Zentralflughafen

Berlin is the City of Change. Nothing is finished, nothing really started. Its in between- Transformation. There are people coming and leaving with great Ideas for often bigger projects. But to be honest- Berlin is not the place for the "big" things. Zentralflughafen Tempelhof is such a project with a long history of transformation in the middle of the City. Even so constructed as one of the largest buildings in the world, the airport shouldn't have been used as in airport that long. Planned as a modern airport with an event area, where thousand of visitors are able to watch the air shows from the roof top. Well to make a long story short- the airport was in use until end of 2008. In between as one of the busiest airports in the world and later as a small city airport with the most charming departure hall with a coffee shop serving "Bruehkaffee"! But that wouldn't be a story from Berlin if there wouldn't be more stories to talk about. The building "Zentralflughafen Tempelhof" has never been finished and has never been used just as an airport. It used to be a basis of the american army, the C.I.A., german police, central lost and found berlin, hundreds of offices and of course entertainment areas for erotic shows and dancing classes.
The U.S. Air Force constructed an indoor basket ball field, bowling centre, bars as well as a sauna.


Well the airport is closed- what's next? People in Berlin hoping that they will be able to use the airfield as a green recreation area as promised around 80 years ago- a long transformation you might think, but thats not the end for sure. As this is one of the biggest development areas in berlin for the upcoming years I am looking forward the visions of this "new" area. Indeed they are different, but don't worry- there is no need to hassle as there is a in between use already with bread&butter for the next ten years. Maybe they are able to develop an integrated concept during this time for a sustainable "transformation" into one of berlin most famous city centers. The guys from Graft work on it- but there are also politicians, allotment farmers, the berlin dog association and of cause the possibility of another "Ringcenter".
Maybe Berlin need some more time for the really big things, but in between we should think about the "transformation"- there is a lot of space left for some kinky fun..

Stay tuned for more in depth reports!

I am getting older

It has been a long time since I went out at night for so called party in Berlin. My stay over in Berlin is longer than expected, so I followed the invitation of my little princess Copacabana Else to join her for a party in Kantine @famous Berghain. So far so good, as I do like Panorama Bar and the whole location indeed. Due to the fact that Niki and I where a little tipsy thanks to the Champagne in another "cool" venue in K-Berg, we took a taxi to be dropped at the main entrance of Berghain. I never had been to Kantine before so Niki asked for directions and to bad we couldn't join the crowd as we had to meet up with the others @the fairly empty Kantine party on left hand side of Berghain.
The location is not bad at all as there is a kind of outdoor area in front to chill out an a rather medium sized dance floor inside. Personally I would rate the party as interesting as a Beck's could be. People tend to rate places or situations as sexy or not- this was definitly unsexy at all. If you are seeking for a sexy night out- join the "main" crowd at Berghain next time!
To be fair its not about the music at all, as it is always interesting to listen, but people makes the difference indeed. I am not sure whether it is due to the fact that all these guys know each other, even me or they are all as stiff as a poker.
The so called party could be described as a get together with people you know since your childhood, standing around and having a drink! Its not to bad to meet up and have a chat, but its pain in the ass if you are seeking for hedonist nightlife. Copacabana Else tried really hard and found a dancing queen in form of her power shopper.

Stay tuned and join the "main" crowd at Panorama Bar/ Berghain next time!

To Niki

Happy Birthday!

