Final resting place- and a paper story

Last week, I was walking around Berlin's Mitte district, with no real destination in mind. Actually, that is not true! I went to Mitte specifically to find a paper store. For those of you who don't know, I have a passion for paper, and all its derivatives, such as cards, envelopes, wrapping paper, note books, agendas, journals, calendars and tags, to name a few. I have an extensive paper collection and visiting a papeterie is one of my favorite things. While reading through a Time Out guide for Berlin, I came across a few addresses for paper stores that I did not know yet, and so last week I set out to find these little treasures. One of the two stores was quite disappointing, with nothing new, but the other one!!!!!!!!! Let me tell you! It was a very small store, but once again it goes to show that size doesn't matter, because the shelves were full of beautifully hand printed cards, funky letter sets, delicate notebooks, and so much more. It was hard for me to concentrate and to control the urging need to buy everything! i was, so to say, like a kid in a candy store! I kept on telling the girl working there that there were so many nice things in her store, and I think she found me *special*. I left with a nice loot, some of which will end up in some of my reader's mailboxes!

But I digress. The point I wanted to make was that the store only opened at noon, and as I was there at 11:30, I had some time to spare. So I decided to walk down a small street and ended up in a cemetery. Actually, I ended up in one of Berlin's oldest cemeteries, and of course, I did not have my camera with me. So today I went back to this cemetery, and took some pictures. My beloved paper store was on the way to the cemetery, and it took all that I had not to go in!

The Friedhof der Garnisonkirche was built in 1722, thus making it more than 300 years old. It is a military cemetery, where soldiers who fought in all the battles that Berlin took part in, including the First and Second World Wars, are buried. Some of the headstones have been there for so long that the writing on them is illegible due to all the moss that has now established itself on them.

There is something about cemeteries that I love. Although of course the existence of a cemetery is related to death and sadness, there is also something really peaceful and serene about wandering in a cemetery. Doing so helps to put everything in perspective about one's life, and that's always a good thing.

"Soldiers are murderers" written on an abandoned house, right next to the cemetery.

To my Valsis

To my Valsis for her birthday,

Happy Birthday Valsis!!!
I hope that you have a wonderful birthday on this 26th of November 2007.
Although I am not there with you, know that you are in my heart and in my thoughts on this special day (and on every other day too!).
I am the luckiest of all people to have you as my best friend. You mean the world to me. I would not be able to do all that I have done without you by my side, loving and supporting me always.
I love you with all my heart.
I miss you,
your Pearl xxx

It's starting to feel, look, smell and taste a lot like Christmas!

Pearl: It's really starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

You: Why do you say that? Is it because the temperature has drastically dropped and that we are now freezing our asses off outside?

Pearl: No!

You: Is it because the days are now ridiculously short and it is dark both when we wake up and when we get back home?

Pearl: Nope!

You: Is it because the date on the calendar shows that we are five days away from December?

Pearl: Nein!

You: Is it because people are in a mad rush to spend their hard earned money on gifts that will probably end up being the wrong size, the wrong colour or just plain wrong?

Pearl: Nuh-uh!

You: Then what makes you say that it feels like Christmas? I don't get it!

Pearl: Let me explain. I feels like a lot like Christmas because the smell of Glühwein is everywhere in the air. It feels like a lot like Christmas because now, in supermarkets, the only things you can find are chocolates, Lebkuchen cakes, Advent calendars and marzipan (where did my ruccola go?!?!?!). But most of all, it feels a lot like Christmas because the Christmas Markets are here! Yippee!

One of the nicest Christmas markets in the city- or so I was told! I'll have to go visit all the other ones to attest to that statement!

Bright shining starts! That's the Französischer Dom in the first picture.

Christmas market rhymes with tasty food, like this home-made bread, on which is spread crème fraiche, bits of bacon and green onions. Tasty!

Christmas market also rhymes with Glühwein (Mulled wine)! Doubly tasty!

