Top 3 Restaurants in Berlin's Schöneberg

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Die Feinbackerei features a pub in the front of the building and a restaurant in the back. This establishment,located in Schöneberg, is a fantastic local find with authentic German food, drinks and fantastic Berliner Weisse (in either red or green), the un-official drink of Berlin. Try the lentil soup and weinerschnitzel for a meal to dream about long after the fact (sooo good!!). The food portions are huge so come hungry! Remember to bring euro/cash because Die Feinbackerei does not accept credit cards. Dinner and drinks and the tip for 3 people set us back about $50 USD.

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Located just inside the division between Kreuzberg and Schöneberg lies Tomasa, a very popular dining option for Sunday and holiday brunch. The second floor event dining room is a converted hall of an older building sitting on the northern edge of lovely Viktoria Park. The brunch menu selections range from various pates, cheeses and smoked salmon starters to breakfast items such as pancakes, bacon and eggs benedict to numerous hot and cold entree items and finally desserts, all equally delicious! Afterwards, walk off some of those calories over to the highest point at Viktoria Park and enjoy a panoramic view of the city for free. Credit cards are accepted and weekend brunch reservations are advised. Tomasa is located at Berlinerstrasse 8a, Berlin, 14169, phone: 030.859.66.397 or you can view online @ www.tomasa.de.

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For the best breakfast expereince any time of the day in Schöneberg make reservations in advance for Cafe BilderBuch, located at Akazienstrasse 28 Berlin. The Cafe's extensive weekend brunch is held in a large, beautifully decorated second floor dining area, complete with a baby grand and pianist. Choose from four juices, tea, coffee, mimosas to start your dining experience. Then decide which of the buffet areas to start with -- will it be the hot breakfast eggs, bacon, benedicts or the cold buffet area with a yogurt bar --fresh plain and flavored yogurts with your choice of toppings? Or perhaps the cold appetizer buffet area with smoked salmon, various olives, marinated veggies and various cheese selections is the proper place to start? Wherever you choose to start make sure to save room for more -- eat as much as you want! The service is unhurried and friendly but unobtrusive. So sit back, relax and enjoy a lovely brunch while listening to the expert sounds of the jazz pianist. FYI -- during the week the downstairs breakfast options, although not in as opulent surroundings, were equally as amazing in a more cosy atmosphere. Credit cars are accepted. A party of four,the weekend brunch is $145USD and $30 USD,two people, for a weekday breakfast.Cafe BilderBuch phone: 030.7870.6057

Feel the Buzz About Berlin

Have you ever just been somewhere, not doing anything of note, and instantly felt an unexpected burst of energy zipping through your body? For most, it's a rare and unanticipated happening. But it happened to me, creeping up and enveloping me while waiting at a Berlin S-Bahn stop after returning from 4 days in Munich. And "No", I wasn't in danger of being electrocuted nor had I been drinking (too early in the day)! What I did catch was the Berlin Buzz!

That energy carried though the air is exactly what makes Berlin so very distinctly and uniquely Berlin. Is this almost tangible energy a by-product of the neverending process of reinvention currently sweeping over this entire city? OR is it due to the influx of millennials yearning to flex their creativity to add to the re-invigoration of this European capital city that doesn't really feel like a typical "big capital city" like London or Rome? Maybe the "buzz" is merely a result of Berlin's integration of the city's preserved pieces of history standing along side its more recently created modern areas. Possibly all of the above mentioned ideas are working in unison to create this buzz of energy that currently exists as Berlin.

To experience the Berlin Buzz firsthand travel by U-Bahn (the Berlin underground subway) or overground by S-Bahn to Prenzlauer Berg and Neukölln districts for the current, most hip places to visit. The southern district of Berlin, Kreuzberg, is historically known for its large Turkish population, and Schöneberg, synonymous with the homosexual community, are both slowly changing their population demographics due to re-gentrification and have lower housing costs when compared to other areas of Berlin.

