Pumpkin pie for hungry eyes

On the 25th of November 2 American's, 3 Kiwi's, 1 French Canadian and 1 token German indulged in a night of thanks. 

Host: Sarah the amazing American who nailed the Turkey despite being a vegetarian and who was fabulously adorned in floral cooking pinny.  Together Sarah and her visiting brother cooked and slaved away over their first SOLO thanksgiving dinner.  Their mother would be so proud! 

More after the jump...

Weihnachtsmarkt Alexa

Thank you http://wishbringer.twoday.net/topics/Event/

I'm sitting in bed listening to 'Christmas In Africa - The Seraph Choir', whilst writing this blog..it's so interesting.  Some of the words I can definately make out, I wonder how they dance while they're singing?  I'm almost certain consuming too many gluhwein's at the christmas markets accounts for my sudden urge to engage in such behaviour.  So to the point already!  Tonight......I went to the Weihnachtsmarkt at Alexa.  You can see a pretty picture here.  There are many markt's scattered throughout Berlin, each with their own special feature.  Alexa is known to be the biggest and I support that claim, it is definately very big and happpening..imagine the Auckland Easter Show on crack, every epileptics worst nightmare.

3 perfect things that happened tonight during Weihnachtmarkt Alexa adventure

Lebkuchen that says I love you

1. Ate popping candy flavoured almonds
2. Drank Gluhwein (mulled wine) out of a little red boot while dainty snowflakes were falling:-)!
3. Decided which ride I'm going on next time

I am truly in my element after visitng Weihnachtmarkt tonight with a fellow christmas enthusiast yayayyayayyayyy (too many y's!).  I'm sorry there are no great photos, Daniel nipped off to Spain and took the camera with him, boo.


FYI I switched from African carols to Frank Sinatra it's just more my thing:)  If you feel like plumping up your christmas spirit listen to this festive song :) 

love love

Gimme Hunter's!

 

The forecast for tomorrow is snowwww. Can you believe that there will be snow in November?  If I were back in NZ right now I"d be picking out my new summer swimming cozzy and playing tennis in the weekends.  Booo.  On the other hand winter is a good time for buying great boots, making heart-warming meals and listening to dreamy music.  Equipment you need to make a wonderful winter day...

• Search http://www.cloggs.co.uk for great Hunter wellies
• Make this scrumptious delight that I found here..http://www.kitchenparade.com/2003/11/pumpkin-bread-pudding.php
• Listen to Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zero's album From Below.  You lucky birdies back home get to see these guys grace the stage at BDO.  Green with envy:)

X

The best toasted sammy's in town!

What a superb Berlin weekend, despite the rapidly descending temperature the weather is just beautiful and the friends are even better!  Friday I had a snazzy home haircut by a fellow Kiwi, (Ex-Stephen Marr hair design, tell me about friends in high places!  Wonderful perk yusss!) followed by many beers, nibbles and a very late bedtime.  A cozy Saturday night in, yummy dinner, movie and warmth.  For the first time in a while I faced a Sunday morning.  Not only was I out of bed before 11am, but I'd already served up some home-made muesli/grated apple/yogurt/coconut combo and was on my way home from a power workout at the gym.

I found this IKEA apple-corer in the cupboard this morning..pretty sweet!

 More to read after the jump:)

M.I.A

Berliners from all different boroughs ventured out into the cold cold 4degrees to see the much anticipated Mathangi Arulpragasam (M.I.A) kick it at Huxley's.  Her music is described as hip-hop, electric, dance, alternative and recently my Itunes took it upon itself to categorize M.I.A  as world?

More after the jump...including video footage of Galang.

East Side Gallery

Wikipedia says that East Side Gallery is a an international memorial for freedom.  1.3km of pure amazement, walking down what was the East side of the Berlin Wall reading quotes, photographing the works and fooling around makes for a perfect Berlin outing.  My favourite pieces from the Berlin Wall (Berlin Mauer).

Feel free to leave a comment if you'd like to find out the artist of a particular painting.

More after the jump...

Potsdam Paradise

Potsdam, capital city of the German state Brandenburg and only a 24km train ride from the city of Berlin.  Aside from the cultural ambience, there are plenty of important things to note about Potsdam.

• Potsdam is to Germany as Windsor is to England.  Schloss Sanssouci was the former Summer palace to Frederick the Great, King of Prussia.
• The palace (schloss) of Sanssouci is an official World Heritage site.
• Potsdam is home to Filmstudio Babelsberg, pre-war movie production company and the oldest large-scale film studio in the world.
• Cecilienhof Schloss was host to the Potsdam conference (17th July - 2 August 1945).  The Soviet Union (Stalin), The United Kingdom (Churchill), and The United States of America (Truman) met to discuss the consequences of World War II. 

 

More photos after the jump...

Ku64, the dental enthusiasts dream

Dear Pals,

Today I found out that the German water source isn't fluoridated, this news left me feeling as though I was missing out on having strong teeth.  Feeling betrayed by authorities for not informing me of this vital fact upon filing my Visa application, I made it my mission to find a stash of fluoride and some xylitol chewing gum..hehe. 

Spook time!

