This is not a spring song

But it looks like.

Today, it is another sunny day in the grey Berlin.

Evening at Kopps

Late evening at Kopps, in Mitte. I visited the place for the second time but the ambiance didn't change: quiet, few tables taken, English speaking customers, hectic but funny waiters. 

The menu is different from a moment of the day to another. Last time I tried some vegan pancakes I wished to taste again. No way, as it was the breakfast offer.

From the very beginning I loved the design of the place. The mirrors are conferring a specific depth to the rooms. The visit at Kopps wasn't planned but I was lucky enough to have the camera with me. Photo mission of the day accomplished.

The lights of an unusual mild winter. 

I don't like the chairs too much, but the tables and the colors of the furniture are creating a pleasant cozyness.

Nobody on the street around 10pm.

When I left, around 23.00, there were no other customers. Some of the waiters were smoking outside and the tables were cleaned and ready for the next working day.

Cutting the poor trees

I am not an ecologist, even though I love nature and green parks and flowers and grass. And fresh air too. 

I am not a militant against nuclear energy either and I politely declined any insistent invitation to go out in the street and held yellow balloons. As this is a travel and leisures blog, I prefer not to write about politics and geopolitics and other not-so-cool topics.

But, when I see the wonderful trees laying in the streets all over the city, I feel sad. I've been told that this is a special breed growing up in reservations prepared to answer the demand for the holidays season. It may be true, although I didn't dare to do an investigation about this sensitive topic.

However, when I walk on the street and see those trees laying, I can't stop thinking about how nice it would be to admire them in a forest and, eventually, make pictures with the green forest under the moderately hot sun of the week-end. Dreams of a non-eco person.

Fast food at LPG Biomarkt

Two little beasts were very hungry yesterday, after hours of touristic running for catching the best sun spots. After one hour the sun's hidded power vanished and I was back under the grey sky. So, wanted to try something new and, as in my poor Western area is only one LPG Biomarkt and not very close to my place, I spent some time admiring the merchandise. I visited the vegan/vegetarian/bio canteen, with many children enjoying their quiet games in their special corner but wasn't tempted to try something. At the end, the cafeteria at the entrance corrupted me and convinced me to stay for a little bit more, for tasting a pumpkin quiche - delicious, but I don't remember exactly the taste - and a cinnamon bread. All bio, natural, healthy. Not extremely cheap, but, I repeat for the last time: there were bio, natural healthy. And tasty as well.

 The nice autumn colours convinced me to stay, buy and taste on the site.

This was the delicious threat of the day. Fresh pastry, good concentration of cinnamon and a very attractive smell. I should try it at home too...

U-Bahn and S-Bahn, only a matter of style

Graffiti at U-Bahnhof Schönleinstraße

Zitadelle Spandau

History lessons at Zitadelle Spandau

An old map of Zitadelle. Time to learn something...

A colourful mosaique from the '60s-70s

and same modern ads.

In the old old East...

...where the life is always busy at 2pm.

Morning or afternoon at Konditorei Fester in Spandau

You can call me 'old style' but long time ago, for an hour or so, I enjoyed a quiet hour of reading outside Konditorei Fester.

A traditional place since 1928, it is strategically located in an area where you will rarely find the usual fast life from other areas of the city. The tourists visiting the area are respecting the discret lifestyle of the inhabitants and you'll rarely see here large groups of tourists, as most part of them are mostly going to visit the old Zitadelle.  

Why it is place special in comparison with other smaller or bigger coffee places around? 

During the summer, if you are lucky enough to catch a place outside - usually there are maximum 6 - you will enjoy a calm and quiet view of the main pedestrian area. In the meantime, you will be served a delicious coffee or tea, together with tasty and affordable cakes for various tastes.  

The service is very friendly and always smiling.

If you need some special cakes for special occasions, you can order it at very good prices. There are various offers for various seasons and the marzipan is rarely missing out of this delicious picture. 

I know I'm a dreamer, but can't wait the spring again for a new visit at this tasty place. 

Season decorations for the winter. Top marzipan cakes and pancakes among the favorites. To be served with or without gluehwein.

Waiting for 2012, on Ku'damm

Friday in the afternoon, on Ku'damm, everything was quiet. It was raining/snowing, a bit cold than in the previous days, lots of tourists. Now is probably worse! All I know that in the last 24 hours I had again the feeling of the war only one door away. Nothing serious, though.

Street views

Snapshots from the late evening walk

Markt @Gendarmenmarkt

One of my favorite place during the summer in Mitte is Gendarmenmarkt. Note to myself: avoid it during this time of the year as it is turned into a sad (very) kitsch fair. I didn't enjoy this ambiance at all.

Walking around Rosenthaler Square

Even though the cold weather reminded me that the winter is very close, I tried to avoid this feeling and decided to take a long walk around Rosenthaler Square and Sophiestrasse, an area I discovered the last night and felt it cozy, friendly and arts-oriented - with many galleries. All the cats are black during the night and wanted to check again with my own eyes and the camera on my shoulder. The pleasant impression remained and I felt for a couple of hours as a visitor in one of my dearest European capital cities: the old good Wien.

A green corner for somebody in love with the summer and spring

A shop for musicians - practicians, especially are kindly invited

Huge Pomegranate

Huge pomegranates at a Turkish vegetables shop near Adenauerplatz. Impressive catch, isn't it?

The shadows of autumn

HERMÈS shop @Ku'Damm

I simply couldn't resist taking those pictures: