Café A.Horn
Where?
Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany
What?
"When I still lived in Berlin this was my favorite Café. I spent uncountable beautiful hours here. Thank you guys for existing! My compliment: Your banana is the best I have ever eaten."
How did they react?
The place was busy. Yet the waitress took a minute and listened to what I had to say. Her face displayed surprise and happiness. She said: "Thank you! Yeah I remember I loved coming here, too... It used to be much quieter. Nowadays it's always packed. And the vibe's changed. Lots of people with smartphones and tablets."
How did I feel?
Glad to be back.
But what she said reminded me of an article I had just read. It was about slow service in a NY restaurant and blamed customer's and their smartphones for that: Taking fotos of their food, asking the waiter to take pictures of them, checking their phones instead of the menu increased the waiting time for others.
So-
Dear reader, please check out Café A.Horn. I am glad you found this place online. Now once you go there please leave the internet in your bag. Taste the banana bread (or the granola or the pasta). Enjoy the wonderful light. Read one of the good newspapers they have. Talk to waitress even. Just don't do the smartphone thing. Let's not destroy that place's vibe. Thank you :)
(This picture is from their website (link: See above).)
Brynna
Where?
Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany
What?
"Your playing sounds really nice! Watching you makes me happy. You sparkle."
How did she react?
"Thank you! I am glad to hear that! Actually I was concerned I might be getting on people's nerves with this. I have just started practicing and can only play three songs.."
"What can you play?"
"Somewhere over the rainbow-..."
"Hey do you wanna do that one? I could sing!"
"Sure!"
How did I feel?
So good! Turned out Brynna had broken her pelvis and spent the past 6 weeks in the hospital. Finally able to leave her bed she hung out outside. She had last lived in New York. I interrogated her a bit for I am about to travel there. I told her I wasn't sure whether I might want to live there one day. She said she wouldn't recommend living in NY to anyone. I'd heard that before- I like soft places. She agreed. When I asked her who'd given her the Ukulele she said: My friends from here! They have been coming every single day.
Sounds like Berlin is a soft place for her and she has found some incredible people.
A young man sat on a lawn, reading. I passed him. And thought: "This guy is good looking!".
I stopped. And wondered why I wouldn't tell him. Within a second I came up with 100 answers... Because I didn't really think he was attractive. Because I didn't want to interrupt him. Because I really had to hurry home now. I grinned. And knew the answer was: Because I was too shy.
I inhaled. Exhailed. And turned towards him. Took another three rounds. Finally I approached him:
Gerd
Where?
Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany
What?
"I think you are really attractive."
How did he react?
A bright smile appeared on his face. He said "Oh, thank you! I think you are very attractive, too!"
How did I feel?
Immensely relieved! An flattered. I told Gerd that receiving the compliment hadn't been my intention- yet it was nice to hear. And I was proud I'd said it. His smile was open and our conversation uplifting.
I asked him what he was reading. The book was by Ken Wilber, someone I have been interested in for a while. Rarely do I meet people who know him. What a great surprise! Gerd is into Yoga, too. Originally from Estonia he came to Berlin to study. Once he'd dropped his studies he started a living room vinyl store at Blücherstraße and is about to launch an online vinyl store. While he told me all that with a light and friendly voice I grinned and thought to myself: "Welcome to Berlin!"