Berlin Winter Camp

As soon as I got back home to Berlin at 9 pm on Saturday, I met my two guests for the week, Roberto from Madrid and Dirk from Gent. We spent the evening chatting at "Cafe Mirell", and since then the two guys are enjoying their time with 500 more Couchsurfers and members of Hospitality Club, whilst I am at home most of the time with a sour throat and a bad cold. Sigh.
Berlin Winter Camp is a wonderful meeting with (mostly) young people from all over the world, having fun in Berlin and especially at HomeBaseLounge close to Potsdamer Platz. Sometimes they are so tired from all the events, walks, visits and activities, they fall asleep on the spot. And then up again until the early hours of the morning.
I only hope for a slightly better health to make it into the new year with my friends.

Merry Xmas!

Have a wonderful time with family and friends!

Short update

I'm back home in Stuttgart with neither time nor means to upload pics, and continue my virtual diary. So this is just a short notice to give a few details. More when I'm back in Berlin next weekend.
Wednesday evening, 17th, Hartmut, Kurt and I met for a Xmas dinner in Xberg in a vegetarian restaurant on Mehringdamm. The place was cosy, and the food delicious. And the gifts we gave each other just great. It's nice to have collegues like these two. Pity Kurt will leave on retirement soon.
Friday, 19th, Kurt met Emil and me to take us to Berlin main station early in the afternoon. The trip was lovely, 1st class (cheaper than 2nd, incredible), we had a compartment for ourselves and a waiter to bring coffee and some chocolates for free. Outside, a bright winter sun shone on a cold, quiet country side. Definitely my way of travelling!
Volker and Alex met us at Stuttgart station and took us home. Emil and I moved up underneath the roof into my tiny room, since Alex's room (where my cat and I had stayed all these months when in Stuttgart) was taken by two cute cats already: Theo and Julchen.
Seemed like Anna had found a nice new home for the sweeties, but then, after a lot of visits and calls, after all it was not the perfect place for them. Anna was not too angry, actually. she loves them, especially the girl, and still hopes I will take them. So sad I can't have them in Berlin.
Saturday, 20th, we had planned to do some heavy Xmas shopping together. But no chance: Anna wasn't feeling well, a small, but nasty winter cold, so we cancelled the trip downtown to Stuttgart center and its Xmas market. I wasn't overly sorry about that and enjoyed my time at home.
On Sunday, 21st, though, whilst Anna and Volker were off to a birthday lunch, I strolled around the city and went back home loaden with parcels. The rest of the day, I spent with wrapping up gifts. Alex took a huge box to the post office the next day. Hopefully, it will arrive at my sister's in time.
Monday, 22st, was a very special day: I went to the bank and paid the huge amount of 13 136,49 Euro. And now I'm the proud owner of the house we're living in since 20 years. No more mortgage to be paid at all! Alex and I had a glass of champagne to celebrate it. (Anna and Volker were off working. We'll have some more ´celebrations soon.)
Later, I met Tina in a small cafe in the Wittwer bookshop. She doesn't believe in giving present for Xmas (poor her), but she was delighted when she saw the Tapies book I had chosen for her a few months ago at the Instituto Cervantes exhibition in Berlin. Some more chatting and strolling around the center, and I was off to get back home. Shops and streets were way too crowded for me this year!
I had meant to meet Heike and Bettina, but a week seems too short, especially when everybody is busy. So e-mails, phone calls, and Xmas cards and letters will have to do. So many friends all over the world waiting for a greeting.
And today it's Tuesday, 23rd, and still so much to do and buy before Xmas eve tomorrow. We're invited to have kässpätzle with Roland, my former husband and the kids' father and his friend Sabine, on 25th (old family tradition now). Ulli, his brother, will be there, too. So we'll have the same precedure as last year and invite them all for brunch on 26th. And in the evening, Helen and Felix will arrive by car from Düsseldorf to stay for a week. I'm glad I'll spend some time with them, since I'll leave for Berlin again on Saturday already.
There's a huge event, starting Dec 28th and going through to Jan 2nd, called Berlin Winter Camp which I would hate to miss. More than 500 members of Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club will meet, enjoy the city and each others company, and party together. I promised to host a few.
I'm looking forward to these days, but might love being on my own again in my flat with Emil, and be happy when returning back to work and new tasks in 2009. :)

December weekend at home

After these days which saw me buzzing about with newly found energy, I felt like relaxing a bit this afternoon in my livingroom, before going to Crellestraße Xmas events and more.
The magical lamp - not to be rubbed, but to be looked at from very close every morning for 30 minutes - works indeed! Either it's just the right medication, or a super good placebo. More energy, more fun!

