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Six things that surprised me most about Berlin

After surviving four months in Berlin having moved from the UK, The Local's Lucinda Watts explains what aspects of life in Germany - particularly in the capital - have surprised her most.

Published: 22 December 2017 15:12 CET
Six things that surprised me most about Berlin
Vietnamese food. Photo: Flickr/Karl Baron

1. Dogs walk around without leads

Photo: DPA

As a dog owner back home, I was impressed to see dogs practically walking themselves in Berlin, without a lead or seemingly any instruction from their owners. I've even seen one independent pooch carry its own poop bag around with it.

In keeping with the German stereotype, even Germans' pets are strict rule followers and often trot alongside their owners obediently, whether they have a lead on or not.

The only time I haven't seen a dog behave perfectly in this city, in fact, was when I saw a man take his tiny puppy on what must have been its first tram ride – and even then it only barked twice.

2. An abundance of Vietnamese food

Photo: Flickr/Karl Baron

One of my favourite things about Berlin is the vast array of cuisines on offer at the thousands of restaurants, but my personal highlight definitely has to be all the Vietnamese restaurants scattered around the city.

Hailing from England, my takeout order of choice has always been Chinese food, but I was shocked to discover how few Chinese restaurants there are here.

My crusade to find sweet and sour chicken soon became unnecessary, however, when I had my first taste of Vietnamese food.

Here in Berlin, the three main food groups seem to be Vietnamese, burgers and Italian, so you're sure to always be in sight of at least two of these types of cuisine.

3. Political protest

A demonstration in front of the Reichstag. Photo: DPA

In the UK, student protest is largely uncommon and usually ineffectual when it comes to changing policies, so I was pleasantly surprised by how involved people are with protest movements, and by the positive impacts protests can have.

The biggest example of this is with tuition fees in Germany. In 2005, when the government removed the ban on tuition fees, German students revolted. So much so, that political parties (including the Christian Democrats, initially the strongest advocates for the tuition fees) made a U-turn and now all bachelors degrees at state universities only charge a small administration fee.

When I arrived in Berlin in August the German election was well and truly hotting up, and so were the accompanying protests – a welcome sight given the worrying increase in popularity for the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).

4. Cheap lunch menus galore

Photo: DPA

Another food-related surprise was just how cheap lunch is here. Berlin certainly isn't your typical capital city, and this is once again proven by the low prices restaurants charge for lunch.

Unless you're in the properly touristy places like Alexanderplatz, a main meal in a restaurant needn't cost you more than €5 or €6 – not exactly breaking the bank.

Prices as low as these definitely didn't do anything to curb my addiction to eating out, but who cares when it's so reasonably priced?

5. Nikolaustag

Photo: DPA.

Anyone who has visited Germany will know that nobody else does Christmas quite as well as the Germans. From the huge number of Christmas markets to the variety of Lebkuchen, Stollen, and Glühwein, Germany knows what it's doing during the festive period.

But what I didn't realize was that Germans have added in an extra day of present giving and chocolatey goodness, in the form of Nikolaustag.

READ ALSO: Celebrating Nikolaus before Christmas

When I came home on December 5th I was puzzled when my flatmates asked me whether I'd polished my shoes. Assuming I'd tracked mud into the flat I quickly apologized, but was delighted when they explained the tradition of polishing your shoes to have them filled by the “Weihnachstmann”.

True to their word I woke up the next morning to see my boots carefully filled with nuts, choccies and biscuits – a prettier sight than the boxes of chocolates I had nipped out to gift my flatmates in return.

6. Brunch is for English speakers?

This one may just be based on my personal experience, but wherever I've chosen to go for Sunday brunch, the restaurant has always seemed to be filled with English speakers.

Perhaps the Germans just haven't caught on to the joys of brunch yet, but wherever I go to get my fill of pancakes and avocado toast, I always struggle to spot a native German speaker.

You could put this down to Germans' taste in breakfast (preferring a selection of meats and cheeses to waffles or scrambled eggs )or maybe even to the Sunday culture of staying in and relaxing. But one thing's for sure: Germans are missing out.

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 27 November 2021 16:16 CET
Updated: 29 November 2021 14:17 CET
A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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