best monday

about two weeks ago, i had one of the best mondays ever. i can’t say the best monday because one monday in scotland i visited the oban distillery at 10am. and another monday in scotland i went to the isle of eigg for the day, which was one of my all-time favorite days, period. but two mondays ago in berlin… that comes relatively close.

finally got out of bed about 10:00 after lazing around reading for a bit. breakfast time.

about 11:30, walked to volkspark hasenheide to play mini-golf! one of my absolutely favorite vacation activities: nothing says “i’m on holiday” quite like mini-golf. the weather was nice and sunny, with only a hint of coolness to the air. end result: i have to report that i housed beat alex… but i won’t say by how many points because it’s kind of embarrassing.

14:00, walked to mehringdamm to eat delicious currywurst at curry 36. currywurst mit kartoffelsalat for two! marveled at how many people are actually waiting in the line down the block for a mustafa’s gemuse kebap. (A LOT)

then it was a leisurely stroll back to neukölln through west kreuzberg and some really beautiful streets.

18:00, after an hour resting at the flat, we went off to klunkerkranich on the top of the neukölln arkaden with our lovely host paula. the cafe/bar up there is truly incredible; sort of a hodgepodge urban garden situation.

then i realized: HEY– i’ve never seen berlin from above before! to see this fantastic view of my favorite city and enjoy the amazing ambiance of a fading summer’s afternoon with great company was definitely one of my favorite summer memories, and maybe even one of my favorite berlin memories too.

then we sadly had to say goodbye to these views to make it to my favorite restaurant in time for our night’s plans. this little restaurant? the one and only thai huong snack. this lil’ asian bistro was an absolute haunt of mine during my time studying in the city and living in the neighborhood. you’ll find this unassuming place on heinrich-heine platz near an aldi markt. 

they serve heaping plates of the most delicious asian noodles for under five euros (i always get #42) and i love them to death. and of course, i have no photos because as some of my friends and readers know,  i can’t help myself when the food is that good. but i really ought to make an effort next time, seeing as its my favorite joint and all… geez.

20:30. after dinner, mariannenplatz was only a hop away to get ready to see snowpiercer at freiluftkino kreuzberg. as the evening turned into night, the air was cold and it rained lightly, but fortunately those freiluftkino folks have really thought of everything (blankets!) and we came prepared with rain gear. a note on snowpiercer: if you like the hunger games trilogy, films about unrest in dystopian post-apocalyptic societies, or just love tilda swinton like i do, this film is for you.

just a hop back on the (now, fully-functioning!) U8 and we were back for the night.

one of the most perfect mondays i’ve ever lived. i particularly remember mondays while on the road because the day has such a stigma of being terrible… and i like to prove that it can be otherwise.

hope you enjoyed this look. do you remember any particularly wonderful mondays? happy sunday!