Bumbag Motel

Here we have our friend Jo and I at dusk in Gorlitzer Park. Jo was in town for 4 days on a European trip – we  did some new bar exploring, found a great new burger joint and all round enjoyed beers and catch ups.

After a relaxing and non-moving from the house Saturday, we made the most of our Sunday. Tegan, Felix and I ventured to Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain where we found an amazing cupcake cafe. That got us pepped for looking around the Boxhagnerplatz markets and then onto Mauer park for some people mania time, shopping and beers on the grassy knoll. Then it was to “Hamy”, a great Vietnamese restaurant by Hermannplatz, for a tasty finale to Tegan and Felix’s visit in Berlin.

The 15th of April 2011 welcomed my sister Leigh into her 30th year, my friend Olga into her 25th and Felix here also into his 25th! Here we commenced celebrations for Felix (he and Tegan were visiting Berlin this week) in the park with some beers and apple cake. Proceeded onto more beers and then the Ethiopian experience for dinner, beers at Franken, more beers at other bars, then an ongoing evening at the club “Ritter Butzke” – good Berlin experiences all round!

For nearly a month we didn’t have use of a kitchen sink which meant difficult cooking times plus no washing machine. This meant that our bathroom and bedroom also became our kitchen and dining area. Got through it with many delicious goodies though, here we have goat’s cheese, avacado, strawberries and fresh bread.

So nice to feel the warmth of the sun again! I was a little overdressed for this beautifully sunny day, where we had brunch in Kreuzberg before doing some flea market scouring to delight in the fact that we get to stay in Berlin as our German visas were finally approved! Got a great light box that now adorns our bedroom wall from Boddinstrasse markets – definitely the best for a bargain.

Kyuss is a “desert rock” band from the States who were fondly followed by many folk from Invercargill. I remember sneaking into my sister’s room to listen to the song “El Rodeo” – 10 years later it sounded even better live, at a great music venue that is 5 minutes walk from our flat! Below is the front of the venue “Columbiahalle”, it used to be a Cassino for American troops stationed at Tempelhof airport which is right across the road from our flat. Below is also Cam enjoying the last of his beer before heading in. There were multiple shopping trolleys out front for the empties, as you get 8 cents refund for a bottle – love that game.

Cam was taking some room photos as he has his “studio” setup here, and decided to take a topographical photo of my hometime computer arrangement. me likes the colour composition.

Had a great Sunday exploring the fleamarkets at Mauer Park, beers on the grassy knoll, karaoke perusing and then kreuzberg outdoor art strolling. Here we have Mick and Cam contemplating along the Spree river.

We had an excellent evening at NZ artist Nicky Broekhuysen’s exhibition in Mitte in Berlin. Great works, lot’s of people to catch up with and free beer!! (unheard of in these parts). After here, we took Mick and Abbie to O’Tannebaum, a great bar n Neukölln to sup and chat the night away.