Melodic ambience

Germany has an unique experience at the moment: Enhanced opening times of the shops. In order to support such an idea, I went to my local grocery store knowing, that the ordinary Berliner should not get used to this “freedom” since the shops will close earlier again after the Soccer World Cup. As reported in the newspaper, employees of shops that are even open until midnight are kinda bored at later times - hardly any customers in the shops. No surprise to me because a) germans aren’t used to these enhanced times and b) in an area like Kurfuerstendamm an overwhelming number of shops are already closing at 10 pm. I do not think that people will start to look or search for the few that are open even later. Either all shops close at 10 pm or all at midnight.

Yesterday before the game Brasil - Croatia in Berlin I walked downtown to get an idea of the special world cup atmosphere. Lots of fans from different countries were walking around there, but: They basically stayed at the main squares and places downtown, sitting the cafes near the Brandenburg Gate, buying souvenirs or going into a bakery close by Unter den Linden which lets me wonder if really all the stores and restaurants in the other parts of the city that were getting ready for those visitors will profit from the World Cup.

A longer while ago I mentioned the initiative of a Berlin politician, Felicitas Kubala, Green Party,  who demanded that only light beer is being sold at the Soccer World Cup - in the stadiums and at the fan parties. A recent poll of a big newspaper in Berlin, “Der Tagesspiegel”, shows, that she is obviously not alone with that view. About 84 percent of the callers were of the opinion that there should be even a ban of alcohol at Berlin’s biggest fan party, the “fan mile” at the Brandenburg Gate. Obviously watching soccer or celebrating it does not automatically mean being drunk or drinking alcohol in the view of a lot of people.

Dear visitors of Berlin,

Almost the whole year through up to now we we freezing our lower backs off. The weather was constantly yucky and even late may or beginning of june there were some regions in Germany where it almost started to snow again. This was unacceptable for the World Cup so we ordered some good and warmer weather. And what can we say? It is being delivered punctually. You guys can leave your thick clothes at home. So, enjoy your stay here.