It's not just the World Cup that's Big in Berlin

A few weekends back, ok, quite a few, I spent yet another day exploring Berlin. Wonderfully, this is almost always a rewarding way to spend a day, even if I'm beginning to feel quite guilty and neglectful about not getting away more. The long list of trips I planned to take, constructed in September 05, remains almost fingerprint free.

Still, it's hard to feel too bad, when there is so much to see here. For those who might not notice the small details that make this a great city, Berlin obliges with several larger than life nudges.

The car is part of the "Berlin, City of Ideas" exhibition, which highlights the wide spectrum of innovation (with some creative license) born of Berlin.

There's also a huge Bayer aspirin in the middle of the government sector. Hey, when you're trying to fill a quota, you can't always be selective, but you can be ironic.

As far as I know, Rietveld never slept here, but an enterprising store still took the opportunity to trumpet one of his greatest (one of the greatest?) furniture designs, the Red Blue chair. Click the pic for a post-modern discussion of it's iconicity.

While I'm short, I promise you I was standing when I took both pictures. The objects were BIG.

I mentioned earlier that, while not quite consistently summer, the weather did finally turn. Berlin has a reputation as a green city, and an even stronger one as a city whose residents enjoy being outdoors. I can officially confirm both.

Apparently, some official agency with a very long name sent a letter to all Berliners: this is now officially the time to sit outside at cafes (even if it's cold and rainy), jog, bike, and sunbathe. I once had an argument with a good friend about whether it is necessary to know pain to enjoy pleasure. To Bear, I say: I still believe pleasure has its own independent power, but there's no question that a long, grey winter adds a certain halo effect to the sunshine and flowers.

It has also done wonders for the view out my window. I may move this fall. I am beginning to suspect that to truly appreciate the space I live in, I will have to design it myself. That said, mornings and evenings on the balcony are pretty decadent these days.

Now, if you don't mind, Germany just tied Argentina in the World Cup quarter finals, so I need to prepare my expat-to-expat victory blog, just in case. Keep an eye peeled, Ian. "Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin!" Oh. Wait. We're already here.