'I don't know why I think this,' wrote my brother in an e mail the other day, 'but I have the impression that you are about to leave Berlin. Is that true
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Turkish delightxyzeddOctober 24 2004, 20:01:35 UTC
Interestingly, I re-watched Herzog's "Stroszek," much of which takes place in Kreuzberg, the other night. I hope the place does not look as gloomy now as it did in 1976!
I also hope the Turks in Germany are treated better now than then. What do people think? My Turkish friends and my German relatives are keeping their fingers crossed about that vote. (I wish the blue states in America could join the EU, as well.)
Tangentially, one of the most amusing books I've read this year is Rose Macaulay's The Towers of Trebizond, which takes the reader on an extended trip through Turkey, but is most revealing about Anglo-European attitudes toward the Turks circa 1950 (which sadly don't seem to have been altered all that much). Any fans of that book around here?
Re: Turkish delightmariocanarioOctober 25 2004, 04:30:49 UTC
I remember when in my german textbook when i was learning it at high school there was a short anti-racism story where one kid didnt want to be someones friend because he was a turk, but her best friend lectured her on tolerance and stuff. turks and germans dont mix together too much in berlin, except at school. expats generally feel they´re potentially menacing but theres a peaceful atmosphere in the city that totally dissolves such tensions. most people make fun of their accent. Me myself Ive tried approaching them but never find too much to talk about. but theyre very definitely ver sweet.
Move to Athens! Woohoo!fufurasuOctober 25 2004, 02:37:54 UTC
I want to move to central Athens, so I have been looking at the relative merits of its many varied districts. In all, I think it would be right up your street, Nick. There is the anatolian food, the arabic scales, the smells and the grit, the weather is pretty glorious, and pre-enlightenment attitudes abound. The effect would be accentuated for you because of your memories of 70s Athens. On the other hand, Athens is pretty damn forward. To wet your appetite, this week I'll be going to a photograpic exhibition by Yukari Ueda, a Japanese girl studying at the Athens school of fine arts, whose photographs attempt to accentuate the similarities between Athens and Japan. And I am positive that if you got a show at Bios the place would be absolutely packed.
I have been rediscovering Athens for the past couple of months, after being in the UK for nine years, and have written a fair bit about it in my blog recently. It includes photos of Takashi Murakami art, Karim Rashid interiors, and spaces "like something out of Momus’s photos of Berlin
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Re: Move to Athens! Woohoo!imomusOctober 25 2004, 03:47:25 UTC
Thissio is apparently the district to be in, according to my friend Babis, who's building a house there. But he may be biased.
I like the sound of that photography show about the similarities between Athens and Japan, I was riffing on the same theme when I first went to live in Tokyo and compared it to Athens.
i ll keep my ears peeled for any appartments that go free (i already moved to kreuzberg and it rules) i recommend you the area around gorlitzer park, or near the river or one of the cannals (did i write that ok?). that s unless you want to live near the busiest parts like kottbuser tor or schonleinstrasse or hermannplatz would you care to go for a coffee before it gets cold?i ll give you a call one of these days
Ah! Kreuzberg sounds marvelous. I do remember fictional 'Mehmet' from my German I textbook being Turkish, and a short reading included on the Turkish population in Berlin. One of my favorite things about visiting my [Persian] roommate's home was her parents offering me tiny plates with raw almonds, tea, flat bread, and sour cherries to snack on [while I don't know terribly much about Turkish food, it sounds very similar to what people might eat in Iran].
A European city without at least one immigrant quarter is a dying city, a sad place of senescent blandness...I am so curious to see and explore the ethnic communities of other countries. The United States are unique for the fact that all the different cultures are what make up its identity [but I find it rather disappointing how much of the majority in Los Angeles does not take advantage of the huge Asian supermarkets and their cheap, fresh and varied produce, etc], but to see different cultures mixing in a place that is more aware of how it identifies itself as a
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Comments 32
I also hope the Turks in Germany are treated better now than then. What do people think? My Turkish friends and my German relatives are keeping their fingers crossed about that vote. (I wish the blue states in America could join the EU, as well.)
Tangentially, one of the most amusing books I've read this year is Rose Macaulay's The Towers of Trebizond, which takes the reader on an extended trip through Turkey, but is most revealing about Anglo-European attitudes toward the Turks circa 1950 (which sadly don't seem to have been altered all that much). Any fans of that book around here?
Good luck apartment-hunting, Momus.
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I remember when in my german textbook when i was learning it at high school there was a short anti-racism story where one kid didnt want to be someones friend because he was a turk, but her best friend lectured her on tolerance and stuff. turks and germans dont mix together too much in berlin, except at school. expats generally feel they´re potentially menacing but theres a peaceful atmosphere in the city that totally dissolves such tensions. most people make fun of their accent.
Me myself Ive tried approaching them but never find too much to talk about. but theyre very definitely ver sweet.
Reply
I have been rediscovering Athens for the past couple of months, after being in the UK for nine years, and have written a fair bit about it in my blog recently. It includes photos of Takashi Murakami art, Karim Rashid interiors, and spaces "like something out of Momus’s photos of Berlin ( ... )
Reply
I like the sound of that photography show about the similarities between Athens and Japan, I was riffing on the same theme when I first went to live in Tokyo and compared it to Athens.
I'll check your blog now!
Reply
i ll keep my ears peeled for any appartments that go free (i already moved to kreuzberg and it rules)
i recommend you the area around gorlitzer park, or near the river or one of the cannals (did i write that ok?). that s unless you want to live near the busiest parts like kottbuser tor or schonleinstrasse or hermannplatz
would you care to go for a coffee before it gets cold?i ll give you a call one of these days
Reply
Yeah, Mario, give me a call, I want to see your new pad!
Reply
Ah! Kreuzberg sounds marvelous. I do remember fictional 'Mehmet' from my German I textbook being Turkish, and a short reading included on the Turkish population in Berlin. One of my favorite things about visiting my [Persian] roommate's home was her parents offering me tiny plates with raw almonds, tea, flat bread, and sour cherries to snack on [while I don't know terribly much about Turkish food, it sounds very similar to what people might eat in Iran].
A European city without at least one immigrant quarter is a dying city, a sad place of senescent blandness...I am so curious to see and explore the ethnic communities of other countries. The United States are unique for the fact that all the different cultures are what make up its identity [but I find it rather disappointing how much of the majority in Los Angeles does not take advantage of the huge Asian supermarkets and their cheap, fresh and varied produce, etc], but to see different cultures mixing in a place that is more aware of how it identifies itself as a ( ... )
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