und Grunewald

Our last Saturday in Berlin. Let that sink in.

Sigh.

We have another weekend, but we'll be in Kollweiler visiting friends. So, when we bought all those yummy dips at the farmers market... that was our last Saturday Market (the one we go to is also held on Thursdays... but we have never gone on a Thursday). So, no more farmers market (uh, unless we go on Thursday).

After a brunch of pancakes (real pancakes because I now have baking powder, thanks mom!), we head to the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium).

Olympiastadion station sign (with Jesse Owens Alee on there!)

Berlin hosted the 1936 Olympics. Hitler was in attendance (he tried to have Jewish participants barred from participation, but was foiled by threats of boycotts from other countries and sentiments of sports should be "free of politics"). Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals (but did you know a German competitor, Luz Long, offered him advice on his long jump starting point after Owens almost missed qualifying?) And it was the first Olympics to be televised. Fun facts!

Getting to the main stadium and other arenas, you must pass through a park, which is beautiful with all the dropping leaves.

We hadn't planned on entering the facilities, instead, just walking around. But, last minute, when in the presence of the arena, we decided that we must go in.

Side note: The entrance fee, like so many places in Berlin, isn't too expensive, and there is a family rate. Last night's Leica exhibit was the same. When children accompany adults, they get in for free. So, we only pay for Chris and myself. Pretty awesome system. I figure it would only encourage more families to try out museums if you didn't have to pay an exorbitant fee for your kids knowing they are going to be bored within minutes.

Extra side note: If you are a "museum" person, there is a Berliner Museum pass which is pretty cool. I suppose other cities may do this, but it's only €30 per person and you get into over 50 museums within a 72 period. Pretty cool if you like to spend a lot of time in lots of museums!

THREE Buddy Bears and a "Tweet your picture!" frame!

This stadium was built to hold 100,000 people. The roof with the glass is new (built in the 70s, I think). And as I contemplated Jesse Owens' spirit running around the track, with all those seats available... he sat right in front of me! And if you look really close, in the top-right photo, Xander is a super-tiny (oxymoron!) dot in the far distance and Venice is the closer dot.

(Lower right photo by Venice)

Venice stands in the vomitorium (left),
I photograph the other side (middle)
The outer "hallways" (right) 

The seats count inwards from the side aisles. Both sides start with 1, 2, 3... and meet in the middle at 17. Must be confusing to find your seat. Chris thinks one of the 17s is for your hot dogs and beer.

Helene Mayer left Germany in 1933 because her father was Jewish, but she accepted an invitation to compete for Germany in the 1936 Olympics. She earned the Silver medal.

Side note: There were several of these "photo-statues", all of the German-Jewish competitors of the 1936 games. I only took a photo of the fencer (with Paul in mind).  If you follow the link on her name, there is a picture of her at Scripps College... almost Pamona!

Which 17 is mine? (left)
Helene Mayer (middle)
The empty diving pool (right)

We walked around a bit. There was another track. I'm not sure what this is for, as it wasn't marked with any plaque and we didn't get the audio tour. Maybe used for smaller meets now, but then? Maybe warm-ups or preliminary-qualifying heats? Who knows... but as we can walk on the track, we take a lap (ok, half a lap). And Xander sits in... a judging box? He tries to be judgemental.

Chris read that the stadium is built out of limestone. It is beautiful. You can minimise the Nazi Regime into a far distant nightmare... until you see photos of the entire 100,000 spectators giving the Nazi salute. Shivers. Or, until you're looking at the Olympic bell (it has been replaced with a new bell, so this original one is on display), and you see a swastika on the side. Then the glory of the games feel dirtied by the underlying Nazi regime.

The stadium and its original bell (top)
Outer hallway and the swastika on the bell (bottom)

After walking around the grounds and enjoying the immense space and the peace and quiet, we head to the Olympic café (by the way, they only sell bratwurst on game days... but there were several heating right there... so beware, they may be days old by the time YOU get to eat them). We ordered a sandwich and drinks to share.

Chris has been wanting to run in the Spandau or Grunewald forest before leaving. The Olympic Stadium is only a few blocks from Grunewald, so he changes and heads out for a run. You may recall, this is the forest with Teufeslberg (the old spy tower) in it. This is the same forest the kids and I ran through and got soaked to the bone in a lightning storm.

