Errands: Berlin part II, Friederishchain
When the afternoon is on the way to his end, it is the perfect moment to take the way to Warshauer Strasse: this U-bahn stop (U-bahn is the name of the subway) as the end of the line , is the perfect stop close to the heart of this living district. To go to the main, streets, you will have to cross a bridge that go over the train ways, offering you also a good perspective on some transformed industrial area into lights of the nigth... On your direct right, at the end of the bridge, behind the curry wurst stands and photo booth, you can find one of the entrance to the RAW-tempel area (or enter by one of the three other door on Revaler straße).
This place is a former train garage of 8 800 m2, all occupied by artists. You can find several bars, concert places (Urban Spree, where they are organizing some new wave concert, and indus/neo folk gigs), a skate park, a vegan restaurant, a climbing area (climb above the terrasse where people are drinking their beers, it's just crazy!), and open space for art exhibitions, and some other places we did not explored... Yes, all is tagged. And no, it is not a junkie niche: yes, it's Berlin, every place is safe and welcoming, contrary to France. You don't need to be dressed as a adulescent rebel to enter: it is truly open.
Then you can have drink around the Simon Dash Straße; if like us, you listen to metal, heads up to the Paule's Metal Eck, and don't be afraid by the kitschness of the surroundings. Good choice of beers on the draft, and nice waiter (with a big beard and a Kylesia shirt). This street is a bit full of “tourists” (not the ones with white socks, backpack and sandals, but just people who are not from this Kiez - the place you belong in German) on summer, but it stays really nice.
If you are a little hungry and have nothing against a good veggie place, then to Hoorra Pakoora, Krössener Straße, quite next to Paule's Metal Eck (I think there is a food and beer shop in between but... that's it almost - I can't find them on the internet, so I can't give your the exact number in the street).
Just have a look at those fantastic plates: a wok of pastas with savory tofu, and all sort of seasonal vegetables and seeds, with a perfect Satay sauce. On the other side, a indian style galette full of veggies too, executed japanese style, with sesame oil and … sauce. Beer is a bit more expensive than somewhere else in the street, but everything is organic and every plate is REALLY substancial. Perfect after a long day of walk!
The owner is a cute “hippie” couple, really sweet, but they don't speak english. All is cooked by them on the moment only with fresh products. A must go!
On Sunday morning (let's say sunday “mid'day”: 10 - 16h), you can have a brunch almost on every place in those street. On some advice, we went to the 100 Wasser Cafe, where you can have an unlimited and copious brunch for 8,9€: the food was not that savoury, and a bit too industrial to my taste, but if you are starving and want to save pennies, that's the right place to go. After the brunch, you can have a walk to the flea market on Boxhagener Platz, down the street: this market is just an institution in this area of the city!
We finally had a walk a the * really really * long Karl Marx avenue: I would advise you to take it from Alexender Platz and to go down to Friederishchain (we did the other way), because all the descriptive boards on the architecture are chronologically displayed on this order. But it seems we love to do things upside down :)
I really liked this part of our visit and had been impressed by those colossal buildings: a true demonstration of strength and power!
I love this pic:
So exotic for us to see all those statues celebrating the good workers...
Here is poor me in front of the Karl Marx Library: the sign and the inside never changed, but now it has been transformed into a book shop.
An old mayor from Berlin, who helped to build the Karl Marx Allee:
The Kino International Cinema, which is a monument of history and architecture in itself:
Look at those pics from the 60's ;) Yes, it is still here!
More to come! Next post: district of Kreuzberg.