Tour of Tempelhof Airport

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/28/europe/berlin.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempelhof_Central_Airport

We had an interesting opportunity to take a tour of Tempelhof Airport on Saturday, the day before a referendum vote about whether to keep it open or not. The referendum did not get enough votes in favor of keeping it open so it looks likes it probably will close in the fall (see first article). It's historical because the U.S. Airforce used it after WWII all the way until 1994. So, between that, turning over Am Hegewinkel, and the sale of Truman Plaza, we are really seeing some of the last remaining reminders of the former U.S. military presence disappear. It's a good thing but also a little bit sad--the end of an era, really. The entire area of Zehlendorf (where the Clayallee Consulate is) was all the American sector and there used to be a huge military presence.



This is a picture of Tempelhof in its heyday.
This is the top of what used to be a grand entrance, several stories high. The entrance was never used the way it was designed and instead a fake ceiling was installed, and the tops of the pillars were used for marble. This is the view from the second floor (floor is the false ceiling).
We got to go out on the roof and view the airfield.
A plane taxing down the runway about to take off.
Paintings on the walls in the bomb shelter.

Virtual Tour of our Neighborhood

Well it's been one week in our new apartment. We are still getting things settled and waiting for some shelving in our storage unit and hall closet, but the apartment is coming together. The commute is ok--not a fan of getting up earlier but other than that I'm getting used to it. It didn't help that it was freezing and rainy all week. Apparently Berlin has had about twice as much rain as usual so far in April :-(. Friday night we went out to a boat restaurant on the Spree River, but we sat inside the boat. Saturday we attempted to get bagels at a neighborhood place called Coffee Mamas, but we learned it pays to be the early bird because if you don't show up until 11:30 all that's left is tomato bagels. They were setting up for a street fair nearby so we explored that a little bit. Saturday afternoon we went to the Bau Haus which is the German equivalent of Home Depot. We got patio furniture and flowers for our flower boxes. We also bought seeds for an herb garden. This morning was actually sunny and I went for a meander in the neighborhood and took lots of pictures to give you all a virtual tour. Then we had our first softball practice to kick off the season ( you will be hearing a lot about the Berlin Buckaroos from now until August). David and I are headed to our neighbors for dinner tonight, then it's Monday again about back to work.

Here is your virtual neighborhood tour in no particular order:

There is a modern new office complex development just a little ways down the river. Supposedly in the summer they turn this fountain on and the granite ball balances on the water. If that's true you'll be seeing more pictures of it, I'm sure!

Nautical theme playground along the river

is that an awesome slide or what? I am so going down that one day.

The boat restaurant/bar where we got drinks Friday night.

The famous konditerei where we had cake last weekend.

Statue of Bismark

Victory monument up close. I didn't bring any money with me and there was an entrance fee so the view pictures will have to come at a later date.

Some one got creative--we thought pink would have been a better color choice though.

The swans on the river.

The cruise boats on the river.

The street fair we saw on Saturday--complete with an NFL tent and Pirates inflatable baseball bats.

more street fair

This is the park they are building right next door to our apartments. Who thought that a purple hippopotamus would be a good idea????

view of the Spree River from one of the bridges nearby. people just tie their boats up on the edge and get out to take a walk.

The Tiergarten--this is like the Central Park of Berlin and there are lots of running and bike trails and a Biergarten inside.

Victory monument from across the circle.

There are segments of the Berlin wall on display all over town.


The promenade along the river in front of our apartments

Getting settled

Moe helped with the unpacking....

and found new hiding spots in the closet drawers....

We started the day on a search for the famed Konditerei that has been known for its Baumkuechen since the 1950's. We didn't quite make it before stopping at another neighborhood bakery for breakfast, which was definitely full of locals greeting each other and the postman. However, we did find the place eventually and it is on the list for tomorrow.

David received his Guitar Hero game for the Wii in the mail and has been busy playing it ever since.

We don't have pics of the most entertaining (to others, not us) part of the day--I guess the neighbors still think our complex is a construction zone because someone decided to park in front of the garage entrance and we couldn't get out. So, we had our first experience with the German police (a nice gentleman who used to be on the German national swim team and who spoke very good English) who called a tow truck. In Germany the tow trucks have a crane with claws and literally pick the car up from it's spot and then place it on the back of the truck. As it was leaving, though, the owner saw it and came running. The towing company was nice enough to put the car back down again (not blocking the garage anymore) but I think the guy still had to pay. Not exactly how we wanted to meet our German neighbors, but Ikea was calling and really, who parks in front of a garage entrance?

