Germany in December

[Brisketexan 104238]

What all is on that Turkish spread?  Looks delicious.

Kofta kebabs, shawarma meat, falafel, fried potatoes, eggplant, hummus, tatziki, haloumi, other veggies.

Also, the wife’s high school ex is a bigwig editor at Welt TV. Just got a studio tour, we’re in the background during a studio shot. Got to hang out with Angela Knable….



Now on our way to a sushi dinner.

[Chewbacca 7667]

3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Just did the casual part of the day, met the boy at school and took him and friends to lunch. Went to our favorite Turkish place, also happens to be right by the school, El Reif. Got the mega-mezze plate….plenty of leftovers for hungry young folks to take home.



Made a quick swing through the Alexanderplatz Christmas market - will spend more time there with friends tomorrow.



The amount of food and booze in just a small market is….impressive. Would you like a small plate of curry wurst?

Lots of good memories in those pics.  I'm not a huge fan of currywurst, but you have to try it at least once.  

[Ag with kids 579]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

Kofta kebabs, shawarma meat, falafel, fried potatoes, eggplant, hummus, tatziki, haloumi, other veggies.

Also, the wife’s high school ex is a bigwig editor at Welt TV. Just got a studio tour, we’re in the background during a studio shot. Got to hang out with Angela Knable….



Now on our way to a sushi dinner.

I know when I think about food in Berlin, the first thing that comes to mind is sushi...😅

[Brisketexan 104238]

I know when I think about food in Berlin, the first thing that comes to mind is sushi...

Pretty international town, dude.

Also, our friend picked it out - it’s his daughters favorite place.

[Ag with kids 579]

43 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Pretty international town, dude.

Also, our friend picked it out - it’s his daughters favorite place.

Oh...I understand...

 

But it's like saying, "This trip to Mexico City is epic.  And for dinner we're going to our favorite Philly Cheesesteak restaurant"😉

[Brisketexan 104238]

Oh...I understand...
 
But it's like saying, "This trip to Mexico City is epic.  And for dinner we're going to our favorite Philly Cheesesteak restaurant"

In fairness, it was pretty good. Now onto….some Christmas market. I dunno which one, we’re along for the ride.

[Mo Horn 8779]

2 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Kofta kebabs, shawarma meat, falafel, fried potatoes, eggplant, hummus, tatziki, haloumi, other veggies.

Also, the wife’s high school ex is a bigwig editor at Welt TV. Just got a studio tour, we’re in the background during a studio shot. Got to hang out with Angela Knable….



Now on our way to a sushi dinner.

Wait... that's a pic of your wife's HS ex or the person you hung out with? I'm not sure which I want to be true more. 

[jimmyjazz 45430]

2 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

Wait... that's a pic of your wife's HS ex or the person you hung out with? I'm not sure which I want to be true more. 

Oh, you're sure, and you know it.

[CooterBrown 17852]

How was meeting the Eskimo brother?

[Brisketexan 104238]

Wait... that's a pic of your wife's HS ex or the person you hung out with? I'm not sure which I want to be true more. 

Who am I to steal your dreams?

[Brisketexan 104238]

How was meeting the Eskimo brother?

We’ve met several times before. My wife is clearly attracted to men of intellect and style.

[jimmyjazz 45430]

5 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

We’ve met several times before. My wife is was clearly attracted to men of intellect and style.

FIFY

[Brisketexan 104238]

Ok, so had a nice sushi dinner with friends:



Then we hit the Kaiser Wilhelm market for dessert.



My first gluhwein. It was fine. Had some hot rum drink after. It was fine. Had a beer with dinner. I liked it the most.

Also, at the Alexanderplatz market, there was a booth selling just dried smoked meats and cheeses. Will I be hitting this tomorrow? Yes. Yes I will.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Also…mad respect to these dudes, who shows up at the market to drink beer outside…but brought a bucket of KFC with them for grub. These men are my brothers.

[Ag with kids 579]

10 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

In fairness, it was pretty good. Now onto….some Christmas market. I dunno which one, we’re along for the ride.

I'll have to admit I'm really jealous.  I lived in Germany from 1969-1973 and only have a few memories of my times there.

I've told my GF that I'm making 2 trips back there when I retire.  One in the summer and one in the winter (not over Christmas Day, though - we'll be in the Caribbean).

The winter trip is expressly to go to the Christmas markets and Der Schwarzwald.

As a side note, apparently, when I was about 3, I went to East Berlin with my folks.  We were in West Berlin and apparently my dad knew someone that had a car with diplomatic plates and we got to go on a tour of the soviet side.  However, the driver took us places that usually aren't allowed, but because of the diplomatic status, we were good.  I don't remember the trip but it's a cool story at least.

