Archive for the ‘Guides’ Category

ベルリンの公共“本の野外無料交換所”－プレンツラウアーベルグ（Prenzlauer Berg）にて

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

ベルリンの公共“本の野外無料交換所”－プレンツラウアーベルグ（Prenzlauer Berg）にて

2010年7月21日　ベルリン

コルビッツァー通り（Kollwitzstrasse）の角から少し離れ、スレズキ通り（Sredzkistraße、つづりに注意！）上、長い人気を誇るカフェ・アンナ・ブルーメン（Cafe

Anna Blum）のすぐ近くに、本好きの心を揺さぶるものがあります。それは、誰でもいつでも利用可能な、本の野外無料交換所。

木の幹を、箱型に深く切り抜き、雨風を避けるためプラスチックの窓を付けて作られた本棚に、本は並べられています。

(picture of the trank-shelf)

ただ、上の写真を見てもわかるように、雨風は防げるのですが、ベルリン“名物”の落書きにはさらされています。見た目もよく創造的な落書きには反対しないものの、ここに描かれている無神経な落書きはちょっといただけません。。。

学者・学生・専門家が、専門分野の書類を手に入れるのにこのシステムを使うことは無いでしょうが、この民主主義的なアイディアはとてもいいモデルで、私が長い間、何度も足を運んで観察したところ、多くの人に使われ続け、手入れもされています。

ユーチューブで、どのように使われるかを見ることができます。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI7h5fBHPfg

不要な本を、なにも聞くことなく、いつ何時でも貸し出すというアイディア。これは図書館や本棚の代用ではなく、なにか特別な意味を持っているように思います。

遡ること80年前、この同じ街ベルリンにて、まったく逆のこと、ナチスのジョゼフ・ゲッペルスによる、ナチスの政治思想に合わない本の焚書（本の焼却）が行われました。

ベルリン市は、その忌まわしい歴史をずっと忘れないため、ベルリン国立オペラ劇場（Berliner

Staatsoper）横のバベル広場（Babel Platz）に、独特なモニュメントをずっと展示しています。

地下に埋められた、空っぽの本棚、それが、今でも見る者に、1933年にベルリンで起こった事件を思い起こさせます。

http://www.house42.com/2008/10/21/book-burning-memorial-berlin/

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Pissoirs/Urinals in Berlin – last of a dying breed – says a lot about a culture

Saturday, July 17th, 2010
Berlin  17 – 07 – 2010

Pissoir at Senefelderplatz Berlin - foto OTA-Berlin Aleksandr Vasilevsky

Pissoir at Senefelderplatz Berlin - foto OTA-Berlin Aleksandr Vasilevsky

Public Toilet design can and does say a lot about a society – in North America and the UK the open air urinal is almost unknown – probably as a result of the false and hypocritical prudery of these cultures.

‘Pissoirs’, the French word for urinal – and sounds better – started its public life in France but up to this day continue to exist throughout the world.

They have fallen out of fashion somewhat in the later 20th century, but now are making a revival of sorts in large European cities – ultra modern pay versions are often to be found in public places in Berlin.

The UK which has the same Anglo-Saxon prudishness as the US recently relaxed its disfavour against open air urinals, mainly because of the problem of afterhours binge drinking and subsequent ‘do-it-anywhere’ stress free urination.

In England some cities have introduced cylindrical pissoirs which are hidden during the day, telescope out of the ground at night, for the relief of beer-drinking drunken hordes of the after-hours.

The city of Berlin seems to have taken the privatization rage quite literally and now provides private ‘pay-as-you-go’ public toilets – however many of the older charming ‘Pissoirs’ remain – and they are used and useful!

These typical Berlin green octagonal shaped – the base form is nearly always the same – have some slight variations however the very distinctive octagonal base form is constant and about 30 still survive today.

The originals date from the late 1800’s and circa 50 existed at the turn of the last century – due to the architectural protection they enjoy under a very enlightened and active Berlin City municipal government they will remain as vestiges of the past as well as being practical public conveniences.

At the street corner above the U-bahn station Senefelder Str. above the U2   [see fotos] is one of the few pissoris which survived even under the former DDR in what was then East Berlin.

For a very detailed and well documented and entertaining review of all the ‘Pissoirs of Berlin’ pls go to:

http://www.surveyor.in-berlin.de/berlin/real/indexe.html

The English translation is horribly awful – rather ‘pissy’ actually if you will excuse the pun -has been made by some stupid auto-mated robot …however you will get the main gist of what is being said and is well worth the visit!