The girl from Ipanema

One of my very good friends- Copacabana Else asked me recently to point out the very special way of german lifestyle or what I might think about it.
When I arrived during my recent stay in Berlin I was really afraid what might happen and to be honest- its worst case!
Not only that it is fucking cold, the peoples behavior is more than rude, but one could say that this is the very special charm of the city- so never mind. As I still own a small place in one of Berlin's so called hip quarters (by the way- if you wanna rent it, please drop me a line) I should have the "back home" feeling, but I do felt uncomfortable. I just dropped my stuff and went for a walk through the small streets around to see what might changed and how people behave in their environment. It seems to me that people especially in "my" area reached a certain level of lifestyle which one could call bourgeois, but indeed these peoples understatement creates a new form of well educated, family oriented, organic food buyers ghetto guys. Yeah you got it right- these people create their very own ghetto- even so people just thought ghettos are exclusive to jews or poor people!
The funny thing is that people in poor areas pretending to be rich when buying Dolce and Gabana copies and in famous ghetto Prenzlauer Berg they do buy rough looking outdoor clothes (fucking expensive!) for their next big track to the coffee shop around the corner. People here are not extraordinary rich (compared to other areas in the world for sure yes), but even within Berlin the ghetto guys of Prenzlauer Berg are mainly middle- class oriented and they arranged them self in their small world. I guess none of them took once a train coming from the suburbs in the morning. Their point of view is "straight" through in depth reports on real life in newspapers and magazines like Spiegel, Faz, or Sueddeutsche. The only "real" contact to the outside world is for example to get in touch with the vendors in the bakery shops or your dry cleaning.
My mum told me once while she visit me in Jakarta: "you can just understand peoples lifestyle if you feel the dust, the air pollution and the heat with your body!"
There is no heat, no air pollution and no dust in Berlin any more- so what should I feel?

Stay tuned for my upcoming in depth report on "sternburg"- ghetto Berlin Friedrichshain

Berlin

Hi folks! I might be back in Europe for some appointments very soon. I am afraid as I found this online. Its german, but indeed simply right from my heart.
"Alles ist unglaublich sauber und super verarbeitet, poliert, massiv, wertvoll und in Schuss - es ist beeindruckend. Unheimlich, was hier an Werten herumsteht. Die Menschen fahren ihre teuren und geputzten Autos über teppichgleichen einwandfreien Straßenbelag, Kleidung ist gewaschen und gebügelt. Alles sitzt und steht, Organisation ist alles.
Dagegen besteht der Rest der Welt aus Pappmaché, Sperrholz und irgendwie zusammengeschusterten Notlösungen. Nur sieht das dort keiner.
Aber gefällt’s mir hier? Nein. Langeweile macht sich breit. Wenn ich den Fernseher anmache, wenn langsam die Erinnerung wiederkehrt, wie schlecht deutscher Humor und Umgangsformen sind und was die erschreckende Sprachunfähigkeit angeht bekomme ich Angst!
Deutschland im Herbst ist das Land ohne Himmel. Können sich das Menschen in anderen Ländern überhaupt vorstellen? Hier wird es morgens “hell”, aber der Himmel bleibt eine graue Suppe ohne Tiefe, ohne Fixpunkt- Deprimierend. Nicht, dass ich nicht nachvollziehen kann, dass der Herbst seine Reize hat aber in der Kombination ist mir das hier alles viel zu viel."
Stay tuned and keep me up to date if you are around.

Berlin The Upcoming Sylt

I mean it sounds maybe a little ridiculous, but Steffen asked me to drop some lines about the future of Berlin. Anyway it is a pleasure indeed! I do write this lines from another point of view as I am not part of the vibe in Berlin, but even in Sao Paulo it is possible to get an Idea about the current situation over there. First of all I would like to describe the situation as first part of a scenario for the future of Berlin. The question is- how does Berlin looks like at the moment and how could it looks like in a few years? Many people like Berlin very much, during the recent years the hip crowd flooded into the City as rentals and general lifestyle (Cremant) is dirt cheap compared to other places worldwide. These musicians, artists, architects, bohemians and hedonist e.g. are the Berlin vibe as nothing really substantial is left in Berlin. I mean what I am trying to say is- Berlin as a whole is pretty poor- the capital of famous Germany is like a small village lacking any financial background. People, even within Germany earn their money in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf or Hamburg. A couple of days ago I met a guy from NYC- settling down for two years in Berlin to enjoy his life! I asked him how he earns money- his answer: "If I need money I would go back to NYC!"
So what is the conclusion for Berlin- In my point of view it is just a holiday resort for the In crowd- nothing substantial!
Coming back to the the title of this brief report- "Berlin the upcoming Sylt" and to the next step of a scenario.
Sylt is a small german island and a holiday resort for the rich and famous Germans (nothing to write home about). Do you see any parallels? I do- people there do not generate any value- they just relax! As you might know Sylt won't be there anymore in a couple of years as the island is shrinking. For Berlin I have following scenario: What happens if the In crowd is leaving as a result of economic crisis, world war or just because Sao Paulo is the new place to be? Maybe shrinking as Sylt!
Stay tuned for more in depth reports on worldwide travel!

