Badass Berlin

Germany takes credit for creating one of the greatest chocolate bars in history: Ritter Sport.  I’m always surprised when I come across someone who hasn’t experienced the joy of a Ritter Sport for themselves, because everyone really should!  We get these in Canada, but only in a fraction of the flavour spectrum available in Germany.  Obviously, LB and I willingly traded valuable museum time (and museums in Berlin are seriously The Business) to make 3 visits to the Schokowelt.  Here you can learn all about Ritter Sport, create your own flavour, drink melted RS hot chocolate, and buy stacks of chocolate bars to help insulate against the chill of Berlin in late November.  It was mostly the glorious marzipan hot chocolate that had us under its spell.  I also have the Berlin Christmas Markets to thank for bringing Kinderpunsch into my life.  Hot alcoholic bevs are all the rage around here and I do not care for them.  The fumes coming off a steaming mug of gluhwein are like a boozy slap across the face.  Kinderpunsch is just what it sounds like: kid's punch.  But I suspect that it is stirred with a magic wand, because it is like drinking a rainbow.

Luckily, we did the 3 hour walking tour on one of the early days before the temperature plummeted and the snow swept in.  After this, it required solid mental prep to work up the motivation to venture outdoors.  Our new Australian friend, Jess, had never seen snow before or experienced sub-zero temperatures – she liked it for about 3 minutes before the novelty wore off.  We decided to break form in Berlin and talked to some outsiders (I KNOW!), and ended up forming a little Commonwealth Club.  It was quite nice except for the moments when it was terrifying.  For example, anytime Lady Scot opened her mouth, LB, Jess and I froze in horror with the potential for what was about to come tumbling out.  I’m trying really hard to forget a few particular memories.

Now, it is true that I have skin so fluorescently white that it may cause severe retinal damage when viewed in direct sunlight.  But before meeting Ross and Mike, no one had ever asked me if, without a shirt, it was possible to see my organs through my skin.  Through the record: no, but it is such a comfort to know what people are thinking when they first meet me.

Summary

Favourite Food: Mustafa’s Durums

Favourite Museum: Jewish History

Favourite Ritter Sport (so far): Hazelsnuss

Worst Activity in Cold Weather: East Side Gallery

Biggest Regret: Not making it to the Currywurst Museum

Biggest Regret (Subcategory- Food): Not getting pumpkin soup when I had the chance