This weekend... New York City!

OK, you are probably thinking that this is way too fast! And yes, it is. I am going to NY this weekend, because there is a combination of things: I have this month to move, I can take as many things as possible with me, I got a pretty good deal for the weekend, and that way I can receive my apartment and set up things for when I move back, probably by the end of the month. Is not easy, but this is what I gotta do.
So here in Germany, I already sent the letter of "resignation" of contract with my cable TV company, which will end my service promptly the 31st of March. Yes, they need 3 months in advance to cut the service! Fortunately they counted January as one of the months. I have to do the same with my phone company, but only 3 weeks before ending the contract, more or less the same as it was to start the service. And apparently only the electricity can be billed up to the last minute and then they'll send the bill to someone in Germany, because they can't send it to NY.
On the other hand, tonight after I booked my flight, I signed up for Vonage, and it is already working, my new phone number is able to receive messages. I also requested internet service through cable TV, which I only have to pick up the self installation kit when I get there. So yes, that made my happy. I do miss that kind of service, the way things work right away!
The only bad thing is that I return on Monday, and only my friends who support Obama are happy that I will not be able to vote for Hillary. But I certainly hope that New York gives the victory to Hillary! I actually looked to see if I could return on tuesday after voting, but the difference in price was 300 dollars, and that will not be counted as a tax deduction contribution to the Democrat's campaign! LOL! So, Hillary, sorry I can't vote for you on the Primaries.
This is weird... I am sad to leave Berlin, but happy to go to NY. Hopefully I'll be a very frequent traveler after I get the job of my dreams, a job that will pay me enough to come visit my girlfriend at least once a month. Who knows? Maybe my destiny is to go to NY because I'm going to win the Lotto Jackpot! I can't sleep and keep dreaming awake!
Good Night!

Out with the bike...

Today I took advantage of a wonderful day and went out with the bike. I wanted to check out the Open Air Exhibit of Botero in Berlin. Interesting and very crowded. It was a little cold, but there were no clouds in the sky and it was so nice. My depression is still there, like in the back burner, but I'm getting over it little by little.
Here are some pictures I took today with my new camera. By the way, my camera is a Kodak Easyshare Z1275. It is great! And yes, I can take panoramic pictures with it. I'm still experimenting and trying things every day, but so far I must say it was a pretty good investment. Most of the pictures are from very typical Berlin sites.
The Brandenburg Gate.

The Siegessäule

Berlin's Cathedral

Checkpoint Charlie. This was the entrance control for the American sector when Berlin was divided by the wall.










The Television Tower

And then there's music!

So there I was happy as a clam, taking pictures with my new camera, and discovering new things to do with it. (Why are clams happy I don't know yet). Then I got disappointing news that actually got me depressed. I felt bad, low, didn't feel like going out and taking more pictures. My girlfriend came to cheer me up. It worked for a while and then I was low again.
There's nothing I can do about the news, even though it was something I expected.
So today I decided to take action against depression and got myself imersed in another world: I put on the headphones to listen to music. I've been listening to everything! From Joni Mitchel to Shakira, to classical music and Christmas songs. Yes, it was the "party shuffle" on the iTunes doing its job of really mixing things up.
To make a long story short, music is definitely the language that speaks better to emotions. At least for me.
And now I feel so much better. Only one thing, I just broke my laptop!!! The screen was not going back enough so I pushed and some piece of plastic jumped out of it!!!. Apparently that's the only thing and it will not be a problem. At least I hope so! Well, here's the damage to my computer.


I'm like a kid with a new toy with my new camera! I find technology fascinating. Oh, by the way, when using your digital camera to take "panoramic" pictures, just make sure there is nothing moving around, or you'll end up with a phantom!

KARVENAL DER KULTUREN

Last week Berlin had the Carnival of the Cultures of the World. Interesting festival that lasted 4 days. These pictures were taken on Sunday, the day they had the Parade. There's a little of everything, and for everybody! The best is the food you can find all over. The bad thing: The weather! It rained every day! But many people went anyway! Enjoy!

