"Ich bin ein Berliner!" We are just past the 60 year anniversary of John F. Kennedy's speech of support to the people of West Berlin, and nearing the one week anniversary of my last web journal entry. I introduce Berlin with a picture (heavily cropped by Monika at the request of me and my delusion that I retain some vestige of youthful appearance) of me eating what some people in Germany call a Berliner. The people of Berlin do not, apparently, call this a Berliner. They call if a "pfannkuchen" (without the 'f' sound). They were not at all confused by Kennedy -- they know their Berliners from their Pfannkucken. Whatever you call this doughnut, it was handmade, huge, and delicious. And, as you can see, I am learning a LOT about German history.
As you will probably see -- at least I have -- being a Berliner, or at least a Berliner that is living in Kreuzberg, as we are, means that you get to see some amazing graffiti. This is four-story wall art and was the very first thing I saw after exiting the train to walk to the apartment. The writing in the lower left says, "DON'T LET THE SYSTEM GET YOU DOWN". I'm a fan, of the message and the art. Since being here, I've seen every kind of person imaginable. There are tourists, hipsters, young families, affluent people and a ton of drug sellers and users. There are also a lot of people doing things like this.
A Couple of Neighborhood Parks