For a change of pace enjoy a quiet walk in the western areas of Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf which are more suburban in feel with residential streets lined with tall stately trees. Or enjoy the city center sights and activities in the Old Town districts of Mitte and Friedrichshain. And last, but not least, are the outer districts that comprise Berlin's hinterland (outskirts) -- Lichtenberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Pankow to the north and east, Treptow-Köpenick and Steglitz-Zehlendorf to the southeast and south west, respectively and Spandau and Reinickendorf to the west and northwest of city center. Each region has it's own delights and surprises alike for visitors to discover. So come with me, the TallyHo Traveller, and together we will visit the best of Berlin!

Horsin' Around on Weekends in Aiken SC

Charmed by Southern hospitality? Impressed by a strong sense of history and community? Enthralled by all things of nature? Like horses? If you answered "Yes" to any or all of these questions, then take a long weekend (or even a full week) trip to Aiken, South Carolina. You will be seduced by all this small town of about 29,000 has to offer.

Historic Downtown Aiken -- Drive down Richland Avenue and marvel at the trees, shrubs and flowers all in full spring bloom in the wide medians between both directions of traffic. Park on Laurens Street SW and window shop along both sides of the street. There's something for every interest included among the locally owned shops on just this street- bakeries (one just for pets), restaurants, cafes, a brewpub, a candy store, furniture design stores, unique clothing stores, antique shops, a quilt shop, an all-things-equine store, gift stores and an awesome T-shirt shop. For lunch stop in at Betsy's On the Corner (corner of Laurens and Barnwell). Don't forget to order from one of the 20+ flavors of ice cream for dessert (yum!).

Aiken Center for the Arts -- After lunch at Betsy's, burn off a few of those calories by crossing to the other side of Laurens and walking down the block to this impressive local museum and it's shop. Relax and enjoy the art, created by local and regional artists, in the various museum galleries both upstairs and down. Stop at the museum's shop on your way out and select a reasonably priced souvenir from among the varied selection of photographs, multicolored glass ornaments, original paintings, jewelry and cards created by the local Aiken area talent.

Aiken Polo Match -- Check out Aiken's Polo Club website at www.aikenpolo.org for their weekend practice and competitive game schedules and go watch a polo match. To reach either the Whitney or Powderhouse polo fields (off SC Hwy 19/Whiskey Road) take care and travel slowly over the moderately rutted red clay roads. Keep an eye out for horses being ridden on these clay roads during your travels. If meeting a rider, common courtesy dictates to (please) slow down and stay as far to the right as possible.

Aiken Thoroughbred (TB) Racing Hall of Fame and Museum -- Located in a former carriage house and stables on the grounds of Hopelands Gardens (also off SC Hwy 19/Whiskey Road) since 1977, this museum highlights the lives and racing accomplishments of 39 champion horses that trained at the local Aiken Training track. Ever heard of the racing champion Seabiscuit? He's represented here since his trainer, Tom Smith, trained at Aiken. Some of the 39 champions of the Aiken Hall of Fame include Tom Fool, Stage Door Johnny, Pleasant Colony and his daughter Pleasant Stage as well as the legendary Swale. Ask Aiken native Museum Curator Lisa Hall about the legend of War Admiral's son Blue Peter and the tree associated with him at the nearby Aiken Training Track. A horse enthusiast's heavenly afternoon of TB racing nirvana!

Hopelands Gardens -- Behind the tall serpentine red brick wall along Whiskey Road to the east and Dupree Place to the north hides the 20+ acres of Aiken's premier location for serene, natural beauty. Delicate floral aromas of roses, camellias and magnolias tickle the nose. Listen to the songbirds signing their melodies against a backdrop of water splashing among the fountains. Gaze in awe at the majestic splendor of the huge old oak trees spreading their limbs as if reaching for the sky. Take a lunchtime picnic and sit along one of the many benches and indulge both body and soul with the sights and sounds of Hopelands!

Hitchcock Woods -- Bring your best pair of walking shoes or riding boots and helmet to explore the largest privately owned forest situated within a US city (yes, it's an even bigger area than NYC Central Park!). This 2100 acre wooded preserve boasts 70 miles of trails for horseback riding, walking(with or without dogs) or jogging -- however no bicycles allowed!!