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‘Black-Maze Building Berlin’ am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin Mitte – 50m von OTA-Berlin Serviced Apartments entfernt

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Berlin  02-05-2010

Endlich wurde das Baugerüst des großartigen und bemerkenswerten neuen ‘Black-Maze Building Berlin’ am Rosa-Luxemburg Platz, Berlin Mitte entfernt – 50m von OTA-Berlin Serviced Apartments

'Black Maze' Building Berlin - foto www.OTA-Berlin.de

'Black Maze' Building Berlin - foto www.OTA-Berlin.de

'Black Maze' Building Berlin - foto www.OTA-Berlin.de

Ein neues schwarzes Gebäude am Rosa-Luxenburg Platz – in diesem Blog “Black-Maze Building Berlin” genannt – offiziell jedoch unter “L-40” bekannt, ist kürzlich abgerüstet worden.

Das Ergebnis ist eine überwältigende matt schwarze verschachtelte Beton Struktur, welche sich trefflich in ein kleines Baugrundstück im Herzen des neuen progressiven kulturellen Zentrums von Berlin-Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg einfügt.

Das Grundstück liegt im Herzen der Stadt ein Steinwurf entfernt von der U-Bahn Station Rosa-Luxemburg Platz, wie im mittleren Foto sichtbar.

Das Gebäude besteht aus einer Tiefgarage und einer Mischung aus Apartements und Büros. http://www.l-40.de/de/index.php

Das Erstaunlichste an dem Gebäude ist seine genaue Lage – und gleichzeitig die Erlaubnis der Stadtverwaltung, den Bau solch einer modernernen und ikonoklastischen Struktur in einer Nachbarschaft des späten 19. Jhd. zuzulassen.

Viele Gebäude in der unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft wurden während des II. Weltkrieges zerbombt und die ehemalige DDR tat wenig für den Wiederaufbau insbesondere dieses Gebietes,  so war die Entscheidung an dieser Ecke wohl bei Null anzufangen.

Die Herausforderung bestand darin eine neue Struktur in den jetzigen Bestand zu integrieren – eine Mischung aus Moderne, spätes 19. Jhd. und Mitte 50er ’DDR -Cheapo’.

Es zeigt sich als eine weise und tapfere Entscheidung die verschiedenen Jahrhunderte auf diese Art kombiniert zu haben – es scheint in diesem Fall in allen Bereichen geglückt.

Das “Black-Maze Building Berlin” hat das gesamte Areal verbessert durch seinen Wow-Effekt und sein überwältigendes modernes Schau-mich-an Wesen –  ausgeführt mit Feingefühl und gutem Geschmack.

Das Gebäude versucht nicht hübsch zu sein, es fällt keiner Modewelle anheim und es weist keine billigen Verschönerungsmittel auf, welche ein Gebäude schon 2 Jahre nach Fertigstellung alt aussehen lässt und welche wir alle so hassen.

Es ist im Kern ein einmaliges Gebäude – es ist keine Kopie oder Produkt einer gewissen Schule oder Trend – und gerade dies ist auch gut so und soll auch so sein.

Wir heißen es am Rosa-Luxemburg Platz willkommen und ziehen vor den Stadtplanern den Hut dafür dass sie die Stärke gehabt haben es hier bauen zu lassen.

Die Architekten verdienen ebenfalls genannt zu werden und wahrscheinlich den meisten Beifall – sie sind: Roger Bundschuh & Cosima von Bonin  [ www.bundschuh.net].

Wir heißen diese neue dynamische Struktur in unserem Gebiet willkommen und sind sicher, dass sie im Laufe der Zeit zu einem Identifikationsmerkmal werden wird – die Architekten und die Stadt haben mit diesem Gebäude der ästhetischen und architekturellen Integrität Berlins etwas hinzugefügt – vielen Dank!

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Das „OTA-Berlin Besucher-Blog“ bietet Berlin-Gästen einen schnellen Überblick über kulturelle, sportliche und gesellschaftliche Ereignisse in Berlin während Ihres Aufenthaltes.

 Das „OTA-Berlin Besucher-Blog“ besteht bereits seit Mai 2008. Seine Einträge werden in abwärts chronologischer Weise dargestellt.

 Das Blog enthält weiterhin kurze Überblicke über relevante Nachrichten aus Deutschland mit Bezug zu Berlin und kommentiert sie, um sie hervorzuheben und Interesse zu wecken.

Die Möglichkeit für Leser des „OTA-Berlin Besucher-Blogs“ interaktiv Beiträge zu hinterlassen, ist ein wichtiges Merkmal und unterstützt die Teilnahme des Lesers

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The Berlin Weinerei is not a Schweinerei!

