Berlin jottwede - The Berlin environs

When Berliners talk about the outlying districts or the Berlin hinterland, it's usually jottwede. So janz weit draußen. And that's true, because as a Berliner, you're used to the long distances. That's why it was all the more exciting to experience with what wishes and ideas so many Bonners, due to the capital city decision in Berlin on housing or house hunting made. "The government district should be accessible by bicycle" - Even though the Tucholsky quote "the ideal" was written seventy years too early, it describes the attitude of aspiration at the time quite perfectly.

"Yes, you would like that:

A villa in the green with a large terrace,

the Baltic Sea in front, Friedrichstraße in the back;

with a beautiful view, rural-monday,

from the bathroom you can see the Zugspitze -

but in the evening you don't have far to go to the cinema.

The whole simple, full of modesty..."

Full of modesty and humility, some subsequently learned to appreciate the advantages of the surrounding countryside, thus jottwede. Also us it has driven in the last days out of the city. Because not only I, but many of our friends have moved out in the nineties. A good decision. Back then, the surrounding area was still affordable. Today, it's not only a good investment, it's still green. So it drives us to Vehlefanz, Oranienburg and the day after to Rangsdorf. In between, however, we keep going back to Moabit. Here in the Spreebogen has for decades, my friend Uwe his residence. Thus BUTCH becomes now and then times the lantern parker.

But besides friends, we also meet Max. We met him by chance in a 4×4 group. Max also drives a T6, which was modified by Terranger. He lives directly at the former Tempelhof airport. When I think of Tempelhof, I think of the stories about the airlift and the raisin bombers, and their contribution to the free city of Berlin. Today we park BUTCH there, where once. Red Army soldiers snapped their victory photos. Right next to the eagle's head, which traveled from Berlin across the Atlantic and back again.

We chat a little gasoline and exchange ideas about technology.

Later we walk a little through Berlin. Along the Spree, to Bellevue Palace, the official residence of our Federal President. From there through the Hansa Quarter, located between the Spree, Bellevue Palace, the Great Tiergarten, the Street of June 17 and the Royal Porcelain Manufactory. For me, this is always an architectural highlight. Here there are not only the Academy of Arts, the Eternit House, various Bauhaus villas, as well as the model settlement Südliches Hansaviertel. Since the settlement is close to the residence of my friend Uwe, many a walk led through here, but there is always something new to discover.

In between, we stop at the Buchwald confectionery. For 160 years an institution for Baumkuchen, but not only, because everything we order is delicious.

Back on the Spree, we take a look at the new development of Wilhelm-Caspar-Wegely-Platz. - An oasis in the center of the city, a secret jewel for all Berliners and new Berliners. This description of the developer does not meet with a positive response everywhere. - A sprayer has decorated the house and Spreemauer with "100% Bonzenhass". - Stop Berlin Schnauze.

In the evening, Uwe and I switch to whiskey. I have a lot to digest today. A long-time work colleague, one could almost say a friend, has passed away far too early. Dark thoughts are best drowned that way.