Today is much nicer, almost warm. The sun often peaks out of the clouds. The kids and I finish up our snacks, visit one last sight, and then we head out to the forest as well.

On that rainy day, we could see a "mesa" of sorts, a big hill with a green-flat top. Later, we found out this is called Drachenberg and is a popular spot for picnics and kite flying. Somewhat hard to understand when it just seemed like a soggy-wet mess the last time we were here. But, it's close to the edge, close to the Stadium, and I think it will afford us a view of the fall tree-tops. So, the kids and I head towards the forest, too.

Paths leading to the forest (left and right)
Staircase to the top of Drachenberg (middle)

Do you also remember that rainy day we were last here? How we couldn't find our way? How it was difficult for us to navigate? Well, dang it. There is still a Google-map vortex on this spot. Google said it would take us 30 minutes to get to the top of Drachenberg (which translates into Dragon Mountain, by the way). But it took us 60 (we did take one detour and we didn't power walk, but still!) AND, there were several "dead ends" that we had to navigate. To be fair, I guess Google can't know if a path is closed or not, but it caused us to do a few detours and so, there was a small moment when I thought we wouldn't have time to make it to the top. I was desperate to see the view and was determined to get there even if we only had 1 minute before having to turn back.

Once we rounded the corner onto the main road, I knew we were close. You could see a few kites flying up high, so I knew we were in the right place. We walked through a parking lot and found a set of stairs and climbed up (side note: I'm carrying all of Chris' clothes and shoes, water for the kids, and a few snacks... so I'm walking up all these stairs with extra weight... I just want a high-five for working hard!)

We did find the top of Drachenberg! And so did everyone else! It was super busy and there were tons and tons of kites up in the sky. It was worth it. The view, the kites... it was all beautiful to see (and Teufelsberg makes me think of Tatooine... fans will think I'm crazy and non-fans will have to look up Tatooine).

The kids are sitting in the middle photo in the front. A good place to rest.

After looking around, for what seemed like two minutes, Chris came up to us! He found us! He made it to Drachenberg along his run and said he was waving like a crazy man at us. I guess we didn't see him. He decides to hang out with us and play frisbee with the kids until it's time to leave. So, it was a great afternoon atop the hill.

Top and bottom photos show kites.
Photos in the middle are the kids playing frisbee with Chris.

Teufelsberg (top-left)
Photo on the right shows two "towers". The most visible is "I don't know"
and to the left, farther and harder to see is the Fernsehturm.
The Olympic Stadium can be seen in the bottom-left photo.
The "tower" on the left and the building on the right are on either side
of the big arena. You can see the glass roof if you zoom in.

Silly selfies and holding Teufelsberg in our hands!

Today's walk to the Bahn station is much more leisurely. We had time to show Chris our knowledge of the area (translation: we could walk to the Bahn station without a map) and we were able to look around. Heerstraße is another pretty station.

Venice is helping me by carrying my backpack!

And then we ended our day with super yummy BBQ at Chicago Williams BBQ. Lots of food. Full bellies. Another fantastic day.

P.S. Keep your eye open for the next "signs and such" post, Chicago Williams BBQ gave us lots to giggle at.

Day 71: Outdoors and Leica

Lately, I've been feeling pretty good about my "German-ness". Either I look comfortable enough to be local, or the fact that I don't carry around a map is a good sign, or I look nice enough to approach... whatever the reason, I have been asked directions, almost on a daily basis, for the past week or so. A gentleman at our tram stop asked if his Bahn ticket would work for the tram too. Yes! A couple of young ladies (after asking if we speak English.... they sounded East European), asked how to get to Alexanderplatz from a Bahn station. Another woman stopped on her bicycle, on one of my morning walks, and she asked if she was headed in the right direction for Hackescher Markt. Another couple stopped me in the park, on another walk, and asked where they could take their little girl to play (the park we were standing in front of was locked, so they were looking for another one). Another woman asked if she could get to Friedrichstrasse from this platform, I was able to tell her, no, head to the other side of the platform. A gentleman stopped Chris and me, one morning, asking if he could get to Unter den Linden by foot. We showed him where he was on the map and how to take a Bahn if he wanted. He asked if she should take a taxi and we said, no, either walk or simple Bahn ride.

