Ode to "the Crazies"

My number of remaining days in Berlin is coming down into single figures. So, it's only right that at this juncture I take time out to thank the fantastic mix of "crazies" (Ger: Spinner) that make this city what it is. There's a guy that lives near us that always writes messages about ravens. I really don't know what he wants to tell us. Here's a translation of his latest poem:

Gondel Gukolya Abraxas

In April/May 1993 I found a half-dead "raven",
because of my nut tree which is not allowed
to be harvested. But then it was!

I have a sneaking suspicion there could be a hidden sexual or political reference in there somewhere. Any help you could give me would be much appreciated.

Of course the personal stories of these people are often sad ones. Their behaviour may be because of earlier (or ongoing) drug use or alcoholism - their lives may well have been spent mainly on the streets. Most visitors to Berlin will have seen them in the train, just circling the city on the Ringbahn spouting wisdom to anyone who cares to listen. After five years here, I still always just stand up and move off when I feel my personal space is being encroached upon. I really must try to talk to one of them one day. Schwach von mir, sehr schwach.

Caption competition

I regularly wonder whether people in Berlin are strange because they are here or whether they were actually always strange and therefore came here.

Today I couldn't help but notice a group of four locals standing on my favourite bridge linking the former east and west parts of Berlin, the Oberbaumbrücke. Three of them were tied up in flourescent orange sticky tape. The fourth member of the group had a clipboard in her hand and was asking her friends a set of questions.

Was this a psychology student with a twisted sense of humour? Or a market researcher determined to finally get some unrushed answers? Either way, I want some captions from YOU faithful readers.

The best efforts will be rewarded with a set of diamond stud earrings valued at over 40,000 US dollars and a Panasonic VCR player with the serial code removed. Don't ask why, I just need to get rid of them.

After you sir!

Some enterprising young man has gone around my local area writing messages to the locals. The one above means "Yuppies out".

This sort of thing has quite a history in Berlin. I don't think there is any other place in the world where the locals dislike the people who've moved in to the city SO much and make a point of telling them about it SO regularly. From what I can tell it's nothing racial or personal. They just really don't want their local area to be infiltrated by people from outside. They are concerned that it changes the fabric of their "kiez", that it turns it into a ...


It's all a bit of a shame really. I always thought that all the different people in this city was the best thing about the place. Tolerance and acceptance of others - not really liking anyone, sure - but letting everyone do their thing. I'm from a long way away... and I'm not going anywhere. Not for the moment at least.

Hot in the city!

It's the same story every year. We all whine about how cold it is in Spring and then suddenly: Berlin turns on the warm weather, and everyone starts complaining about how warm it is. Well, I'm not saying a word. Bring it on I reckon. Tomorrow it's going to get even hotter - 30 degrees! ACHTUNG: Close the schools, attend to the elderly!

But seriously - if you can, it's time to hit the water right now in Berlin. Either in Kreuzberg's favourite Prinzenbad, in a paddling pool at a Strandbar beside the Spree River or even by heading out to the Tegel Lake for a spot of dive bombing, like this crazy local above.