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

[In German a big gyp, or a fraud type scandal is called a <<Schweinerei>>.]

In Berlin a system of you <<pay what you think this is worth>> system has been in operation for over a decade at the Berlin Weinerei.

It may sound like a completely backward way of running a business, but in fact you go and eat, [and drink after 2000hrs!] and then you pay what you think it was all worth. They do emphasize that you should be respectful with your payment, which means you should average at least 2 Euros a glass but for the quality of the wine this is often a great deal One cannot argue with success however because the Weinerei has been around over 10 years and is doing fine thank you very much.

The history of the pricing-option came about by the owners trying to bring out the sommalier in us all. They started with a wine shop on Veeteranen Str and as their customer base grew they decided to turn the often all too elite world of wine on its head by offering everyone the chance to sample and experience different wines for cost. So in keeping with their small-business mentality and basic trust in their customers left the pricing as an option at the end of the meal – <<please leave your money in the box at the front door>>.

People in the neighborhood loved the place and it has become so successful that there are now 3 separate Weinerei all in the area of Zionskirchplatz in Berlin Mitte.

After one of your meals you may want to visit the nearby Zionskirch [Zions church] which has recently been the focus of a renovation campaign on on the outside, but is still completely barren inside.

This is where the German Luthern theologian and heroic resistor to the Third Reich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor.This great and heroic figure stands out in recent German history as a moral giant – especially when compared to his opponents, the moral pygmies, the rat-like nazis.

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Love in Berlin – Fun, Budget, Classic and Unique Date Ideas

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Dying for that Spectacular Date in Berlin? Twelve Ideas Coming Up.

So the great news is that you have this hot date tonight… It’s that person you just met on the subway or that person you came to Berlin with, or even that person you’ve been seeing here for a month. But the bad news..? You want to have some ‘special’ time together and do something novel. But what oh what do you do when your ideas have suddenly run dry and that dreadful question floats threateningly across the phone line: ‘So then.. what do you want to do?’ To help you circumvent answering your lover with that chronic response of insecure agreeableness: ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’, here are some ideal answers.

Budget Suggestions

“Let’s have a picnic in the park”

-In summer, go to a park. Tiergarten is fantastic and spacious. There are areas that grow crowded with meat-loving-Germans, grilling away while drinking beers with friends, as well as a plethora of little groves, great for private picnics. Volkspark Friedrichshain is another great one.

“Do you have running shoes with you?”

-Be the couple that works out together…. Go for a run together along the Spree. In winter you will run faster because of the cold, in summer you will get sweaty together.

“Do you prefer paintings or statues?”

-Visit a museum Thursday night for free. From 6 to 10 p.m. various museums open their doors ‘umsonst’, so take advantage. For art lovers the Gemaelde Galerie at Potsdamer Platz is recommended, and for history lovers the Egyptian Museum near Lustgarten tops the list.

Classic Suggestions

“There’s this film we should definitely check out”

-Go to a movie at the English movie theater, Cinestar at Potsdamer Platz

“Do you love food as much as me?”

-Eat dinner at one of Berlin’s most prestigious restaurants: Hotel Adlon, Fischers Fritz, Margaux, Hugos, or Die Quadriga

“I have to admit, I just adore the arts”

-Go to the opera, theater or philharmonic and dress to the nines.

Unique to Berlin Suggestions

“They say Berlin looks great from the river”

-Take a boat tour along the Spree in all seasons with YCS Chartered Yacht Service. Berlin has some nice architecture you can appreciate along the way.

“Do you have a favorite bar or club yet?”

-Meet at a bar, and then follow it up by going to a club. While dinner and a movie might be the classic date combo for other cities, here a bar and a club really are the thing. White Trash Fast Food is quite popular with English speakers, and clubs like Weekend in Mitte or Puro in the west, both have really romantic views of the city.

“Are you free Sunday morning for some bartering?”

-Go to a flea market Sunday morning. The mother of them all is Mauer Park in Prenzlauerberg from about 9a.m. to 3p.m. There is also a cute one near the S-Bahn Tiergarten.

Super-Fun Date Suggestions

“When was the last time you mini-golfed?”
-Play minigolf and ping pong in Tegel at Peter’s Miniatur-Golf-Welt at in Minigolf und Pit-Pat am Hertzbergplatz in Neukölln.
“I throw an amazing bowl (I’m awful at bowling) but it’s great for your arms…”

-Go bowling at Bowling Center am Alexanderplatz

“How do you feel about modern poetry?”