My first impression of the Bear

The first time I came to Berlin for a longer stay, I found out that the animal that is the simbol of the city is the Bear. I thought: Wow, how cool is to have a bear as a simbol for the city! Of course, I was imagining a cute bear, like the Gay Grizzly from my older post, or even something like the cartoons of Goldy Locks and the 3 Bears, you know, something nice and cute, something like Disney could put on his animated classic movies. Well, I was shocked when I saw the Berlin Flag:

I mean, this bear looks like the bears one has in nightmares! And then the nails on the bear are red! Is that blood? Because that bear really doesn't look THAT gay! Is that the "Bear Hug" that tourist get when they come to Berlin? Fortunately is only in the flag, and they use it for significant events, like for example the "Berlinale", one of the most important Film Festivals in the World.
Berlin is far from agressive! It is a very welcoming city. These past couple of days we've had wonderful weather. I went to the Kolbe Museum today, and enjoyed very much the ambiance of the place besides the art. Then, drove around Kreuzberg and it was great to see all those old buildings that still remain with such strengh. Berlin has a fascinating history that is old, and at the same time, very new! This flag was adopted to represent ALL Berlin in 1990, right when the Re-unification of Germany. I still remember watching that november on TV how people were on top of the Berlin Wall, and others opening more places to cross... I'm rediscovering this city... I have a love-hate relationship with Berlin. I love it when the weather is like now, warm but fresh, no clouds. I hate it when it rains every day and the sun doesn't shine for a whole week!
Oh well. Tomorrow will be another day, and I hope the weather contributes with a hard day that is waiting for us. Good Night!

The Gay Bear!

I finally found the Gay Grizzly! I know there was another one because I don't think the original actually had a "face" but here you can see it. It is also in Nollendorf Platz, a very gay area in Berlin.
Today I went to the announced "Kissing Marathon"... but there was no such thing! I mean, at least we didn't see anything. We were at Nollendorf Platz and perhaps they met and kissed and left, but we didn't see anything! I guess it was a little too cold.

But we got together with a group of friends and I told two of them that I wanted a picture of kissing to put in my blog, so they did kiss... not before laughing few times! But that's what friends are for, so I can have a picture of two women kissing at a cafe.
The weather was nice enough, but it was too cold still, and raining at times. Then I went with one of my best friends to play pool. How come playing pool is such a "lesbian" activity? In every lesbian bar that has some space, there is a pool table and a blackboard for people to write their names to take turns.
We were lucky. The table was available, but it wasn't a lesbian bar anyway. I saw a woman that was so incredibly drunk, I felt bad for her! I guess she was having the time of her life!
Today was a good day. I hope there are better weeks, but I know things will be hard and difficult. Oh well.

Berlin, Berlin... Berlin!

What a beautiful day we had today. I went out with the bike and met my girlfriend at Nollendorf Platz, which is one of my favorite places in Berlin. It is filled with people and cafes, and the atmosphere is relaxed in general.


There you can find people from all over, many gays since one street over is filled with gay bars, and is one of those places where you can sit at a cafe ans spend the afternoon just looking at people.

Today in particular, since the weather was so nice, there were a lot of people on bicycles, people sitting outside in cafes and eating ice cream.



We had delicious Korean food at a small but excellent little restaurant called "Rotari". If you are around, you got to go there.
Days like today, make me love this city, because even the colors look different!

Oh, and just to show you two typical things from Berlin: There are a lot of Bears like this one here, all over the city. There was one with the rainbow flag right in here, but they moved it and I don't know where it is. Also, in Berlin, most of the taxis, are Mercedes Benz...
Berlin is still to me a small town with a big city mentality. I enjoy being here, and its such a cool place! Of course when it is cloudy and rainy and the sun doesn't come out for a week, then I hate it!

The Gay Smart.

I was coming home and drove by a new store that sells only Smart cars. They are very famous in Europe, very small and city friendly cars, since they take very little space for parking. Well, right in the store there was a pink Smart with 2 Rainbow flags on its windshield. There were few Other Smarts there, many colors, each with a personality. But the "Gay" Smart caught my attention.

Out of shape

Today, for the first time in a long while I drove the bike to meet my girlfriend. It was more or less 10 Kilometers, or a little over 6 miles. And it really kicked me! I am so out of shape! I remember when I got my bike brand new, I was biking all over, no matter if it was winter or summer. And I was doing around 10 miles every day, (16-17 Kilometers) so I was in very good shape with the bike. So, I have to get back into it, and take advantage of Berlin, since it is so flat and easy to go around on a bike. Besides, people in general and drivers specially are aware of bikers, so I feel pretty safe in Berlin.
If you are visiting Berlin, the best way to go around is to rent a bike. The Deutsche Bahn has special bikes that one can rent and leave anywhere. It is an interesting concept. The bikes are in top condition, the registration is done online or by phone, and when you see a bike that is available, you can call the number and rent it.
If you want more info on this, check out their site, and choose the "English Summary" if you don't speak German.

http://www.callabike-interaktiv.de/kundenbuchung/