Most approached me in German. Some, I was able to answer back in stilted words and pointing, others I had us switch to English before being able to help. I was only NOT able to help one woman. A little ol' lady asking... I don't know. She wasn't able to switch into English, and I tried to help... but she just walked away. Sorry! But, I love how I'm the new information person!

A few weeks ago, Venice had the idea of getting the "My Book About Me" book by Dr. Seuss. The kids have these books back in the U.S. but she thought it would be fun to fill them out with a "Berlin" frame of mind. The book asks questions like, "How many forks are in your house?" "How many windows?" "How many steps to the mailbox?" And so on. So, doing a book here would be different than the book they have in the U.S. I agreed to buy the extra copies (paperback, however) for the kids.

Today, we made a point to do some of the activities before it's too late. Answering questions that required us to go outside (otherwise they would never breathe fresh air!) So, we walked to the nearest tree, mailbox, market and counted our steps all the way.

Counting steps around town.

The sun showed itself and it is a dry day. And the leaves, I still can't get enough of them! We must stay outside a bit longer! I suggested we go to the nearby park (near the Kaiser markt where we counted steps) and we were treated to more eye-feasting sights (and a farmers market with good smells... hmmm cooking sausages).

Park photos.

I sat on the bench with other moms (although their kids were either nursing or shoveling sand as best as a toddler can). Meanwhile, my kids start gathering up all the leaves into a giant pile so they can jump into it. Xander worked up a sweat, they were working so hard! One toddler was fascinated, but not brave enough to jump in the pile. He did, however, add two leaves to the pile (one at a time).

Venice adding to the pile before a jump.

Xander adding to the pile before a jump.

My view.

As the sun lowered in the sky, it was time to leave. After a brief time at home, we headed to the tram stop. We noticed the construction sign that was there, indicating that the M1 will not be running as usual for the rest of the time we're here. It will be running similarly to the 12. So, what does this mean for us? We can't get to Hackescher Markt by tram. At least not easily. Good thing we've completed most of our shopping there, so we don't really have any reason to go back. The main reason we'd need to get there is to transfer, it was a good place to transfer (and for Venice to get her favourite Bubble Tea). So, for two more weeks, we'll just have to transfer at another Bahn station. We're getting pretty good at the transit system, this should be no problem! And, at least this time, we saw the sign, were able to understand it, and we're not in a hurry, so no worries on us having to take a different route.

We're headed to a museum to meet Chris. But as we get to the Friedrichstrasse station, we find out (from texts) that Chris is approaching the same station (he's coming from work). After several frantic texts, we do NOT get on a train that's in the station and we find each other. Now that we'll wait for the next train, Chris has time for a coffee and the kids get a snack (even though they both said they weren't hungry when we were leaving the apartment... a donut or pretzel from the stand sounds way better than what I offered at home...)

Caffeinated and fed, headed to the C/O Berlin at Amerika Haus to see the visiting Leica exhibit. "Eyes Wide Open!" is celebrating 100 years of Leica photography. It was a great exhibit (although a few photos that were disturbing to the kids). I really enjoyed the history of the camera and how it changed the "visual exploration of reality by amateurs, artists and photojournalists." Amazing how all but a handful of images for this trip have been done on an iPhone. Would the creator of the first 35 mm Leica prototype, Oskar Barnack, believe it? Thanks to Keith for suggesting this exhibit.

The Leica exhibit (I didn't take any photos inside)

By now it's pretty late. Most restaurants will be filled up and we don't have any reservations anywhere. Plus, we're on a side of town we're not used to walking through, so we don't know what good restaurants are around. However, we're in a part of town that has a lot of fast food choices. A lot of sausage stands, pizza places, etc. So, we just walk until we come across Jim Block, a burger joint. We see open tables, so we head on in.

Jim Block is a fun sort of place. When we order (this is an "order at the counter" place, not a "sit and we'll wait on you" kind of place), instead of asking our name or giving us an order number, we are assigned a place in Berlin. We get Hauptbahnhof. We hear other street names being called while we wait. Kind of fun! And while we wait, we can enjoy the dance beats the DJ is playing (yes, a DJ was playing thumping dance music for us to enjoy while we are eating burgers... it was difficult to NOT eat to the beat).

