Am back in Viertel ( not sure if it’s not called Das Viertel) primarily to keep out of the sun but also as I like the bar I use…this area in Bremen reminds me very much of St Pauli in Hamburg and Kreuzberg in Berlin,a bit shabby a bit lefty and with an alternative lifestyle.Needless to say they’re my three favourite areas in this country…
Viertel is basically a mile long drag on the edge of the city with that classic European look of late 19th century buildings either side of a cobbled road with trams thundering up and down.Lots of independent shops coupled with bars & cafes along the route.The side streets are littered with houses that have seen better days but also plenty of greenery to offset the somewhat decrepit look…also Werder Bremen’s ground is about a further half mile up the road…
I can imagine the locals are fiercely proud of their area and no doubt inwardly smile at it’s reputation knowing deep down it’s exaggerated but doing nothing to discredit the myth…
I don’t know if this is a thing or not but three times now,twice in the Netherlands and once here in Bremen ,I have asked for an Americano in a cafe to be asked “you mean a black coffee?” Never had this before.Is it a sort of anti US thing or am I seeing too much into it? Besides I always assumed an “ Americano” was more of a Latino thing or is that maybe being too nuanced? Trouble is whenever I have asked for black coffee before on previous trips I have been met with blank stares…perplexed.I hope it’s just my imagination as I don’t want to think of us Europeans as so petty minded ( Freedom Fries anyone?)
One thing for any first timer to Bremen is the transport app seems almost impossible to download and register for,I wondered why I didn’t already have it on my phone as I have every other one I have ever used .All’s fine until you get to date of birth and they just give you -/-/- to put 6/8 digits in.I have tried several different ways to work it but no dice.I must be doing something wrong as they wouldn’t be so stupid to make it so difficult surely.Luckily it’s a very walkable city so no real problems but still…
Table service; This is something I have discussed with my mate Pete ( hi Pete) and we are both in agreement that it’s much better than the counter scrum we have in the UK to get a drink.Many in the UK prefer our system citing waiting times as a downside conveniently forgetting the times they’ve been six deep at the bar waiting half hour to get served…and then have to carry the beers back through the throng behind them hopefully unscathed.It seems more civilised to wait at the table and get beers bought to you then pay up at the end of the night…I have had three beers here and haven’t moved a muscle,now if the waitress can wheel me to the toilet too that would be swell…also as an added bonus she’s spotted when I was down to one mouthful,gave me a thumbs up and got me a fresh drink before I could blink.What’s not to love?
Ok peeps it‘s still 1st July but will post this tomorrow sometime.Popped back into Die Flige and it’s actually cool.They have the ceiling fan working overtime.The landlady asked me if I wanted an ashtray with my beer! Haha
Think I might do laundry in the morning.I‘m not desperate but I know where it is as I’ve been there before so might aswell as the hot weather is kicking in…talking of which I’m glad to still have some anti mosquito spray with me.Them little fuckers could be gearing up for a mad summer…
The landlady just stormed out leaving the bar empty.I wondered what the hell was going on,turns out she’d gone over the road to order a Döner Kebab.German landladies are a law unto themselves…
2 comments:
Groningen would be a nice contrast to Amsterdam, mate, very studenty / cultural. Give it a whirl!
Yea think Groningen is the favourite as I like the phlegmy sound of saying it!
Post a Comment