[CooterBrown 17852]

Maybe one day, your dad will tell you what you smuggled back to the west on behalf of the CIA.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Had to wait for two fucking hours while the wife and her friend dawdled. Finally got my breakfast bratwurst.




And Trabant tours around town.

[LosIllini 91]

Fifteen is my limit on Schnitzengruben.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Some of the food stalls at the Berliner Weihnachtszeit:






A toast to you gents:




And….The language barrier is occasionally an issue. I know a little German…..



Also, the boy took the wife’s friend’s son out with his friends to the bar last night. They got home at 4:30. The younger boy….needed a bit of help getting home. He finally managed to get some food down late this afternoon - a damn fine raclette:



The boy and I had more wurst. And we shared a bowl of really good mushrooms with a dill cream sauce. It was surprisingly great.



Bought some cured and smoked meats to ring home to my old man, wife bought a little painting.

Taking a little break to rest our feet and get warm, then to the Gendarmenmarkt, right outside our hotel.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Well, that’s just pretty, that’s what that is.

[South Austin 51976]

Brisket is winning the entire month of December.

[South Austin 51976]

3 hours ago, LosIllini said:

Fifteen is my limit on Schnitzengruben.

And you’re not from Havana.

[tx 3 putt 75959]

11 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Brisket is winning the entire month of December.

 

fuck that asshole !!!

[Brisketexan 104238]

Our hotel lobby:



Some scenes from the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market:










Now, off to some fancy-ass dinner.

[Brisketexan 104238]

No pics of fancy-ass dinner (they frown on it at the place). So we just enjoyed. Cookies and Cream, specialize in seasonal fare, vegetarian (yep, after a day of knocking back wurst, we went to a vegetarian restaurant - with a Michelin star).

Here’s a snapshot of tonight’s menu:





And here’s the entrance, true story:



Wrapped up after midnight. My feet are pissed at me. Going to rest up, Pergamon museum tomorrow.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Oh, and we parted paths with my wife’s friend and her son before dinner because they had to head out west and hang out with her friend, the acting/functional US ambassador to Germany (until the appointee clears). Well la-dee-da.

We were not invited. Which was probably for the best.

[Ag with kids 579]

2 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

And here’s the entrance, true story:



Wrapped up after midnight. My feet are pissed at me. Going to rest up, Pergamon museum tomorrow.

Yodelodelayheehoo!

 

 

Und...Und...

Und Beck's?

UND BECK'S!

[Shady Ray 1633]

On 12/10/2021 at 4:02 PM, Brisketexan said:

Just did the casual part of the day, met the boy at school and took him and friends to lunch. Went to our favorite Turkish place, also happens to be right by the school, El Reif. Got the mega-mezze plate….plenty of leftovers for hungry young folks to take home.



 

Gotttdammm. Turkish food in Germany is amazing, but Turkish in Berlin is next level even by German standards.

 

You, good sir, are doing this trip right. 

[tx 3 putt 75959]

On 12/11/2021 at 5:42 AM, CooterBrown said:

Maybe one day, your dad will tell you what you smuggled back to the west on behalf of the CIA.

[The Ace of Aces 5102]

Hey @Brisketexan we always stay at the Regent there at Gendarmenmarkt - it’s a beautiful lobby to warm up if you need it. 

[Brisketexan 104238]

Hey [mention=593]Brisketexan[/mention] we always stay at the Regent there at Gendarmenmarkt - it’s a beautiful lobby to warm up if you need it. 

Walked by the Regent - looks solid.

We’re actually getting ready to leave Berlin. Heading over to the boy’s place to drop bags, then to his favorite burger joint for lunch. Then, the train to Lubeck.

Sign as we entered our dinner restaurant last night:



Flammkuchen stand At Gendarmenmarkt:



Dan Quayle loves the soup here:

[Brisketexan 104238]

Berlin life. The boy’s main Ubahn line, and stop. His favorite burger dive. Some of the scenes in Kreuzburg.








Du.
Du hast.
……..

[SimonBolivar 10890]

On 12/3/2021 at 2:12 PM, Brisketexan said:

.....we have friends in Germany with whom we could stay and ride things out.  And I can of course work remotely.  That would utterly suck

Looking at the trip report so far, I'm not so sure that it would suck. 

[Chewbacca 7667]

Gotta love December in Germany.  Not cold enough to snow, which somehow makes it even colder.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Gotta love December in Germany.  Not cold enough to snow, which somehow makes it even colder.

First three days, it was pretty chilly. Got some snow, actually. But by this morning, it had all melted, and the cool rain returned. It’s mid-40s, which is actually almost warm when we walk around in jackets.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Oh, and when we went to Burgermeister, don’t think that I didn’t think….