We haven't been to this part of town at night before. So it's cool to see the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with its lights on. The electric blue lights shining through the windows are pretty cool and create a modern "stained-glass" effect. Unfortunately, the bell-tower is under scaffolding so we only get a hint as to how that looks.

Time for home and bed!

Tonight's last bit is everyone having fun with the lights at Jim Block. They were lights that were flickering. You couldn't any flickering until you started waving your hands around (like the video below) or flinging your pommes frites around (which the kids did as well).

Day 70: Stolperstein

On one of my walks, I decided to look for the Stolperstein plaques. These plaques mark the last place these people chose to live before being relocated under the Nazi regime. I had heard about them (but had a misconception about what they looked like) and had read about the location of some (on a website suggesting things to do in Berlin). This is one more item I've found by "looking down".

Along my morning walks, just a block south of where I normally walk (a block south-east to The Wall walk), is a family of Stolpersteins, with the names of the family members that used to live here, the dates of their deportation, and the dates of their deaths. Today marks the 73rd anniversary of this family's deaths in the Nazi regime (see photo on the left below).

Once I began looking down, I found several more, just walking around our neighbourhood. There is some controversy surrounding the Stolpersteins (some countries and cities do not allow them as a result of this controversy), but I like the fact that these people are personally memorialised in a beautiful, simple manner.

On this morning, I really didn't want to go for my walk. I would have loved to stay in bed. But I went anyway. And in doing so, I had the opportunity to experience these memorials.

"Hier wohnte" = "Here lived", "Ermordet" = "Murdered"

So, I've mentioned how time is running out. It's time to start researching the UK and all that we think we'd like to do while there. It's definitely a different method of planning when we will be 100% tourists. In a few weeks, our feeling of "residents in Berlin" will be done and we'll be moving onto tourist-mode. I'm making our list of landmarks to see, what exhibits to actually go in (without doing too many and driving ourselves crazy), and how to fit it all in knowing that Chris will be working some of this time (the London office is excited for him to come visit).

Unfortunately, we picked a "bad" time to visit London. A city that is already expensive will be all the more expensive when we go due to a big conference that's going on. Bummer. But, thanks again to HotelTonight, we'll find some lodging that will accommodate a family of four at a reasonable price. We just need to buy our super expensive tickets to fly to London (I'm being sarcastic... we're not sure why, but even during this conference time, our tickets are looking to be in the $17-$75 dollar range depending on when we fly and which Berlin airport we choose, crazy!)

So, as I put important things on our "to-see" list (Big Ben, Stonehenge, etc.), I also add a few fun things to try (22B Baker Street and Abbey Road). I don't know what we'll have time for, but we now have a list to guide us.

We met Chris for lunch at a Japanese Kitchen restaurant just next door to HotelTonight. I think we're going to miss having so many sushi places to pick from when we return home.

Then, as Chris goes back to work, the kids and I run a few errands. First, to the Galleria (our go-to store, these days) and pick up a few more souvenirs (we're almost complete on our list of things we want to bring home). Then we're off to find Mailboxes, Etc. (yes, they have those here!). We're looking for boxes and prices to send a few things home.

Riding an U-Bahn. The kids are watching the board to see where we are.
We are excited to see an "Amplemann" of sorts on the display board, denoting a transfer station.
We hadn't seen that before!

As we're hunting for the Mailboxes, Etc. store, we pass by the Volksbühne building (the People's Theatre). Not much to report here other than I thought it was a cool looking building. I liked the street "art" that lead to the building (several metal plates from several directions lead to the building, with, what I think are, quotes or information about writers/playwrights, etc.). Xander liked the "Wheel with Legs" art on the front lawn. In any case, this theatre is just around the corner of our destination.