On the Trail of Painted Ponies -- Find as many of the life sized painted horses, created as part of a 2003 Aiken public art project, as you can. Some are easily spotted within the historic downtown area. Did you find Magnolia Mare, Stonerside or Have Sum Fun out at Hopelands Gardens? Keep looking...

South Boundary Street Oak Canopy -- Take a short detour off Whiskey Road and leisurely (not too fast) drive down South Boundary Street. Marvel at the mile long stretch where the Southern live oak trees, lining both sides of the road, have grown into intertwined limbs overhanging above to create a green leafy canopy. No wonder the locals call this street "The Avenue of Oaks". It's definitely worth stopping for a photo op!

Early morning at Aiken Training Track -- Thrill to the commanding sound of equine power as you feel the horses hooves pounding around the sandy track in the early morning mist! Revel in their fluid, graceful strength as you watch the horses quickly cover ground, increasing the length of each stride, as they bound further around the white wooden railed track and pass you by in the blink of an eye. After such a glorious start to the day if you need yet more to prod you into motion visit the Track Kitchen for breakfast,just a few short blocks from the track on Mead Avenue, and listen as the local horse people get their day started too!

TSA Fashion Enemy #1 – Which Clothing Item is It?

Which clothing item do you think would cause the most grief during a TSA full body scan? Underwire bra? Apparently not. Platform heels? Only if breaking your ankle (or neck) sprinting down the airport escalator to catch the last shuttle train counts. No, fellow air travelers, based on personal experience, the #1 fashion nemesis of the TSA’s screening process is…(drumroll, please!)…an ordinary sweater woven with metallic threads (sad, but true!).

“Ma’am, can you come with me and wait here?” is not what I expected to hear from the Denver airport TSA screener upon completion of a full body scan this past March. Caught off guard by the request, I glanced over my shoulder to view 4 to 5 orange target area alerts on the scanner’s scan of my upper body image. Initial thoughts ranged from “OMG, I broke the bloody scanner” to “Wow, I didn’t think a few metallic threads would freak out a scanner that way!” At that point I was handed off to another TSA screener who kept muttering something about her information screen not updating properly. A few minutes and complete body wanding later, this same screener took me over to another station. At that point a thorough hand swabbing test was administered (obviously looking for metallic thread residue at that point).Thankfully the hand swabbing results tested negative and I soon was walking toward my A Concourse gate.

While reading in the gate seating area, a pesky thought crossed my mind. Could this recent screening experience be repeated going through security when transferring flights at London Heathrow? Determined not to put my concerns to the actual test at LHR (and risk upsetting the airport screeners and possibly London airport security), a short wardrobe change at the nearest Denver airport restroom solved the problem. The remaining security screenings for my journey were, fortunately, uneventful.

So, dear fellow travelers, a major life lesson learned from this trip will stay with me forever as well as serve as a warning to others. DON”T wear clothing with metallic threads through TSA scanners unless you don’t mind some extra unwanted attention!

A Mid-Summer’s Afternoon Dreamin’

Ever daydream about being behind the wheel of a supercar on a sultry summer afternoon, the wind rushing through your hair as you and the car power down an open stretch of highway? On an August afternoon I was “living the dream” near Loveland, Colorado, at a select 2 day opportunity sponsored by Sill-TerHar Motors of Broomfield, Colorado.

Imagine my surprise a few weeks earlier when my husband, Randy, handed me not just one but 3 invitations to test drive a variety of Aston Martins, Maseratis or Lamborghinis at the Loveland Embassy Suites hotel. I knew demand for this test driving event would be HUGE and, since appointment times were limited, I called early the next morning to speak with the event coordinator, Steven Leonard, to make appointments for Randy and myself. As anticipated, Steven confirmed that even though the invitations were mailed only one and a half days earlier, he already had 18 RSVPs to schedule for this auspicious occasion. Within a day or so I received the coveted email confirmation…4:30 PM, Tuesday, August 7, 2012… a date of unqualified anticipation!