An evening out in Schöneberg

Seàn had asked me to have a look at a flat with him - he is pondering to buy one. I agreed happily, I love looking for flats, and enjoy all the ideas of furnishing, painting, new neighbourhoods. Especially if I don't have to move myself.
Since the flat was situated close to Odeon cinema, showing the new Woody Allen "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", and Seàn loves movies, and had been living in Barcelona for a few years, we decided to go to the movies afterwards. And in between have a burger at Cooper's.
The flat was so-so, and the burgers, as well. But I loved the movie. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz - a movie can't be bad starring these two spanish actors! I love and admire them since I first saw them 15 years ago in "Jamon, jamon".
Plus it was great to have enough energy to do all this after a long day of work, and still feel well enough to play with Emil around midnight.
He's doing wonderful, the vet told me. His heart is beating just fine, thanks to the new medication. And my patience and persistance with my sweet tomcat.

Twinkle, twinkle

Today a huge package arrived containing the energy light. One hour later, it was unwrapped, unpacked and installed, and I was sitting in front of it soaking up the light beams. Thirty minutes later, a hot spur of long missed energy took over.
I took my purse, put on my thick wintercoat and woollen cap, and was off to IKEA to get some decorations. Another two hours and a long walk through the dark evening (no problem with me, I had energy galore) later, I was back home and the decorations were fixed already.
And I still had enough energy left to do some food shopping, washing, and cleaning, before taking Emil to the vets. Wow! What a success after one session of light intake! I'm supposed to take nine more to feel fine for a month. Why had I only thought about this remedy now? I might have gained so much more all these winters!

Santa girls in town

In between sniffing and sneezing, I went out and about to buy some of those daylight bulbs my doctor had advised me to get. No chance at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, "Saturn" just don't sell them.
I found this nice Santa girl though, and had to take a pic. Pity I don't like spareribs too much. Vegetables and fruits for me, please, and to ban the winter blues, some chocolate, too.

Waiting for Xmas in Schöneberg

No Xmas tree at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz, but all the shops and many windows and balconies are decorated nicely.
I passed the Starbucks' on my way from the doctors back home (shitty winter cold and slight winter depression, as always - a very longlasting Novemver blues), and was surprised by the drawing some kids had been allowed to do on the windows. What a lovely idea!
And then on to my laptop and ordering an energylight. When in need of sun, either travel to sunny coasts or use Philips' magic machine!

Xmas market at Berlin town hall

Berlin center is one huge Xmas market, like every year. They're all slightly different, the one in front of Berlin town hall tends to be like in 19th century.
You can stroll around the booths, admire the huge Xmas trees, go for rides on the fun fairs and ice rinks, and enjoy winter life in general. Make sure you're dressed up warm enough, or else you'll catch a cold. And the hot spicy mulled wine won't help either, just make you tipsy!

Meeting Nikolaus

Here's a cute little kid meeting Nikolaus for the first time in life. Big eyes, open mouth, wondering what this strange whitebearded old man in red coat and hood might want.
Do you still remember your childhood fears and joys waiting for Santa to come, talk to you, and if you're lucky grant you some gifts? I certainly do. Oh dear, I used to be so anxious...

December in Berlin

Xmas markets, funfairs, decorated shopping malls - Berlin is taken over by Xmas. I had a look around some of the places in Berlin center: Potsdamer Platz, Sonycenter, Alexanderplatz.
This is part of the funfair at Alexa, the huge shopping mall.

Santa Claus in town

Another day of strolling around Berlin center, looking for Xmas gifts, and taking walks in the crisp air. Not much sun, alas. But lots of fun, all the same.
Have a look at Santa Claus at Kadewe, the famous department store. Bit early, though, he should come December 6th only. Maybe this is Father Xmas??? Knecht Ruprecht? Father Frost? Looks like Father Frost to me, coming to cosy Berlin indoor winterwonderwoods from icy Siberia.
By the way, green decorations on Xmas trees are quite the fashion this year. I prefer red and gold, I'm sticking to our family traditions.

Xmas tree at ver.di - 2nd

And this is what the huge decorated tree looks like seen from the ver.di entrance hall. Not bad either. Outside there's snow, which you can't see in this pic. That's why I had to tell you. Nice, white, soft flakes tumbling down all day. But it's too warm for them to stay in Berlin center. And no chance to build snowmen or -women either. Just slippery enough to fall and hurt your shoulder. Better not. Knock on wood...

Xmas tree at ver.di

When I arrived at the office this morning, stomping my way from Ostbahnhof station to the river through the rain, I was greeted by a Xmas tree. Decorated in red and gold, red being the ver.di colour, and gold adding some festive touch.
Only when leaving the office just before 5:30 pm was I thinking of taking a pic. The tree does add some warmth and feeling, doesn't it?

Fight aids!

Aids is far from being cured. Around the globe, millions of people are suffering from this desease.
25 years ago, hardly anybody in Germany had heard about it. Now you find the symbolic red ribbon even in Berlin S-train on your way home from work.