The Holy Trinity of Mexican Food in Berlin

One of the greatest tragedies in German cooking is the absence of Mexican food.We practically live on taco trucks, hole-in-the-wall taquerís, and homemade tex-mex in Seattle. We were aghast to find poor man's Spanish food standing in for our beloved Mexican in Berlin when we arrived in 2007. Toto - we're not in Kansas anymore.

While it may seem strange for a couple of Seattleites to be talking up Mexican food, Ian has a mysterious past. He is actually from Eastern Washington. GASPPPPPPP!!! Oh - you have no idea why that's a big deal? Let me explain a little something about Washington state....

Why did you move back to Berlin?

"Because Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in the world."

"Because we weren't ready to be settled in Seattle. "

"Because we love being expats."

We got asked this question (and many more) over & over during the filming of our episode of House Hunters International. Set to air this Wednesday,

May 23, 2012 at 7:30 & 10:30 PM (West Coast time)

we are pretty sure we are going to look like smiling idiots that say things like "Wow!", "rain shower", and one really awkward "I love you". That doesn't mean we aren't excited.

I heart Pizza

See this?

GET IN MY BELLY!

Gorki Park - Russian in Berlin

Gorki Park in Berlin

We sat down outside Gorki Park a few weeks ago on a steamy day...only to have a burst of rain shower chase us inside. I am so glad it did. The area on the left is more of the restaurant side with the right bar side holding USSR gems. Posters, memorabilia - it was a really quirky setting. 

We had a Russian beer, Moskwa, and it came in a bad-ass glass. We asked how much the glasses were, but 6.50 was a little spendy (I know, our thriftiness is impressive). The beer itself was serviceable and added to the experience, but nothing that special.

 

Life by Bike in Berlin

Ian's Bike: Stray Bullet

We aren't what you'd call "serious bikers". A German friend that commutes by bike bemoans this time of year when the weather turns glorious and the lack of hills lulls the most amateur of amateurs into thinking they're a pro. "That's us!" I said proudly. We buy our bikes at flea markets for under 50 euro and the sole deciding process is:

• price
• can they hold our weight?

That 's how we ended up with 2 ladies purple bikes. We're quite  a sight to behold.

Gritty & Glorious - Erster Mai

May Day is one of the premiere events in Berlin. Though I had little idea it even existed in the United States, I now eagerly look forward to this kick-off of summer festivities.

This year we took on another part of the celebration we were similarly ignorant of. Have you heard of Walpurgisnacht? I didn't even know how to say it. This day falls exactly half a year from November 1 and has roots in European pagan rituals. A time of bonfires, witchery, and spookiness - I was in.

Arena Berlin

The traditional place to go in Berlin is Mauerpark and I had full intention of going. Friends had intentions of going to Badeschiff. Only half-reluctantly, I changed plans and headed to one of my favorite places in Berlin. After a recent facelift to the surroundings, the open-air club was looking even more magical than usual.

Apartment #7 in Berlin

We finally found it.  The apartment to show on House Hunters International. The place we might really call a home after move after move. The apartment we could love in Berlin.

The problem?

There was a gap of a week from when we had to be out of the last place, and into the new one. Shit. 

Luckily, we found an affordable short term lease that was even convenient to move between the 2 places - sold!...or leased, rather. Here is the apartment tour #7 of our short term in Neukölln.

Hometown Love

Before I wax too poetic about Berlin (because we've had some pretty unbelievably good weekends of late), it's important to look at our recent trip to the States and our favorite corner - Seattle.

Space Needle

The Real Berlin Bears

I never even knew how to say Berlin properly till I visited Ian's class of adorable pre-schoolers.

"Where do you live?
BEAR-lin!"

April, April, der weiss nicht, was er will...

You know, considering all German months are masculine (der Dezember, der Januar, der Februar...), April sure is a bitch.  It's a common saying here in Germany (and Berlin in particular) that April has no idea what it wants.  One minute the sun is shining and you’re singing praises to the gods, and the next moment you're freezing your balls off.  Such was Ebe's and my experience just this past Saturday...