A historical scenario

I would like to show you the place I spend most of my time at present, here in Berlin. No, it's not either a pub or my little apartment, it's the ESMT building.

It's quite a historical place. During the East German Government it was the Council of State (in German: Staatsrat), and housed the executive body of the German Democratic Republic.
This was built in the 1960's. It was the first building in the east-modern building style.


The building has a part of the former City Palace built in. It was the portal where Karl Liebknecht declared the socialist republic in 1918.

From 1999 to 2001 when the new Federal Chancellery was built, this was the office of the Federal Chancellor of Germany.

Since 2006 the building houses a private higher education institute; the European School of Management and Technology.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

On Saturday I went to the movies to see "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus".

http://www.needcoffee.com/doctor-parnassus/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imaginarium_of_Doctor_Parnassus

Something weird regarding the making of the film is that the actor who played the main role, Heath Ledger, died during the shooting, and other actors like Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law finished the work.

Esthetically, it is worth watching. About the story... I am looking forward to hearing of somebody that can explain it to me. So, if you are reading this and has seen the film, please let me know the meaning of the two doors with the labels "His" and "Her". I would appreciate it so much.

Opening a bank account in a different way

I don't know if something similar has ever happened to you when you go to a bank to open an account. As for me, this hasn't ever happened to me before.

Well, as soon as I got into the bank, I got surprised because it looked more like a shopping center than any other thing. In fact, there were a section with products from Harrods, that you could buy. The only place in Berlin where you could do it.
It's paradoxical, because supposedly a bank is a place where you go to save money, not to spend it.

Then, you could see a cafeteria. And the first thing they did was to offer me an appetizer, that of course I accepted.

Then, they took us on a tour of the bank. They showed us the conference room, the offices (that were quite impressive because the walls were made of cristal, but pushing a button you could make them obscure, and nobody could see you if you were inside).

But after the tour, you realise that all the banks want the same: your money.

Snow can be useful

Snow can be useful if you are thirsty. It was around 21:00, and I was walking to my apartment. Of course, the shops had closed long time ago. And I began feeling terribly thirsty. Then I thought that it was an irony, because I was surrounded by water; in solid state, but water eventually.

Then I caught some snow and ate it. It wasn’t pleasant, because it was so freezing (how could it be, otherwise?)

The problem is that I’ve just read that the snow can be full of bugs. I hope I won’t die tomorrow. So far so good.

Signing a contract in German

Firstly, I must say that my landlord doesn't speak a word of English (of course, Spanish either). And when I faced the contract I was supposed to sign I realised that everything was in Geman!!!, as German as him.

So, I don't know what I signed. Maybe I accepted to sell my body as a sexual object, but perhaps I won't know it until I try to leave Germany in December 2010.

By the way... I hope that 'The Three Kings' have been generous with you. Have you been good this last year? :-)

First time in a German supermarket

It's rather difficult to buy in a supermarket when you can't understand a word on the labels of the products, specially when you are used to read everything in order to choose the best option in the market.

The specific challenge was to buy a shampoo. There were at least 6 different kinds belonging to the same brand. So, every one would be for a different purpose: tyed hair, greasy hair, dry hair, ... and I am unable to think of a different one, so you can understand that I could buy something that could ruin my hair.

Eventually I decided to buy the one with the shortest words on its label. My criteria doesn't make much sense, but my hair needed washing. So far so good, it hasn't fallen out.

Hoy me voy

“Hoy me voy, me espera Europa pa hacer mi sueño realidad”, as “Los Aslándticos” say in their song.



After sleeping barely 3 hours, I got up this morning in Spain for the last time (in some time).
I had to take the AVE train to Madrid at 6:45. Then I would have to get to Barajas airport by underground (with two changes). The plane would land at Schönefeld airport, and then I would have to use public transport to get to my flat.
So, I began pulling my two suitcases very early in the morning. I was afraid the big one, that I had to check in, would weigh too much. The constraint with easyJet is 20 kg. My mother and I had spent the last days testing the weight, packing and unpacking over and over again. So, it was going to be a tight moment the check-in. Eventually, it weighed 21 kg! One above the limit, but the guy at the counter was nice and didn’t make me pay luggage excess.
I was carrying with me 38,5 kg in all!!! And that’s quite a lot taking into account that I weigh 54 kg. I would regret it during the long day I had to face, specially going up and down the stairs in the underground stations in Madrid.
Soon I realised that the snow isn’t cool, specially if you have to pull your suitcases through it. The next day I had pins and needles in my arms and legs.