- Vacation time. Lots of it. I was off from work from the 23rd until the 2nd. That's EIGHT days..12 if you count the weekends (which I do). The last time I had so much obligatory vacation, I was in college. Or unemployed.
- Drink. Drink drink drink. Mulled wine (Glühwein) at Christmas markets is a wonderful way to warm the hands and the stomach as you huddle with friends in the cold. Add in a shot of rum or amaretto for 50 more cents, and it'll really warm you up. Plus it's a great bargain, for those of you who are cost-considerate. Grog, basically hot water mixed with rum, is definitely not as recommended as Glühwein, but will get the job done. Eierlikör is the German version of egg nog. And then, if you want something really special.. Feuerzangenbowle is a special rum drink made with FIRE. Drink with caution. And of course, beer. Because when is beer NOT acceptable in Germany? Answer: never.
Glühwein FTW - Food. I don't know how many variations Germany has of meat and dumplings, but they are all delicious. Check out this for a recipe. I haven't tried it but the picture looks good..At the very least it'll give you a reference point for my ever-expanding cheeks in FB pictures.
Variations of meat and dumplings at a local restaurant. Soooo delish. - Dark. Turn on the lights at 3:30pm because the sun says "Auf Wiedersehen" at 4pm. No wonder they drink so much here. It's freaking depressing.
- Cold. Temperatures hover around freezing during the day, but the record low is -15. And if there is wind.. forget about it. Just stay inside. Better yet, don't even leave your bed. Because the sun will set soon enough, so you might as well be a proactive sleeper, right? Or, option 2: just drink more Glühwein and you won't feel a thing.
Ready to go out now! Maybe. - Gray. The vast majority of days are overcast, which means it gets dark even EARLIER than it should. Take full advantage of sunny days, regardless of the temperature outside.
Bustin' out the stunna shades, took a picture to commemorate it - Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte). If the prevalence of Weihnachtsmärkte is any indication, Germans freaking LOVE Christmas. Around November 20th these little mini villages of Yuletide joy spring up wherever there is space, and you feel like you could be at the North Pole in Santa's backyard.
A Weihnachtsmarkt is not complete without at least all of the following:
-a Glühwein stand (preferably multiples, because the line can get really long)
-a sausage stand..because you need something to help with all that rum-infused Glühwein you just drank. And because, well, Germany. It's even better when cooked on a Schwenkgrill, which is basically a circular grill hung by chains over charcoal. The grill swings in a circle over the coals and allows the meat to cook evenly
-someone selling random clothing items. "Oh yes I've always wanted a fur hat from Russia, the bigger the ear flaps the better, thank you. And yes, while I'm at it, I might as well take a pair of those leggings that look like an ugly Christmas sweater."
-Christmas lights, sparkling from inside boughs of evergreen and dangling in bright strands from buildings
-Lebkuchen. Heart-shaped gingerbread-ish cookies, often with little messages on them (seasonal messages like "Merry Christmas" or romantic things like "I love you")
This just screams Christmas to me 
Lebkuchen 
A Schwenkgrill - New Year's is not to be messed with. The fireworks started on the morning of the 31st and never stopped. I thought "So this is kind of what living in a war zone must sound like." And then after midnight...I've never seen so many unprofessional fireworks in one area before. The air was literally clouded with firework smoke. But it was amazing.. People rushed outside with their drinks still in hand to watch the fireworks, and everyone was in a great mood. It was the perfect way to start off the new year -- a little bit dangerous (alcohol+explosives, not good bedfellows), but fun and carefree and so congenial and warm at the same time.
Totally safe. 100%. - Friends. When it's dark and dreary and cold outside, it's easy to feel down. Especially for me. Sometimes I think my overall mood is directly tied to the weather. So for me, friends and the times I spend with them - be it exploring Christmas markets, dancing the night away, or just enjoying a beer in my favorite Wedding pub - are essential in winter
Vagabund 
Chasing away the winter blues 
Just a normal night in Muellerstr - Love. If you were smitten with Berlin before, you will fall head over heels with her. She looks so beautiful all decorated for Christmas with lights and evergreen everywhere, and then once she gets you hooked on Glühwein and innocent Christmas spirit, she shows her crazy, dangerous, dirty party side at New Year's. But by this time you are already so deep in love that you don't care. She's kind of like a girl you bring home from the party because she was so beautiful and dolled up and fun, almost irresistible.. And then you wake up the next morning, see her without her makeup and skimpy dress, and wonder "Who the hell is this?? What have I done??" But then you remember how awesome she was the night before and it doesn't matter anymore. Because as long as you love Berlin, she will love you back. And that's really the only thing that matters.
