A biking adventure in Golm/Postdam

This week tested our patience. Our apartment in Berlin was not available for another week, which meant we were in Golm for one...more...week. Don't get me wrong, I know there are MANY worse places in the world to live than Golm. It's just that once people leave here to go home (mostly in Berlin), this place becomes deserted....plain empty. Well, the other day while Matt was working, I felt the need to get out and explore, yet didn't have a train pass at the moment and didn't really feel like making the hour commute into Berlin. So....I borrowed a bike! I rode through Golm (which took all of 3 minutes) and into Potsdam. I reached Sanssouci Park and explored the massive park using the various trails that wind throughout. What a beautiful park! Although the bike was a little rusty and the brakes were on their way out, it felt so nice to be out. The weather is turning cooler (50's this week) and pretty soon it will become more of a challenge to get out enjoy the great outdoors. So....I was thankful for this day of biking and exploring. Here are some pics from my outing:

The Japanese Tea House
at Park Sanssouci

A view of Sanssouci

Riding along the path

Many of the homes in Postdam/Golm resemble this one:

On the way through Golm...with some groceries!

Last but not least...this is the guesthouse where we've
been living for the last 2 1/2 weeks!

KaDeWe: A shopper's haven!

Yesterday I journeyed into Berlin to drop off our signed rental contract (we move in early next week and could not be more excited!) Afterward, since I was by myself and had yet to do some shopping in Berlin, I decided to venture over to KaDeWe, Berlin's largest and most extravagant department store. This enormous store is bursting with everything you could ever need (or think you need!). My favorite is the top "Gourmet Floor", which sits high above the surrounding city buildings, and boasts delectable treats from around the world, including (my downfall!) over 1,300 types of CHEESE! There is even an American section where you can find otherwise difficult items to spot in Germany such as peanut butter, chocolate chips, and Hunt's BBQ sauce. I guess I haven't be away long enough to miss my favorite American staples, but I'm sure we'll be back there in the coming months to satisfy our cravings for some home cookin'.

Well, my true mission at the KaDeWe this time was to locate their craft store that I had read about on the internet. Lesley and I recently decided to start a new blog called Sister Knitters (check it out!), where we pick the same project and knit the item for each other. The first project : Mittens!! I was dying to get my hands on some of Germany's best yarns, and I was not let down. I spotted idee from a distance (who could miss it??):


The store was like a gourmet Michaels/AC Moore. Everything was arranged in neat little rows in cute little packages.....without restraint (and with some money in the bank account--where is our money?!), I could have bought it all! I found the knitting section and was in heaven. I had to touch it all. I found some delicious yarn to knit my first project for my favorite sister :) Visit our new site again to see the finished products (not to be revealed, of course, until they make it across the Atlantic Ocean and in the hands of the other sister!) I will certainly be returning to IDEE, and am also planning on visiting Berlin's smaller yarn shops. This is fun!

I almost needed to be restrained!

A street artist on my way back to the train:

Sunday Brunch...and other people's junk

Today we experienced our first true Berlin brunch. Berliners take Sunday brunch very seriously. Typically a Sunday brunch lasts from 11am to 4pm, and many people do end up staying the entire time. A delicious all-you-can-eat feast costs a measly 8 Euros, and you leave feeling like you've eaten enough goodness to last you until next Sunday. Each restaurant boasts their own individual brunch flair. We happened to attend brunch at an Italian restaurant this morning, so ours was equipped with mouth-watering tiramasu as well as assorted meats, cheeses and fruits. I have recently discovered "apfelschorle", which is a slightly fizzy applejuice, and surprisingly thirst-quenching. Ooh this brunch thing could definitely become a habit!



After eating to our heart's content, we decided burn off some calories by walking to Mauer Park in Prenzlaur Berg. This park is the old site of the Berlin wall ("mauer" means "wall" for those beginner German students!) and each Sunday there is a HUGE flea market here. The market draws many Berliners alike in search of various items - anything from clothing to bike parts to....you name it, you'll probably find it! Mostly it was heaps and heaps of junk.....but one person's junk is another person's treasure, right? We had our eye on some used furniture that we could use in our new apartment, as well as some light fixtures, kitchen supplies, and home decor. We also found another flea market one block away from our new apartment (which we'll be moving to in a week!) so we're excited to get back there once we're in the neighborhood. Here's a video of us at the market checking out the goods....including a wig that Matt wouldn't let me buy :)

First Impressions

Sanssouci = Without Worries

Is it really possible only one week has passed since our arrival? From the moment our plane landed and we stepped foot on the streets of this vibrant city, we've been going....nonstop. With all of the anticipation of this big move abroad, we were willing and ready to jump right in and tackle all looming threats of jetlag, culture shock, etc. And I'd say we've done OK so far!

In the last 7 days, we've learned to navigate the trains (which involved missing a few, of course!) and at the same time realized that our legs were in for a huge shock! Like in most cities, you walk, and walk and walk to get anywhere and everywhere. Well, without a car (and no plans to have one), we've been adjusting to this new and necessesary form of daily exercise.

Over the weekend we were lucky enough to get 2 private insider tours of the city. Jong, an American who works with Matt, walked us around the city for hours and hours on Saturday, showing us all the hotspots in the up-and-coming Berlin neighborhoods. We instantly were attracted to these funky neigborhoods nestled in what used to be East Berlin. Rent here is still relatively inexpenisve, and the area is packed with cafes, pubs, parks and theaters. On Sunday, we attended brunch at the home of another of Matt's colleagues, Paul. He and his family live in West Berlin, a nice area that tends to be a bit more pricy and quiet. So much to take in, but our explorations have been very helpful in helping us narrow down the neighborhoods that are right for us.

Other accomplishments include getting cell phones, opening a bank account, and registering our (temporary) address. All of these steps are necessary for securing a flat, so we are on our way to finding our first home here in Berlin! All in all, we are adjusting well and are enjoying each day. We are super motivated at this point to LEARN German, so we will definitely look into classes in the near future. Until next time....aufwiedersehen!

Walking towards Sansouci in Postdam

Our "welcome" basket

The coffee here is the BEST!

Matt's a little suspicious of what's coming behind him-

Touring Potsdam in the fall = gorgeous!