-Go to a poetry reading. Check out the schedule of Rosi’s or Mano Cafe every Thursday for open mic night, or alternatively visit Ackerkeller

Author: CA

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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Shop Vintage in Berlin at the Flohmarkt (Flea market) am Mauerpark and More

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Go Vintage and Go Home with Clothes – Plus Money Left Over

The idea of vintage, or previously worn clothing, comes to most people like the thought of Britney Spears. It’s either accompanied by a quick ‘Love it!’ or a plain ‘Ewww!’ If you fall into the former category then do read on.

Flohmarkt am Mauerpark

Probably the best place to acquire clothing, often for 1 Euro per article, is the Mauerpark Flohmarkt on Sundays. About ¾ of the sellers are regulars, so if you happen to refrain from a purchase only to go home to dire regrets, you will most likely be able to pick up whatever you missed in a week. From designer sunglasses to organic dress to home made jewelry, there is supply for most of what you could think to demand.

The highlight of the Flohmarkt is perhaps the transient current of one-week-only sellers, people selling their personal goods. Not only are they more than willing to barter, often times they are there in the spirit of ‘giving’ and will sell their old clothes, watches, hats etc for prices like .50 cents. Sometimes the items are clearly old and don’t find sellers, while other times things that are once worn/new appear at their stands. With these ‘once a summer’ sellers, who tend to be younger and have smaller stands, you are best buying whatever you like when you see it, as it may not be there in even an hour. Interested in selling? For about 30 Euros you can get your own stand.

More Vintage Shopping

Garments  – Stargarderstraße 12 A, Berlin

Garments offers Vintage clothing in Prenzlauerberg. Sells vintage accessories and clothes, some even from movies. Cute and suprising.

Stiefelkombinal-Berlin – Eberswalder Str. 21-22

You will find more than just shoes here. It consists mostly womens and mens clothes primarily from the 30s to 80s. In this eclectic mix it’s impossible to know what you will find until you find it.

Paris Second Hand – Rigaer Str. 41

The name alone draws in customers. The clothing comes, naturally, exclusively from France for men, women and children. If you are looking for one of a kind pieces in Berlin, you certainly won’t find the clothes here anywhere else.

Author: CA

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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How To Flirt with Germans in Berlin

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

If you have ever visited Germany you have either heard or uttered one of the following complaints, “German women won’t talk to me!” or “German women are so cold!” or “German men never approach me” etc. Germans are ahem, special people, and they really do require their own style of interaction.

While German women are generally the harder of the two to engage in conversation, if they do show interest in you, they mean it. They will not waste their time flirting with anybody, as German men might do in order ‘to make friends.’

I combined my own experience with some intense flirtation discussions with Germans, and these are the conclusions. Here is a step-by-step guide of how to approach the person you’ve had your eye on in the bar.

1. Make eye contact and hold it. This seems like a no-brainer but this is NEVER a step Germans themselves will skip. In fact, this IS the epitome of’flirting’ for most Germans. German men love being approached by women by suprise since they so rarely are. I would say just go talk to them if you find them attractive, however if they are not interested it could be uncomfortable if you skip the eye contact step. German women are more likely to turn on the cold if you approach them without the necessary eye-forewarning.

2. Smile. A German man is accustomed to German women who won’t give him the time of day, even when they are interested. He will probably leap out of his chair to come speak to you if you do this, I kid you not. Throw the guy a bone. German women on the other hand might be put off by this kind of ‘forwardness’ but it is pretty much the only way to break the ice, unless you care to send some drinks their way beforehand. That probably will do you very little good anyway, although they might feel forced to speak to you briefly out of gratitude.

3. Wave them over or move in for the kill. For German men I suggest signaling them over with your hand while you two are holding eye contact. This might seem bold but they are shy creatures, and without encouragement will easily pass up an opportunity, no matter how interested they are. For German women I suggest moving over to talk to them. They will NOT respond to the wave over, and if you attempt it, prepare to be unpardonably ignored.

Tip 1: If you arrange to meet a German later on in a bar or club, they will probably bring friends even if you two don’t discuss it. Therefore I recommend doing the same.

Tip 2: When a German man asks for your number he means business, 90% of the time you will hear from him within 24 hours. He won’t call you he will text you, and use a lot of smily icons. A German woman you should text first though.

Tip 3: German men are kind of like doves, in that they are looking to mate for life. What you think might be a fling might mean much more to him. German women on the other hand might be looking for a fling, so beware expecting more.

Author: CA

OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog, brought to you by OTA-Berlin Holiday Apartments

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Posted in Berlin, Berlin General, Guides, Party | 8 Comments »