Boxhagener

Today we went back to Boxhagener platz. Loved it all over again. Girls had so much fun at the big playground in the middle while we got some good cappuccinos before strolling the market for groceries. The best smoked salmon and mackerel definitely is to be found on this very market. Besides the fish a thing that really stands out here is that every person behind the stands is so very nice and helpful. For our dog this must also be one of his favorite spots for he gets treats at several stands.

The big surprise today is the lovely little lady in the corner of the market that sells little bouquets of lilacs and lily-of-the-valley that make our house smell so nice for the next couple of days

Gartnerstrasse

Last day in Friedrichshain. Took the opportunity to make a quick run to Gartnerstrasse where there really are a couple of great shops when you have children – or need to buy presents for children you know. Siebenschoen has great toys, books, stickers and a riding horse to keep your child busy when you’re looking for presents. Also very challenging when you want to leave and get your kid to come with you without making a huge scene.

Next door there is Dolly Rocker who have great soft and comfy kids clothes (lot of scadinavian) and they have their own line in clothing, Or at least they make their own warm children’s hats. Also great postcards and decorative stuff. Too bad we will not be living in the neighborhood, although I guess Prenzlauerberg should have lots of great kid shops as well. 

Empty Spaces

Berlin is a huge city with a lot of recent history. Especially the Eastern part, which is one of the main reasons we hope to live in this half of the city. Because the city only so recent started to restore and develop huge parts there are still so many undeveloped and old places. Old barns, fabrics, breweries and so on. These places give a lot of room for people to be creative. Today I walked past these empty buildings and heard the most wonderful jazzy music coming from inside. Me and my girls have been standing there and listening for at least 10 minutes, loving the music and loving the fact we now live in a city where this kind of surprises are possible around every corner.

Graffiti

The two things I described in the previous post – two things I love about Berlin - are also combined in this pictures. Children and creativity. Playgrounds and graffiti. Of course not all graffiti can be named creative or art, but because in Berlin there is room for this form of art there are a lot of beautiful, unexpected drawings that lighten up the city and definitely make it more colorful. It is a form of art I really miss in Amsterdam, because it is so prohibited graffiti most of the time can actually be described as vandalism more than art. One of the most shocking, but characteristic happenings for the current policy was when the London Police made this beautiful huge painting on the side of a house on the canals and the city government wanted to remove it because they didn’t have a legal license for the painting. Only after a lot of protesting they decided to leave the painting be. Anyway, on this subject Amsterdam could lean a little more towards the Berlin policy because I really do think wall art can brighten up the streets.

I now see these pictures are not the best examples to support my story, just outside the pictures of the slides there was a great drawing of a huge hand on the wall. I will later on try to make and post good examples of the graffiti I am referring to

Boxhagenerplatz

Thanks to the fantastic new hosts of our second Berlin apartment (via airbnb) we ended up at Boxhagenerplatz on our first Saturday morning in Friedrichshain. This market alone would be enough reason for me to want to live in this neighborhood! They have everything you'd want for your Saturday groceries, from goats cheese to cheese cake and from homemade sausages to lovely I-could-eat-this-everyday smoked fishes (the trout!!!) All of very good quality and the people behind the stalls are so very nice and friendly (especially to children and dogs) The ladies of the potato stall even have gummybarchen and cookies for visiting children and dogs! And the apple man (pictured) warned me to not give his freshly squeezed apple juice to the twins for it could be to heavy for them, so very attentive!