[Brisketexan 104238]

We got to Lübeck tonight a bit late - spent the day with the boy, had lunch, went back to his place and helped him with college application stuff (doing some actual parenting) before catching a late train. Realized that my wife hadn’t yet had her doner kebab fix this trip, so we took care of that (I got the plate):




View from our room:



Will hit the town tomorrow.

[tigol 2383]

Those mushrooms.  Man.  I'm going to cook this recipe some time this week.  https://www.marthastewart.com/1165276/pan-seared-mushrooms-cream-and-dill

[Brisketexan 104238]

Lubeck is a pretty cool OLD town. It rose to prominence as the functional HQ of the Hanseatic League starting in 1159. It was the first city the RAF bombed the fuck out of in WWII, but much of it survived. Hell, the hotel building we’re in is from the 1300s.

Some scenes from the town:





First is the charity hospital, one of the first ever, founded by the merchants in the 1300s.

Church door, and scene looking down one of the main pedestrian avenues.

Below are the two remaining medieval city gates. The first, the Holstentor, is right outside our hotel and is one of the iconic symbols of Germany.




And, because the Holstentor was a proud symbol of German history, who totally got into it? That’s right….the fucking Nazis. I hate the fucking Nazis.




More to follow….

[Brisketexan 104238]

Some street scenes. I usually like some shots of seasonal produce stands. In the summer…they’re strawberry-heavy (and goddamn, they’ll spoil you on American strawberries forever). But now, fall and winter take front and center.







Next up, some Christmas market scenes. It’s one of the oldest, recorded back to 1648.

[gsoda3 3214]

nice pics, very jealous.

[TXSG8R 3325]

On 12/10/2021 at 1:41 PM, Ag with kids said:

Oh...I understand...

 

But it's like saying, "This trip to Mexico City is epic.  And for dinner we're going to our favorite Philly Cheesesteak restaurant"😉

One of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve ever been to was in Munich. 

[TXSG8R 3325]

Next market you’re in find a hard candy stand and buy some zweibel candy. It’s weird, but good. Did I mention weird?  

[Chewbacca 7667]

20 minutes ago, TXSG8R said:

Next market you’re in find a hard candy stand and buy some zweibel candy. It’s weird, but good. Did I mention weird?  

My boys and I loved all the weird ass candy in Germany.  Every time I saw a strange candy (especially Haribo), I would buy it.

[Brisketexan 104238]

Earliest mention of a Christmas market in Lubeck is from 1648. The main market is located between the city hall (oldest parts date to the 1200s) and the twin spires of the Marienkirche, dating to 1250. They missed their markets last year, very much. And they are happy and proud to have them back. Locals have been 1) shocked and impressed to have visitors all the way from Texas, and 2) SO proud to talk about their hometown and its hidden treasures. I think that’s great.

There was actually a moment tonight when a local French horn group was playing at the edge of the market, and a crowd (mostly local) had gathered, listening and smiling. Next to us, a baby bundled up in his stroller was captivated, grinning and watching as they played. It was simple, human, and good. And yeah, I might have teared up just a little bit. Just fellow humans, enjoying fellow human things.

Some scenes from the market (including my wife’s gluewhein and my stout rum punch):







A few more:






Some different grub….the salmon looked and smelled amazing. And yes, we got an order of the little Dutch pancakes from the cute Dutch girl.

[Ag with kids 579]

6 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Earliest mention of a Christmas market in Lubeck is from 1648. The main market is located between the city hall (oldest parts date to the 1200s) and the twin spires of the Marienkirche, dating to 1250. They missed their markets last year, very much. And they are happy and proud to have them back. Locals have been 1) shocked and impressed to have visitors all the way from Texas, and 2) SO proud to talk about their hometown and its hidden treasures. I think that’s great.

There was actually a moment tonight when a local French horn group was playing at the edge of the market, and a crowd (mostly local) had gathered, listening and smiling. Next to us, a baby bundled up in his stroller was captivated, grinning and watching as they played. It was simple, human, and good. And yeah, I might have teared up just a little bit. Just fellow humans, enjoying fellow human things.

Some scenes from the market (including my wife’s gluewhein and my stout rum punch):







A few more:






Some different grub….the salmon looked and smelled amazing. And yes, we got an order of the little Dutch pancakes from the cute Dutch girl.

That Chinaman is giving you a serious stink eye...

[Don Johnson 4744]

12 minutes ago, Ag with kids said:

That Chinaman is giving you a serious stink eye...

 

[Ag with kids 579]

8 minutes ago, Don Johnson said:

 

Asian AMERICAN? 😉

[Brisketexan 104238]

That Chinaman is giving you a serious stink eye...

He was, but his wife was smiling and laughing and was proud of her noodles. Which smelled amazing, along with the fried goodness next to them.

Some different grub up north, which is cool. Still….it would take you a week to eat just one of everything at even a small market.

[BHMCruiser 1811]

This looks like an amazing trip