Today was the first day of spring. A very chilly day it was. And at 9 when I looked out of the window I could see snowflakes. Many of them. All the cars are white, the streets are pretty white too. I am all excited about it especially as it has also been snowing in Switzerland and David is going to come over soon (easter holidays) and we plan to go skiing, snowboarding for a day or two. Excellent!
A guy from work had asked me whether I wanted to see the Killers as he had a ticket but couldn’t go. I said yes of course. While I don’t know all their songs I have got one of their albums and like their music. They played in the arena treptow near Warschauer Strasse. The arena has space for several thousand people and was quite full but not sold out. Mumm-ra played as supporting act and where quite good. The people liked it.
The Killers opened with 3 of their hits but then continued to also play some of their not so well known material and stuff from the new album Sam’s Town. They came back two times and played a good two hours. 
Tonight after work we went to Kreutzberg for food and drinks. Axel, Yann and Laura that is. We had to take Subway no 7 and then change to no ?? to get to Kottbusser Tor. On the way there, there was a minor incident in the waggon with a few people with coloured skin making music in the train and a German guy not liking it and abusing them verbally. Then another guy rose to defend the musicians and they were shouting at each other. Like two cockerels. I’ll have to get used to these kind of scenes in Belrin. They happen and I am not really feeling that comfortable.
Kreuzberg is a borough in Berlin with lots of Turkish shops and cafes. We went to a tapas and cocktail bar called Mas y Mas where we had the most fabulous tapas platters. The service was very good and they even satisfied our wishes for our favorite tapas. After dinner we went to a place called Würgeengel that was very nice as well. I had to try a Pimm’s No.1, made of Pimm’s, Ginger Ale, Cucumber as it had been recommended in the snowboard touring camp. It tastes refreshing and not sweet. Yummy.
I quite liked the whole area, shops, bars, restaurants, houses and would quite like to spend some more time in Berlin. Unfortunately I have to fly back to Zurich tomorrow Friday. But I’ll try to arrange that I can go back next week and hopefully stay two or three more weeks. In that case I would rent a furnished flat for a month as it costs about the same as staying in a hotel for a week.
I have been in Berlin since Monday and will leave again this coming Friday night. I am here on business and therefore haven’t had much time checking out town.
The weather has been fairly unstable so far. We have had heavy rain for 5 minutes followed by sleet on Tuesday and more rain today. But tonight when I went into town to meet my distant uncle Joerg the weather was good and a warmisch wind was blowing. I met up with Joerg as I had lost my wallet in his care a few weeks ago when I visited them for the first time and he had found it on Monday. Pure coincidence that I was in Berlin the very day that he found it. I am glad I got my wallet back but I would rather not have lost it, as I have long replaced everything in it for good money.
Tonight went to the Hackesche Hoefe, buildings and courts with lots of small shops, cafes, cinema, restaurants well worth checking out. After that we walked down Oranienstrasse or sth like that and came close to the Synagogue where I had dinner in the exquisite reastaurant Kadima. I had quail (Wachtel) for the first time in my life. It tasted nice and tender but there really isn’t a lot of meat on such a tiny bird. I also had the chance to try beers from Israel. Goldstar dark which is one of the best bee I’ve ever had and another one called Maccabee that was ok but nothing special.