At Mailboxes, Etc., we buy three boxes and some tape (almost forgot that, which would have been disastrous!) The woman, who helped us, and her coworker said that if we ship using Mailboxes, Etc. it could cost us about €120 per box (we're generalising about weights, since we don't know how heavy they'll be in the end) because Mailboxes, Etc. works with UPS. So, it's faster. But, they suggested, if not in a hurry, to use the Deutsch Post, which will take a few weeks, BUT, only cost about €60 per box. Chris says DHL has always given him a tracking number, so if the real difference is only time, we have that and at half the price?! No brainer? However, in either case, it does make me want to limit what we ship. We will be able to take luggage with us either rolled into the cost of our airline ticket, or at a lower price than either UPS or DHL. So, we'll see what we end up doing. For now, I spend over €30 on boxes and tape just to "think about it".

And what happens when you're walking and carrying paper products? Rain. Of course. Sprinkles, really, thank goodness. We carry our awkward boxes on the U2 and I allow the kids to drag them home while I stop at the market for a few things.

We have a buzzer at our apartment that we have never used. We have guessed which one is ours and have guessed how to use it, but I have always been hesitant to try it. Questions of, "What if they mix up the numbers and names so that outsiders don't know who lives where?" I'd really hate to buzz someone else by mistake. So, I've been too chicken to try it. But, now that my fear is out there and heard by my kids, I feel brave enough to try it when I get back home (and the kids are inside with my keys). We had planned for me to Skype them to come let me in, but now I'm feeling brave, as I mentioned, so I push the buzzer for AHD. I head Xander on the other end, "Hello!" And then a buzzing noise and I can open the door. I head upstairs and he's waiting for me at our apartment door. Cool! And yes, that's a camera above the buzzers, so he was able to see me on a video feed. Cool. Now, perhaps, we can order delivery food as Venice really wants, now that I can tell them what button to push (unlike Chris, who one time ordered delivery food at HotelTonight and had to wait outside for the delivery).

It's another night where Chris won't be home for dinner. His team is going out to play laser tag (we're all jealous) and he won't be back until very late. So, we do a simple dinner at home and I use up some of our pantry items (chocolate-covered-peanut-butter balls!) to drown our sorrows of missing Chris and laser tag.

And then to bed.

I'll leave you with this view of one street. Not the craziest, but just one of the streets that's currently under construction so the lanes are all temporarily painted differently than normal, to help cars, bicycles, and pedestrians find their way. But, seriously... we couldn't figure out who was supposed to go where. So, again... VERY glad to NOT be driving around here!

Random Signs and Such - Part 4

More fun stuff we've seen.... (I apologise if any of them are duplicates, I'm trying to keep it all straight, but you know how that can go!)

We saw this in Prague and we DO love Toffifee (yummy) treats

I think I've shown this before, but it's a bicycle green
light with a pedestrian green light in the background.

Ok, this one cracks us up each time (mostly because the mad is freaky).
But also, the words separately translate as "Student" and "Food".
The compound word Studentenfutter translates as "nuts and raisins".

From our Burrito place down the street

I saw this on FB the other day. Very interesting as the kids have
been eating these Kinder Eggs a lot over here. They have small
toys inside, so I guess they are viewed as a choking hazard
by the U.S. and thus banned. 

The Google "camera" Translation I got before
I was able to change our washer to English.
The different choices of washing;
jeans, shirts, STANK.... you bet!

Seen on a construction site: "We have the plan".
I wish they'd give me a plan, too.

We figured it would be closed if we tried to go.

Awesome!

On the corner of Max-Beer

Um, Xander found this one. No translation could be
found for the "abbreviated" word at the top.

We found a "Charybom" at the farmers market
(they taste really good, by the way)

Sign found at a "Water Boat" hostel.

The "ß" is a double "ss" and we've seen this
word "Spass" everywhere. I finally looked it up
and it translates to "fun"! Yes, Xander is Spaß!

The owners of this shop move the mannequins around
often. However, this mannequin has been
"twerking" for weeks now.

What would be a trip to Germany without "Da Hoff"?
Representing 90's Pop/Trash Eurodance. Sounds fun!

We love seeing the little LEGO people in the construction signs.

Poster: "I do it only in my...."

I laugh at this one every time we drive by. The word "Die" is the word
"The" in German and is pronounced "dee".
However, reading it in "English", it's funny to read,
"Die, Fitness Revolution"! I think lots would agree!