German Small Sausages

It is obviously- Germans are small sausages! But this would be indeed superficial without proof. So the questions is- what makes most Germans small sausages? Lets do a little brainstorming: First of all- you are what you eat. German meals are more on the hearty meat side, pork shops, meat balls, knuckle of pork, thousand of different cold cuts and all time favorite sausages. Boiled or grilled- they are served simply everywhere! Germans eat them as a kind of snack- a meal in between. During my last stay in Berlin it was pretty hot, but even in public transport people eat their sausages on the run. Believe me the smell is disgusting! So I would rather say- First proof!
As a second example I would like to discuss how germans life. Besides most international guys living in urban areas in lovely and charming historic buildings, most germans life in housing developments in the suburbs. I saw many of these housing developments worldwide and to be honest, the German ones are ridiculous. But they are planed by the very same guys who life in the arty quarters downtown. Anyway- thats not the matter why Germans are small sausages. The inhabitants are dreaming to escape their stupid life buying one of the many one single houses even more far outside of the city. So what do you think are they doing right there? Right they grill sausages. Second Proof! Third one would be??? Third? right -"third reich"- but I should not always focus on the history, as many Germans would say to me! Be funny be happy- ah you are a jew?! Oh sorry! Anyway lets talk about a recent example. Football is a very good one. People in Germany wanna be someone- they are "Papst", economic successful, with a vast history (but please do not mention the third reich..) and of course they are world champions in simply everything. But as you could imagine not every unemployed guy from the suburbs is economical successful or "Papst" there is a need that everybody feels like a hero. Football is pretty easy for german viewers as there are pretty simple "rules" to follow up. You buy some German flags, drink and lot of beer and of course eat at least two sausages. There is no need to follow up the match as there are many Germans with you to enjoy the party. So thats how every German could feel like a hero- be part of the mass (third reich?- oh sorry) drink beer and eat sausages. For most of them its better than being "Pabst"! I would rather say this is the third proof?!
There are many more Examples- feel free to add some.
Stay tuned for my next report on Kim Jong Il- the asian small sausage!

To Niki

Its not always easy- but a pleasure to have you with me! The Cremant is on your tap. Enjoy

Rent my place!

I still have a small flat in the centre of Berlin. It is located in a lovely small and quiet street in one of Berlin's most famous areas called Prenzlauer Berg. Just 2 minutes walking to the next tram station which will bring you to "Mitte" within 10 minutes. Around the corner is the pretty nice "Helmholtzplatz"- a square with decent restaurants, bars and shops. Everything you might need is within walking distance- and the public transport system in Berlin is really sufficient. There is one living room (with a huge bed, desk, tv and hifi...), a toilet and shower compartment and a small kitchen with a table to have dinner with some friends (oven, fridge, espresso machine, washing machine and everything else you might need to prepare a dinner or just breakfast).
From time to time I sublet this place as an all inclusive package (rental fee, bills as well 24/7 high speed internet access) from 200 Euros per Week, 500 Euro for one month and long term prices on request!

Feel free to contact me at: d.r.j.teitelbaum@googlemail.com