On the appointed afternoon Randy, Mom (our official guest) and I drove to the Embassy Suites in our 2005 Redfire Ford Mustang, one of the preeminent made-in-the-USA muscle cars. Upon entering the hotel’s conference center parking lot a bright yellow Lamborghini caught our collective gaze, followed in swift succession by a dark grey Aston Martin Vantage. While parking the Mustang we immediately spied a gorgeous red (with black convertible top – Mom’s favorite color combination!!) Maserati parked nearby. We exited our car and promptly walked over to mentally salivate over the sleek and sporty beauty of the Maserati Granturismo S exterior. After our comparison of the three makes of supercars there, the Lambo didn’t stand a chance!

We finally walked into the conference center and found the Lake Loveland room where we introduced ourselves to Steven and Jack TerHar, Jr. After reading and signing a short test driving contract (speeding tickets were each driver’s responsibility – if the police could catch us, that is!), photos were taken of each driver’s license. Steven then suggested that Randy, Mom and I should test out Aston Martin’s Rapide 4 door sedan first.

After escorting us to the car, we quickly discovered this was no ordinary sedan – even the opening of the car door was a unique experience! Once seated inside the 8 way memory power seats, all mirrors were adjusted for maximum visibility and comfort. Placing the car fob into the ignition slot and pushing in brought the 6.0 liter V12 engine to life with an impressive roar. So many buttons and knobs on the full grain leather with walnut facia trimmed console…I was almost afraid to touch one for fear of pushing an ejection seat button, if there had been one. (After all, Aston Martin IS known as the preferred ride for James Bond of 007 fame!)

Randy drove initially while Mom and I marveled at the trez chic ride. Mom was extremely impressed by the full console of individual controls for the two back seat passengers and I enjoyed the comforts from the front passenger seat. After getting a feel for the Rapide’s handling and acceleration capabilities by using the paddle shifters located on the steering wheel, Randy pulled over on a short side street and exchanged seats with me. Once settled in to the driver’s seat properly I elected to use the automatic transmission by pushing the “D” button on the dash and off we went.

The Rapide maneuvered well around several roundabouts and stormed down the straightaway while surrounding us in comfort and luxury. The interior of the car was also very quiet except for those brief bursts of acceleration. The test drive session ended much too soon as we arrived back at the conference center lot.

Walking back inside with HUGE smiles on all our faces, Randy struck up a conversation with Jack about performance cars. BIG MISTAKE!! Noting that Mom and I were anxious to drive another vehicle, Steven asked which car we were interested in driving next. Mom and I simultaneously said “the red Maserati!”. So, with Randy still Conversing with Jack, Steven escorted Mom and me out to the parking lot and opened the doors to our ultimate driving experience – the Maserati Granturismo S!!
Outstanding…Adrenaline…RUSH!!! It simmered the moment the driver’s door was opened on the 2012 Rosso Mondiale red with black convertible topped Maserati. The rush increased when switching on the ignition key and listening to a magnificent symphony of sound as the 4.7 liter V8 engine sprang to life. It intensified upon exciting the parking lot with very responsive handling round the roundabout. In the blink of an eye the 433 hp Maserati roared from zero to seventy mph without hesitation. By this time the engine sounded like “music to our ears” (Thanks, Mom). This supercar’s turning radius was surprisingly stellar as well, making a legal U-turn so very effortlessly. An extended test drive down another side street allowed a little more time to fully enjoy and appreciate this most stylish and powerful car – the ULTIMATE driving machine! Mom summed up the driving experience in the Maserati as “the most fun EVER in a car” and I absolutely agreed.

Meanwhile, Randy, having missed the chance to drive the Maserati, channeled his inner James Bond by driving the grey Aston Martin V12 Vantage two seat coupe. He was suitably impressed by the gear shifter (said it was “great”, which is no small compliment from him) and appreciated the blistering acceleration the 6.0 liter, 12 cylinder engine provided. The agility and handling capabilities of this extraordinary auto, one of the few supercars with an actual manual transmission, really “wowed” my Mustang-loving spouse. To paraphrase the Aston Martin literature, this Aston Martin Vantage was a smart looking, compact sports coupe engineered to perform like an exciting GT!

