Z in Berlin: März 2008

My family departed Berlin yesterday and should now be in Chicago, preparing to face a long drive north to end their journey. It was really nice to have most of the family here, although Pete's absence was always on our minds. Things have really come to a screeching halt here since the family left. I almost don't know what to do with myself now that I don't have anything to plan or coordinate, now that I'm back to the real world.

Today the weather finally turned beautiful again, temperatures getting up to about 50F and sunny. Of course, the two weeks of the family vacation were not only unseasonably cold, they were in fact the coldest and snowiest since I arrived in September. Miraculously the very day they departed the clouds broke and the temperatures rose. Figures. It'll be up around 60F before the end of the weekend. There is one thing that eases my annoyance at the cheeky weather. Today I went to the Turkish market with my roommate Katja. We accidentally went one stop past Hermannplatz, so we had to go an alternate route to the market, which took us past a junk store with three beautiful dirty old bikes out front. I thought they'd for sure be too expensive, cheap bikes are not easy to come by in these parts. The guy only wanted 25 a piece. So Katja and I snapped up a pair, the men's and women's version of the same model. Mine needed and needs a bit of work, tomorrow we're going to the flea market for a pedal. They seem to be in good shape, great condition, just neglected and old. Really old. They are the 50th anniversary edition of a company established in 1919. So now my roommate and I have a little Pärchen of bikes, or as Patricia might say a casal. I feel like I ought to know more about bike care an maintenance. It will probably come in handy with this old man of a bike. I think that's what I'll refer to it as, Old Man.

So here are a few pictures of the highlights of the Zambon Family Vacation for your enjoyment...

My parents and José visit my 10th graders