Southern Migration

Here in Denmark, week 7 is "Winter Holiday", which you need because everyone needs a holiday from Danish winter. Surprisingly, though, most opt to increase the winteriness by taking ski vacations in Norway or the Alps. Not us, though! We headed south to warmer climes. Specifically, Berlin. And specifically, only marginally warmer. Here are some pictures of things that happened.

C makes sure we don't forget her

Please look after this bear

C and E ready to head out for our first day of adventuring

We really like Schloss Sanssouci, in Potsdam. Here is one view in the park

And here are C and B at the baths in Sanssouci

This is one of the smaller palaces at Sanssouci

Sightseeing can wear you out

Back in Berlin! We saw the Reichstag

Alexanderplatz

Still Alexanderplatz. C really got into the "former East Berlin feeling"

Near our hotel, the Zoo Station and Gedächtniskirche

We went to the zoo! C liked it a lot

Also the Aquarium, where there were some big fish

 

Collecting sticks in Tiergarten

Checking out the Siegessäule

Ka De We - a massive department store

Exhausted

Break for Berlin

This is just a quick post today, to share some pictures from my recent trip to Berlin. After an excellent two weeks in the US (stay tuned for a future post!), I had a weekend trip to Berlin to see my brother, who was there for a conference.

On Saturday, we went to Sanssouci, one of E and my favorite spots in the world. Here's my brother (let's call him A) in front of the big fountain.

We also walked up to the Orangerie at Sanssouci. There was a small chamber ensemble playing classical music here, which definitely added to the overall highly classy feel.

We spent Sunday morning walking through the Tiergarten and through downtown Berlin. At one point, we happened across this very interesting scene. I posted a picture of the Berliner Dom with the Fernsehturm together last year, but I really think it makes for cool pictures and deserves another angle. Thanks to A for encouraging me to pull my camera out for this one!

That's it for now - just a few of my favorite pictures. The Scandinavegan asks me to assure you that she will be back soon with her regularly scheduled food updates, and we'll also get some stuff about our recent trips to Portland and the Bay Area up soon!

Tired of Turkey? Why Not Try a Vöner?

I figured in these days after Thanksgiving, when everyone's been eating turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, even turkey pancakes--well, what better time for the Scandinavegan to make her move?

You're sick of turkey, I know you are. You're wishing there were some delicious, high-protein, plant-based alternative... one that doesn't have a dumb name like "Tofurkey." Something tasty and exotic, yet not too frightening...

Behold the Vöner!

As I was saying: high-protein, plant-based, exotic yet somehow familiar, non-stupid name... well, you can't win them all.

But what IS it? And why does it seem so familiar? It's a vegan döner, the Turkish street food that's taken Germany by storm in the last 15 years. You can find döner everywhere in Germany, but if you're lucky enough to wander by Boxhagener Straße 56 in Berlin, you'll find yourself here, at Vöner, home of the vegan version.

So German, and yet so Berkeley.

Of course, we were there on an October evening, so it actually looked more like this.
Still super-hyggelig, though!

And if you're worried about authenticity (who doesn't worry about the authenticity of their soy-based meat analogs?), well, fret no more. It comes on a spit, just like the real thing. Yes, you saw it here on ADAFT, a giant sizzling spit of seitan.

All jokes aside, though, it was tasty, filling, and very reasonably priced. So next time you're in Berlin, remember what the Scandinavegan told you, and head right over to Vöner!