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7 posts from November 2009

First Advent: The Markets

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Do you remember these ornaments from a few years ago? Time to pull them out soon: It's beginning to feel like winter again, and, much to my delight, the Christmas markets rev up this first Advent weekend.

Over the years I've become more savvy. The one at Gendarmenmarkt is atmospherically located, it is true, but often overcrowded and best left to the tourists, I think. I will be back at the Domäne Dahlem Christmas market though (see breathless reports of my first visit here and here) and will swing by Kollwitzplatz one Sunday too.

Meanwhile, I'm off now to the Advents-Parcours just now, which is not so much a market as an open day (today and tomorrow) of shops and studios in Neukölln's Reuterkiez. And then we can hop on the U7 to the Swedish and Danish Christmas markets, which we miss every year, because they're so early (just this weekend!) but have inked into our calendar this time around. And then for future weekends perhaps the Rodeo design market, and the one at the Jagdschloss, and at Klausenerplatz — and do you have a favorite? — but more on all that later, because otherwise I'll miss all the fun.

In the garden

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I asked for comfort in cold times, and look what weather greeted me. Can you believe this photo was taken yesterday, in late November, in Berlin, while we lunched al fresco? I suppose you can believe me if you're here too. What a lot of strength this sunshine affords!

Saint Martin’s Day Parade & Darkness

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Last week's Saint Martin's Day parade already feels so far away. What have you been doing to keep the early dark cozy?

Twilight in Berlin

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Just my favorite cafe at dusk and Berlin -- still -- so utterly itself. Sometimes life is so perfect it leaves me close to tears.

On the Bornholmer Brücke

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A day later and it's just another bridge under the silver-gray November sky.

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Looking up (Schonholzer Heide)

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Astonishing to find a forest so close to home! I'll tell you more about the Schönholzer Heide tomorrow.

On the steps to the Buddhist House

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One could do far worse than spend a drizzly afternoon visiting the temple and strolling through the forest behind the Buddhist House in Frohnau. What were those monks having for lunch? It might be worth doing a retreat just to get a taste of the Sri Lankan home cooking.

Das Buddhistische Haus, Edelhofdamm 54, Berlin-Frohnau (map)
Open daily 9am-6pm (the library is shut on Mondays)