We started with our morning coffee (the barista at the corner shop knows our orders now) and a stroll through our neighborhood doing some window shopping at little boutiques, then met Wabes at Alexanderplatz. We headed down to the Turkish part of Kreutzberg for lunch. We sat at an outside table, of course, and watched the residents of K-berg flow by: punk kids with dogs, students, backpackers, mothers with with small children, women wearing hijab, buskers, hustlers, laborers and office workers. Over a lunch of hummus, blocks of lemon-olive oil-soaked feta, eggplant purée and freshly-baked naan Wabes explained the research that brought her to Berlin for the summer. (I could summarize it, but better that you just wait for the book). Then a wander through the Turkish Market, again teeming with humanity. B, predictably hated the crowds but he’s a patient man and and amused himself with a cup of coffee while Wabes and I browsed the market stalls. Bolts of fabric, and rolls of trim, clothing, jewelry, spices, fresh produce, fish, meats, olives, cheeses, coffee, sweets, and housewares all jostled for display space.
I bought a hat. I asked B if it made me look like Debbie Gibson and he said, “who?”*

Later we met up with the Berlin “Yeahaw” pickup ultimate frisbee group in a park on the south side of the city. We played some good ultimate, but the group wasn’t particularly social and there was no going-out-for-beer afterward or anything. It was interesting to play the game in two languages, and B and I didn’t disgrace ourselves — our team did win. B and I headed back to our own neighborhood where we rewarded our effort with beer and pizza and a good night’s sleep.

*Critical three year age difference! it’s always pop-culture references that divide us.