Hello :~)
How are you? I hope you've all been well.
Firstly, just a little admin – Gmail is being a brat and sending these emails into the promotions folder. Unfortunately I can't do anything to change it, but if use Gmail and would like to get these newsletters in your regular inbox, you can add hello@catherinehuang.net to your contacts and everything should return to regular programming.
Thanks once more to everyone who wrote back to the last email, it was so nice to wake up with a full inbox and feel so loved and cherished.
While it has been relatively easy to talk about the big events and news that have been happening since moving to Berlin, it seems almost bizarre to share some of the more ordinary pockets of my life. But in reality – this is the stuff that I've been soaking up the most, the things that I have been getting used to and learning to call familiar. It's rare to have the opportunity to talk about these bits and bobs, so I thought I'd better strike while I still had the chance.
I know quite a few of you have been to Berlin before and so maybe none of this will be new, but for those who are less acquainted, I'd like to give you a little virtual tour.
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Welcome to the Neighbourhood!
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1. Home
Yes, that's our little home on the canal!
If you missed it the first time, you can read about Dom and I moving in here. Since then, we have acquired a REAL bed, some cute plants, and also, a roommate! Our friend Josh moved in last month while he is here on exchange. It's wonderful having new energy in the apartment.
More photos on their way soon – we just need to give the place a proper tidy!
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2. All the Locals
The corner of Wildenbruchestrasse and Weserstrasse is home to lots of wonderful things. In particular:
Weser 58 / Heiner's Bar: I love this bar. I love how nondescript it is, I love that they use candlesticks exclusively to light up the place, and I love how cosy I feel on the inside when I'm there.
Saraha Imbiss: It is both a blessing and a curse to have a Sahara so close to home. Thankfully, our love affair with their falafel and magali sandwiches has chilled out, and so we rarely find ourselves at Saraha anymore. Still, it's nice to know it's always there. Worth mentioning here that when Lily visited, she managed to have three Sahara sandwiches in three days. Well done to Lily! An outstanding effort.
Companion Coffee: Hmmm, yes the coffee here is a tad too expensive. But, I like the interior, and it is a nice place to sit for a couple of hours and hang out.
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3. Oz Samsun
Just a little further down the road is this 24 hour diner. Dom and I went here to get lentil soup the other night and it was such a good vibe, and so so cheap! I can't wait to be scoffing down soup all winter.
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Hmmm okay, the truth is I have actually only seen one movie in Berlin so far – A Star Is Born.
In fact, this entry is mostly an excuse to talk about how much I loved A Star Is Born. I LOVED A STAR IS BORN. Both Black Eyes and Shallow have been on repeat since Dom and I got out of the cinema. I cannot wait for the film to finally get it's Australian release so I can bang on about it with my fellow A Star Is Born-ians (you know who you are).
But also you know, movies are great and I'm sure I'll be back to the Kino to see more movies soon.
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5. Hao Cai Lai Supermarket
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My home away from home away from home.
Actually, the supermarket itself is very very small, but it has all the essentials I need. I've managed to pick up some of my favourite Chinese supplies, like black vinegar, zha cai (pickled vegetables), Chinese cough syrup (Pei Pa Koa) and chrysanthemum tea.
Aside from that, the people that own this Asian supermarket are actually Chinese, and it's so nice to hear them speak Mandarin while I'm browsing the store. I spoke to them once in Mandarin to ask for help with finding an item, so it still feels funny when they total up my bill in German.
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One of the very first things Dom and I did in Berlin was walk to the Turkish Markets on Maybachufer. This was back when we were living closer to Tempelhofer Feld, and so the walk took us the better part of an hour. When we arrived, we could barely make it through the crowd.
Slowly, the tourists have been thinning out, and the market has become a much calmer experience. I love meandering through, even if I don't have anything to buy.
Plus, right next to the market is Brammibal's Donuts, serving up the very best vegan donuts in Berlin.
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7. Where the three canals meet
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A nice place to sit and enjoy the canal. This one is a no brainer really. I like it because it's never too busy, and it really only feels like a meeting spot for locals. No one is going out of their way for this tiny patch of grass unless they live down the road.
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8. Edeka/Netto
Last but not least, a shoutout to the supermarkets of Berlin. I cannot believe how many supermarkets there are here! At our last place, we shopped mostly at Rewe, but since we moved apartments we have tried out pretty much all the supermarkets here. For a while, Dom and I would ride over to the Arcade to do our grocery shopping at Kaufland, and we still do sometimes, but it's much easier going down the road to the Edeka/Netto complex, especially when you only need to grab a couple of small things.
Edeka is very bougie (it has it's own herb incubator), while Netto is the most extreme of the discount supermarkets. What this means is that the customer demographic of the two is almost entirely mutually exclusive. I actually think Dom and I are the only customers that frequent both.
(I realise this entry almost makes no sense. Here is a decent rundown on grocery culture in Berlin if you really care to know!)
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On your way out...
A couple of Berlin themed things :~)
- Kreuzberg Apartment Tour – Here we go again, another apartment tour. But, I like this one because I've come to realise that a lot of Berlin apartments kind of look and feel the same, but there's something about this one that feels unique.
- Mengenlehreuhr – I am very intrigued by this Set Theory Clock, read using the illuminated fields. I plan on riding over and checking it out soon.
- Propeller Island City Lodge – Once upon a time the city of Berlin was home to the weirdest hotel in the world. Unfortunately it shut down a year or two ago but thanks to the internet, nothing is forgotten.
- The Morning After The Night Before – This one is not quite Berlin, but also very Berlin. Although to be fair, also very Melbourne. Do watch – skip to 35 seconds for the best part.
- 032c Scrunchie – This scrunchie is SO ugly, but maybe that's what makes it good? Actually I think it might just be bad. I do want some scrunchies though.
- BONUS: Sad Animal Facts – Absolutely nothing to do with Berlin, just some cute animations about animals.
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Good Bye :~)
The whole house is off to Krakow tomorrow for Unsound Festival. Looking forward to some wonderful shows and also a reunion with VQ! See you soon!
For the next one, I thought it would be nice to write about the three P's that I've visited in the last couple of months – Prague, Paris, and Poland (Krakow).
Lots of love.
♡
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