Moving Day!!!

Well, the long-awaited day finally arrived. 9 movers showed up Thursday morning and had our apartment packed up by about 11:30. This was great because instead of keeping the boxes at their warehouse overnight they were able to deliver them to Bundesratufer the same day.

Our new view is great--right in front of us on the river is the turn-around point for the sight-seeing boats (David is excited as this gives him extra time to get the water balloons launched).

We still have boxes everywhere because we are definitely down-sizing as far as cupboard space goes and trying to figure out where to put everything. We did check out our new grocery store though and it's pretty nice.

The Diplo-cat is not happy--a trip to the vet on Wednesday and then all these crazy movers invading the apartment on Thursday. After about 24 hours of pouting under the bed he is starting to explore the new place a little bit.



Am Hegewinkel is clearing out--3 other couples moved on the same day as us. The last few people move next week!
No, that whole box is not full of Christy's shoes, contrary to what David may claim....
The first thing set up in the new apartment--the TV. We were feeling pretty lucky to have both the TV and internet working on the first try.

Last night we found a yummy and inexpensive Greek restaurant a few blocks from the apartment, and today we had lunch at a small deli right behind our apartment--the owner was so excited that people are finally moving in to our building. She is German but lived in New Jersey for a few years so it was nice to be able to chat in English. We are just excited to be able to actually walk to a restaurant. Well, now that we've been to the grocery store I am off to attempt to cook our first dinner in our new home (we'll have to eat it at the couch because the dining room table is still covered with junk, but it's something).

We will post pictures of the apartment once we get everything put away and cleaned up.

Last weekend in Am Hegewinkel

We're wrapping up our last weekend in Am Hegewinkel before our move on Thursday. A lot of it was spent trying to get organized, but we were invited to dinner and met a cool couple who are both professors here in Berlin--and got some tips for a famous cake store and art cafe in our new neighborhood. Sunday we went to what seems like the only store besides the gas station open in Berlin on a Sunday: The Bauhaus. This is a huge Home Depot--ish store. We are looking to outfit our patio since we'll have a really nice one in the new place. Also looking for slip covers for our couches and arm chairs, but those seem to be difficult to find here so we might have to order those.

We've been enjoying most of March Madness thanks to AFN, and updating our brackets accordingly. Christy is unfortunately out now after picking UCLA to win it all, but David is hanging in there after picking both championship teams correctly. So, we will see....

And in case you were wondering about the Diplocat, he is doing just fine. He has no idea that life as he knows it is about to be turned upside down and he's going to have to get used to yet another new place. Poor Moe Cat....we will bring the bird feeder though so hopefully the birdies will be equally plentiful.
The Moe Cat and David on a Sunday afternoon

The Berlin International Cup and Diplocat update

David represented as part of the U.S. embassy soccer team at a mini-tournament organized by the diplomatic community last Saturday. We weren't quite a match for Spain and some of the other teams, but we had a good time. (Christy cheered them on from the sidelines).





And the diplocat update.....
Christy woke up Monday morning to find Moe sleeping in a basket in the guestroom.
apparently this was his favorite spot all day

until he got tired of the photo shoot....

The Rhodes family visits Berlin

Christy's parents came to visit for Easter weekend. The Germans have figured out how to celebrate--Good Friday and Easter Monday are both national holidays as well.

Easter dinner--ham, salad, and pieroghis on our wedding china
overlooking the gardens of Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam
Schloss Cecilienhof, where Truman, Stalin, and Churchill signed the Potsdam agreement. The star-shaped landscaping was put in to honor their conference.
David has a thing for doors
Russian colony housing in Potsdam--originally build for Russian prisoners of war (I think dating back to Napoleon) and some descendants of the families still live there today.

The Gates of Babylon at the Pergamon Museum
Moe Cat and Mom hit it off pretty well
goofing around at the Pergamon
scary looking statue
Easter display at Fassbender and Rauch. Some chocolate Easter bunny!

breakfast at Einstein's--a popular restaurant near the current embassy location. That's a poster of Marilyn Monroe on the wall.
the chocolate rabbit is a popular picture backdrop
it rained on our Berlin walking tour. That's a section of the Berlin wall in the background.
Easter Sunday brunch at the Fischer Huette. Don't let this picture deceive you--it snowed on Easter in Berlin.