Brod, Kaise und Wurst

X leaves a note at Natural History Museum - April 9th 2013

X was performing out of shot.. the only way surefire way to get a smile from her!

Diz chows down at lunchtime

My third visit to Berlin and I love it more on every trip. The place is similar to London, but that sense of German-ness keeps sneaking out in charming little ways. For instance the chilli shaped gummi sweets you can buy are actually chilli flavoured (much to X's shock and consternation)! English speaking people will still get funny looks on the bus (much like Germans will do in London), but folks we spoke to were kind, well manners and almost universal English speakers. I gamely tried using my school German with little success, more often than not Berliners would effortlessly cycle to English for my benefit. Still, my year of deutsch did help, a little. I managed to string some semi-competent sentences together on a couple of occasions, and these [shock horror!] were actually understood. On our next trip I plan to learn some more  as being the complacent Brit abroad who relies on 'Do You Speak English?' disgraces both me and my countrymen.

When it comes to food, German life is streets ahead, even the humblest combinations of cheese, meat and bread are absolutely delicious. Most street corners host a bakery that sells pretzels, schnitzels or other goodies which just melt in your mouth. With the carb overload normally comes discomfort and guilt, but not in Berlin! You can graze through pizza, chips, potato salad or bread without any problems. The only culinary fail in my eyes is the currywurst - chopped up frank with tomato sauce and curry powder (a hold-over from the cold war perhaps?) When even the humblest eating house can serve up food which is inexpensive and very hearty, something akin to student food from my Coventry days is disappointing to say the least.