The sticker prices for the supercars tested by us were not as outrageous as initially thought! The MSRP list for the regal 2012 Aston Martin Rapide was $204,670 with a top of the line interior; $198,820 was the MSRP pricing for the athletic and sporty Aston Martin V12 Vantage. The price tag for the most perfect Maserati Granturismo S was a mere $157,000. So I guess maybe I’ll play Powerball the next time the big bucks roll around…

A huge “Thank You” to Jack TerHar, Jr and Steven Leonard of Sill-TerHar Motors from Broomfield, Colorado, for inviting us to test drive these incredible, truly elegant supercars! They both were gracious and informative hosts for this event. (Hopefully we will receive another invitation again next summer!)

Again, TallyHo! And I’m off…. to work on more travel tales to tell you about!

Sources—

Sil-TerHar Maserati
125 Alter Street, Broomfield, Colorado 80038-0344
Phone: (303)469-1801 X769
www.sthmotors.com
Sil-TerHar Aston Martin
125 Alter Street, Broomfield, Colorado, 80038
Phone: (303)469-1801
www.sthmotors.com

Kaitlin's Successful Steps for Obtaining a German Work Permit

Note from the TallyHo-Traveller: TallyHo introduces our first guest writer, relating her experiences with recent German governmental processes...Forward Ho!

From January to May 2012, I completed my student teaching internship in Berlin, Germany. As an American citizen, I was allowed to stay in the country for 90 days with my passport, but since I was staying longer than 90 days (and the school I was interning at wouldn’t let me begin until I had all of the documentation), I needed to obtain a residence permit.

Note: from what I found, the term “residence permit” is more or less synonymous with “residence visa” or just “visa”

The process is not too terribly difficult, especially if you have your employer working on it. Even if you have to go it alone, it’s not so bad. The following steps, gained from my experience of obtaining proper documentation needed to reside legally in Berlin, Germany for the 5 months I was there, are as follows:

Step 1: Obtain your work permit.
You must do this, even if you are participating in an unpaid internship. My employer (the school I was student teaching at) still had to have this permit, even though it stated that I was getting paid a monthly salary of €0.00. Your employer should file the paperwork to obtain this permit for you. You will generally need to submit the following to your employer so that they can file for the permit:

Verpflichtungserklärung (Formal Obligation) -- this form proves that you have monetary funds to support yourself during your stay

Immatrikulationsbescheinigung (Certificate of Enrollment) -- this form proves that you are enrolled in a higher education institution and requires the seal of your college/university, along with an authorized signature, both of which can be obtained from your university registrar’s office

Copy of your passport

Step 2: Find a place to live

Before you can continue with the rest of the visa process, you must find a place to live. It is a good idea to have a copy of the lease or a letter from your landlord stating that you do have a place of residence.

Step 3: Register at your local Bürgeramt

Before you venture to the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’s Authority), you have to register at your local registration office (Bürgeramt). You must fill out the Anmeldung form. Since it is printed only in German, it is best if you look it up on-line and translate it beforehand (or take a German translater along) if you do not know German. Your employer should be able to tell you which Bürgeramt you should register at.

Some websites say that this process takes hours, but that was not my experience. Here are some tips to help expedite the process:

Arrive early, about 15-20 minutes before the office opens

If you can’t arrive early, go during the hours when most people are at work

Try to avoid going right before holidays or the week between Christmas and New Year’s; everyone tries to get into the Bürgeramt before the holidays

Notes on the process:

When you walk in, walk up to the desk and ask for the Anmeldung. You will receive a number and will have to go sit in a waiting room. Keep an eye on the number board because it will tell you which room you must go to.

Important Note: You must return to the Bürgeramt at the end of your internship to deregister, or else your employer may be fined. The form you fill out in this case is called the Abmeldung. After you deregister, take a copy of the paper to your employer.