Showing posts with label NYE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NYE. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
10 Things I learned about winter holidays in Germany
Frohes neues Jahr! Happy New Year!
So, apparently Berliners really love NYE. Ever since Christmas people have been setting off a few fireworks, but nothing like yesterday. Starting early in the morning, the booming that echoed around the city never stopped. I felt like I was living in a war zone. "Berlin or Baghdad?" joked my roommate.
Obviously, I've known that New Year's was coming up for quite some time, but I couldn't get motivated enough to really plan anything. I knew for sure that I didn't want to buy a ticket for a party in a club. You pay 10x the normal admission for the same club, only decorated with some silver streamers and balloons. You better hope the crowd and music are good, because you just forked over $70 (drinks not included) to be trapped in the same space for the next 6 hours. I made this mistake in 2013 and it sucked.
It was starting to look like the same sad story as Christmas Eve -- everyone was invited somewhere else, and I was not about to invite myself along to a stranger's party as a +1..But then I got a text from Andy, my ex-coworker who spent Christmas with me. He's also a recent transplant to Berlin and was in the same boat. Suddenly New Year's was looking better!
We were thinking of going to Brandenburger Tor, which is Germany's version of the Times Square NYE. Literally about a million people gather for almost a mile in front of the Brandenburger Tor to party and ring in the new year together. A huge stage is set up and bands, DJs, or singers perform (this year was Trans Siberian Orchestra). News anchors wander around with a mic and it's broadcasted across Germany. At midnight they have an amazing fireworks display. I have a sneaking suspicion it's mostly a tourist thing to do, or maybe one of those "Do it once just to say you did it" things, because I asked a few Berliners about it and not only have they never been there, but they expressed absolutely no interest in ever going.
I don't blame them -- you are outside in the freezing cold, trying to keep your holiday buzz going, then using port-a-potties that 100,000 people used before you, waiting in never-ending lines for beer, and it's dangerous! It's got a bad reputation for crazy people shooting fireworks into the crowd. Why deal with that when you can have a house party in a warm flat with your best friends (and be protected from flaming, exploding projectiles)?
With Brandenburger Tor out of the picture, we decided on an Irish pub near Oranienburger Tor. There are lots of bars around, so it would be easy for us to hop from one to the next. Oscar Wilde is a typical Irish pub -- lots of wood and leather, booth seating, and good beer on tap. All in all a solid place. They've got a second room in the back with an additional bar plus a stage, where a guy was playing and singing traditional songs plus Mumford and Sons-type covers.
The crowd was some Germans and (unsurprisingly) a few groups of Brits. It was fun! The singer started the countdown to midnight and then led us in Auld Lang Syne. And then.. The bar was literally deserted in a matter of minutes as everyone rushed outside to see the fireworks. They were EVERYWHERE. In the street, on the sidewalk, shooting from apartment windows.. People had been shooting them off literally all day but this was incredible. We found a big intersection overlooking a canal and watched the fireworks as party boats floated by, crowded with people waving at us.
Afterwards we hit up die Berliner Republik, a restaurant/bar nearby with a dance floor and boogied down for a couple of hours. The DJ was playing a really huge mix of music.. Martin Garrix - Animals, Eiffel 65 - Blue, David Guetta - Sexy Chick, Culture Beat - Mr. Vain, and even.. Will Smith's Fresh Prince rap. The Germans really liked that one for some reason--everyone was singing it. There was a huge mix of people, too. Some 20-somethings, 40-somethings, even a few 60+-somethings were getting their dance on. There was this hilarious couple dancing next to us. They had to be in their 50s but they were having so much fun and were so into each other, taking silly pictures, dancing, flirting.. It was really heartwarming to see them together. I want something like that someday.