Artisans are there to help you complete your Christmas shopping!

And of course Christmas would not be Christmas without a Christmas tree!

Yummy, yummy in my tummy!

A couple of weeks ago, I visited a special outdoor market, which specialized in selling lebkuchen, a traditional German Christmas baking good, that is comparable to gingerbread. Lebkuchen is of course found all-year round in supermarkets, but the ones you find around Christmas time and in special markets like this one are remarkably better and fresher.
I love markets, whether they be flea markets, organic markets, arts and crafts markets. I find them very interesting and there is always something new to discover and try. The food markets are obviously my favorites, as I love trying out home-made jams (!), fancy breads, delicious cheese and everything else that one can find at a market. I find sampling foods at a market is a good way to get to know the culinary particularities of a country or region.
At the Pulsnitz market, one could of course find much more than just Lebkuchen, and it was a shame- or perhaps a blessing, that I had just finished eating a big breakfast, as there were many tasty things that I would have loved to sample!
The Lebkuchens that I ate there were delicious. They were in the shape of a heart (Ahhhhhhhhh!), were filled with jam, and dipped in chocolate- c'mon, what more could you want?!?! They are in a way a very fancy (and much tastier version) of Whippets (spelling?!?!).
Markets are very popular here in Germany, and they are held throughout the year, even in winter.
The Christmas markets are at the moment being set up and of course, a future post will include many pictures of them!
The countdown has begun: My parents are coming to visit me in two weeks' time (they arrive on the 1st of December), so if there is ANYONE who would like to give them ANYTHING for them to bring to me, now is the time to do it!!! I know I am cheeky, but hey!, it might be worth it!!!!

Nature made it!

People who know me well know that I really don't like flying (although my fear of flying as never stopped me from traveling), but I have to say that the views on the flight back to Berlin were well worth it!

The French Alps:

Mosaic galore!

Who wants to see more mosaics?!?!? I do, I do!!!

Goodbye sun, hello cold!!!

Hola everyone!
I am sorry, but that is all the Spanish that I can remember, even after these four days in Barcelona! I studied Spanish for almost four years, but it is as if I never attended a single class- my Spanish seems to have completely disappeared from my head! I am not sure where it went, but I could have used it during my time in Spain!!!
Barcelona, for those of you who have not seen it yet, is a MUST-SEE city! I now understand all the hype about this city: it has culture, art, a relaxed lifestyle, the ocean and color, so much color (thanks mostly to Gaudì!). If you life modern architecture, for which Gaudì is famous for, then Barcelona is your city. Gaudì's creations are everywhere, and everyone of his buildings is more beautiful, and crazy, than the other. They are all so colourful and adored with tons of mosaics (and everyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE mosaics!) and each building is well worth the detour!
One of the many icons of Barcelona is the Park Güell. Situated on Barcelona's Muntanya Pelada, it consists of 20 hectares of land, which Gaudì, commissioned by Eusebi Güell, decorated in his very distinctive style. Since the park in on a mountain, it offers breathtaking views of the city, and on sunny days, you can even see the ocean! The park is well known for its trencadis dragon, its 96 columns, and the great plaza, along whose edge winds the famous "snake" bench (made entirely of mosaic!).

Parl Güell

Famous dragon... and me!

Some of the famous bench- isn't beautiful?!

Mosaics found on the roof of the 96 columns

More mosaics!

Of course, one of the things that makes Barcelona an attractive destination, at least for me, is that it is situated next to the ocean. There is a beautiful marina, where you can see boats of all shapes and sizes, and a boardwalk, lined with bars and restaurant, follows the sea.

It was the first time I saw the ocean this year, so of course I had to dip my feet in the water ( a must when next to the ocean!) and I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the water. The water was deliciously salty, the sand felt wonderful under my feet and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach was music to my ears. I love the ocean!

Stay tuned for the next post on Barcelona, which will include the Segrada Familia, the market de la Boqueria, and food!