Step 4: Apply for (and obtain) your residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’s Authority)

Note: You can apply for your residence permit before you get to Germany at your local German consulate, but if you are told that you are fine with just a work permit, this is not true—you MUST have a residence permit. A residence permit is NOT a work permit; these two are NOT synonymous!

Ultimately, it is best if you can make an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde. These appointments usually need to be booked on-line more than 2 months in advance. If you can’t make an appointment, show up VERY early, at least a couple of hours before the official opening for the day. When I was there, the first person in line showed up at 3:00 in the morning. If you are a student, you will get sent to building B, along with most everyone else who is waiting in the queue.

When you get into the building, find the correct floor and then head for the nearest silver box on the wall. This box gives you your number; after you obtain this, take a seat and wait for the number board to flash your number. Note: the silver boxes only give out a certain number of tickets. If you don’t get one initially, you can wait because sometimes more tickets are issued during the day; it depends on how fast everyone waiting is processed. If your number is not called, keep your ticket and it will be called the next day.

Things to bring:

€50 cash

Work permit

Visa application

Passport photo

Formal obligation

Proof of health insurance

Certificate of enrollment

Contract with employer

Passport—you need two blank pages in your passport for the visa

The proof of health insurance, formal obligation, certificate of enrolment, and contract with employer were not necessary when I applied for my residence permit, but it’s better to have the documents with and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

The first time your number appears on the board, you hand over all of your documentation, including your passport, to a man behind a counter. After this, you go back and sit in the waiting room. The second time your number appears on the board, you go into a room and talk to the visa agent. In my experience, the visa agent spoke excellent English, so if you don’t know German very well, don’t worry. You will be asked a few questions, such as “what do you plan to do after your visa expires?” and “how long do you need your visa for?” and then you will be given a plastic card. You will load your €50 onto this card via a machine that is found in one of the waiting room areas. Take the card back to the Visa agent and then he will print out your residence permit and stick it into your passport, sign, and stamp it.

Congratulations! You have completed the process and now have your German residence permit!

TallyHo-Traveller’s Springtime Gallop Through Northern and Central Europe 2012 - Final Day Twelve

Wake up Thursday the 12th to a full travel day back to the US! We had yet another efficient checkout of the Holiday Inn Mitte. After deciding the evening before to use a taxi to return to the airport because of the amount of luggage we were bringing back, the front desk promptly handled our request for a large taxi. Within minutes the auto arrived with enough room for 5 people and all our luggage – all this for less than 20 euros! What a deal!

Since the check in process for BA did not start until 90 minutes prior to departure, we stopped at the airport coffee shop Wien for juice, cappuccino and the biggest slice of cheesecake ever! Finally we said our goodbyes to Kaitlin and checked in, quickly went through Passport Control and Security (all the same queue) and after a short wait, boarded the plane.

An hour and a half later the plane landed at London Heathrow and, having eaten a smaller breakfast while approaching lunchtime, we opted to dine at Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food. Chris and I loved the beef carpaccio appetizer! While the fishcakes others ate were a little dry (Shame, Gordon!), the banana toffee pudding was fantastic. Not a cheap lunch, but a great location for watching planes take off and taxi to their respective gates!

After lunch, a final cruise of the duty free shops while awaiting the posting of a gate during the 1 and ½ hour delayed BA Flight #991 back to Denver. Finally a gate was posted and we took the underground train to Terminal 5 Concourse C to reach our departure gate. Eventually boarding began and the flight back to home was underway.

The flight crew aboard this plane was very friendly and competent – MUCH better than the other trans-Atlantic flight! I watched the movie, The Iron Lady, while eating a very flavorful dinner that came with complimentary wine and other beverages(when requested). After the dinner trays were removed and the Iron Lady ended, I started to watch War Horse but fell asleep halfway through (probably due to a combination of the previous week’s activity and not feeling well more than the actual movie itself). Upon awakening, I viewed part of the movie Tower Heist prior to a hard landing in Denver, but we brought the RAIN back with us (which we desperately needed)!!

All in all our April gallop through Northern and Central Europe was a fantastically memorable trip and we didn’t get lost once (Thanks to Vanessa)!!

Can’t wait ‘til our next visit…