Afterwards I headed over to Mir's apartment. The Ubahn stopped at Seestr so I had to walk a ways..The streets were mostly empty in our neighborhood, but the party-goers had left the streets looking like the set of a zombie movie. The hike was worth it, though -- he had a Berliner (a fluffy donut filled with jelly and glazed to perfection), a bottle of champagne, and a New Year's kiss waiting for me. A perfect ending to a fun night and a rollercoaster year.
Go to my youtube channel to see videos from the night..
Obviously, I've known that New Year's was coming up for quite some time, but I couldn't get motivated enough to really plan anything. I knew for sure that I didn't want to buy a ticket for a party in a club. You pay 10x the normal admission for the same club, only decorated with some silver streamers and balloons. You better hope the crowd and music are good, because you just forked over $70 (drinks not included) to be trapped in the same space for the next 6 hours. I made this mistake in 2013 and it sucked.
It was starting to look like the same sad story as Christmas Eve -- everyone was invited somewhere else, and I was not about to invite myself along to a stranger's party as a +1..But then I got a text from Andy, my ex-coworker who spent Christmas with me. He's also a recent transplant to Berlin and was in the same boat. Suddenly New Year's was looking better!
We were thinking of going to Brandenburger Tor, which is Germany's version of the Times Square NYE. Literally about a million people gather for almost a mile in front of the Brandenburger Tor to party and ring in the new year together. A huge stage is set up and bands, DJs, or singers perform (this year was Trans Siberian Orchestra). News anchors wander around with a mic and it's broadcasted across Germany. At midnight they have an amazing fireworks display. I have a sneaking suspicion it's mostly a tourist thing to do, or maybe one of those "Do it once just to say you did it" things, because I asked a few Berliners about it and not only have they never been there, but they expressed absolutely no interest in ever going.
I don't blame them -- you are outside in the freezing cold, trying to keep your holiday buzz going, then using port-a-potties that 100,000 people used before you, waiting in never-ending lines for beer, and it's dangerous! It's got a bad reputation for crazy people shooting fireworks into the crowd. Why deal with that when you can have a house party in a warm flat with your best friends (and be protected from flaming, exploding projectiles)?
With Brandenburger Tor out of the picture, we decided on an Irish pub near Oranienburger Tor. There are lots of bars around, so it would be easy for us to hop from one to the next. Oscar Wilde is a typical Irish pub -- lots of wood and leather, booth seating, and good beer on tap. All in all a solid place. They've got a second room in the back with an additional bar plus a stage, where a guy was playing and singing traditional songs plus Mumford and Sons-type covers.
The crowd was some Germans and (unsurprisingly) a few groups of Brits. It was fun! The singer started the countdown to midnight and then led us in Auld Lang Syne. And then.. The bar was literally deserted in a matter of minutes as everyone rushed outside to see the fireworks. They were EVERYWHERE. In the street, on the sidewalk, shooting from apartment windows.. People had been shooting them off literally all day but this was incredible. We found a big intersection overlooking a canal and watched the fireworks as party boats floated by, crowded with people waving at us.
Afterwards we hit up die Berliner Republik, a restaurant/bar nearby with a dance floor and boogied down for a couple of hours. The DJ was playing a really huge mix of music.. Martin Garrix - Animals, Eiffel 65 - Blue, David Guetta - Sexy Chick, Culture Beat - Mr. Vain, and even.. Will Smith's Fresh Prince rap. The Germans really liked that one for some reason--everyone was singing it. There was a huge mix of people, too. Some 20-somethings, 40-somethings, even a few 60+-somethings were getting their dance on. There was this hilarious couple dancing next to us. They had to be in their 50s but they were having so much fun and were so into each other, taking silly pictures, dancing, flirting.. It was really heartwarming to see them together. I want something like that someday.
Afterwards I headed over to Mir's apartment. The Ubahn stopped at Seestr so I had to walk a ways..The streets were mostly empty in our neighborhood, but the party-goers had left the streets looking like the set of a zombie movie. The hike was worth it, though -- he had a Berliner (a fluffy donut filled with jelly and glazed to perfection), a bottle of champagne, and a New Year's kiss waiting for me. A perfect ending to a fun night and a rollercoaster year.
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| dancing the night away and having fun with NYE decorations |
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| Fireworks in the streets |
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| Watching fireworks! |
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| I stole an ornament. Look of pure evil glee on my face |
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