 Germans fail to recognize Halloween and instead of stocking dress-up costumes, pumpkins and trick or treating goods they drown their shop shelves in Christmas goodies despite being 2 months premature.  Fair to say with no pumpkins or spooky candies in sight, it made for a difficult task finding a costume.  Not completely impossible though, after consulting my wardrobe I resorted to dressing as 'Princess of grunge' Courtney Love (not unlike my usual Berlin party outfits), Dan managed to pull off 'Where's Wally' effortlessly.  Coming from a mother who threw the best Halloween parties in the street, helped plan our costumes weeks in advance and even set up indoor trick or treating one year due to rainy skies, there was no way I was missing out on some spook silliness.  Friends over for casual bevvy's then an adventure to a Mexican friends birthday bash in Kreuzberg made for a spooktastic Halloween.  Having immigrated to Berlin from Bolivia her party was equipped with pinata and a slightly creepy shrine in honour of the day of the dead.

 

Daniel really is all you need to see, however there are more photos after the jump...

Oh Rome

My lovelies,
I report all about Rome, these days I find myself reminiscing about my brief time there far too often!  Oh Rome! Rome is the most beautiful City I've laid eyes on and exceeded any expectations I had.  Oh the romance, the good looking stylish people, the gelato, skipping through cobble-stoned footpaths, laying eyes on Vatican City.  Weaving through the maze of tourist attractions, the free hugs around Trevi Fountain, climbing the winding stairs to the top of St Peters Basilica, taking in the view of St Peters square. Ahhh do you have all day because I could go on and on and on and on!  The monstrous colosseum, relaxing on the Spanish steps, and most of all getting to experience every attraction with 2 of my most amazing friends.  I have a million and one photos because we all went a little overboard, however I made a little movie for your happy viewing:)


Enjoy my beautiful people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z4Kp3nN3Jc

Amore and donkeys

Watch this space for recap on Rome and Greece:)  I have been slack I don't need to be reminded of that fact but I promise for updates galore over the next week or so!
Love you all!!!

Berlin Festival of Lights

The sixth annual Festival of Lights, presenting Berlin as a sparkling metropolis.  Historical landmarks and famous spots are swimming in the prettiest of illuminations from the 13th-24th October. 

Willkommen Berlin Natee

I'm reporting a safe arrival of Natalee from Dubai to Berlin, where she plunged into the icy wind front and jumper-worthy weather of Berlin after coming from high 30's.  For Natee it was a shock to the system, but no bigger than some of the shockers we enjoyed yesterday while strolling the streets.  Tongue for lunch, live bears in the park, witnessing 2 abandoned dog poops in the train station and a raging anti fascist demonstration right outside our apartment block (we live next door to punks, they can't get enough of those demonstrations).  The weather may have been a cold and horrible welcome, however the day's activities were quite the opposite. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJP1UyonyU

Today's line-up, a hearty breakfast followed by an adventure to Tempelhof airport.  Armed with nibbles and wine we're going to witness Berlin attempting to achieve a Guinness Book of World Records for the largest mosaic in the world.  Using the Tempelhof runway, polar bears aim to create Knut the cuddly polar bear using 6,500 rubbish wheely bins.  Tonight, we have some sweet tranny action at Warschauer Str.  The formal name awarded to the event is trannylicious and it's the first annual Berlin tranny olympics.  All you need to do is mouth those 3 words..men..fishnets..glitter and I am there!!  Amongst the competitions; a wet T-shirt event, lip syncing, eating contests and finishing with a 100-metre tranny sprint. 

Thanks for reading:)

I have been in ilegal parties better organised than Berlin Festival 2010

The very deserving title I have given this post is a newly birthed facebook group that I just became a member of!

Edwyn Collins yay

Terrible organization aside, I'm here to share all the spectacular moments..drool worthy riffs..pumping beats and all around deep satisfaction with yesterday's line-up. 

Berlin Festival..yes oh yes

Hi friends,

First night down with a ripe home arrival time of 2am and an epic night 2..waiting in the wing.  Last night it was unexpected cool, the set-up was unbelievable.  Berlin Festival 2010 is held at an old and somewhat abandoned airport in Berlin named Tempelhof.  Mostly we hear stories of friends grilling at Tempelhof but haven't ventured out there yet. 

Vegetarisch ab Wedding

Ok so here goes, my first official kebab rating.  I like the number 5 so everything will be rated out of 5, innovative I know.  Given I am not the kebab master I'm just Larelle, I'll draw from friends experiences to validate what I've said.

An interview with the lovely Vivian Oberhollenzer

1. Philosophically speaking, is the kebab half full or half empty? Half full
2. How do you take your kebab? With love and vege's (fresh please).  Garlic, mayo, sweet chilli
3. Do you have a nickname? Viv
4. Best joint in town? Mustafa's, U-bahn station Mehringdamm.   

Kebab Quest

This kebab is Berlin legit!

Doner Kebab (better known in Berlin as döner kebap):  Abbreviated döner and also referred to as donair, donar and donner.  Middle Eastern origin + lamb meat on vertical spit + sliced to order = deeelish!  Similar dishes are shawarma (Arabic), gyro's (Greek) and kebab (English).

I liken myself to the Hoff most days, particularly now that my knightly expedition has officially commenced.

Dan and Relle do rural Germany

TEMPLIN
After our 2 hour journey on multiple trains we reach the region of Brandenburg and Templin.  A small 8 km car trip and we reach Dargersdorf.  There really is only 1 street in Dargersdorf, it's self-titled with a scattering of residential and bach type properties for a few of the well-off Berliners.  A to the MAZING..if you can manage an "in" (we have Casp to thank for our weekend away in Dargersdorf) then it's definately worth the trip. 

Amsterdam part 2..

Continuing on from Amsterdam (which feels like forever ago) we explored the streets, embraced the space cakes and wore suspicious looking emergency raincoats when it bucketed down with rain on our Red Light tour.