Thin Places, Thick Places (Series)
Day 23...I think
Food and fun and humble pie.
First full day in Berlin! Mr. J's school group arrives in Berlin from Colorado tonight. He will break away from us for the next week. We'll lurk a little, but let him have his own time with his classmates.
He'll be missed because he's a decent interpreter!!!
First impressions of Berlin: they know how to do food. They know how to do quality food. We bought perfect strawberries from a strawberry stand at the...public transport trains station. Like a subway above ground. There were other stands with equally beautiful food.
We walk, a lot, when visiting other places. It's really tiring and really lovely. It reminds me how American I am. I usually drive EVERYWHERE. Not here.
Popped into the most unique little local shop full of EVERY kind of earring (and a few other types of bling). We spent about an hour browsing. SOOOO cute.
The "apothecary" was UBER enjoyable. Homeopathy, essential oils, and "natural" medicines are commonplace here. I was able to grab some Arnica for my neck/back with absolute ease. Now to figure out HOW MUCH to take. All the directions are in German. 
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We grabbed some groceries at a "bio market". All was lovely until check-out. The cashier spoke zero English and my token and limited German was ineffective. At the conclusion of our transaction our pile of groceries remained untouched at the end of the counter.
Usually we are fine bagging our own groceries, when there are bags to use. No bags. No boxes. Ever-growing line of customers glaring and Cashier staring at me with a droll and mildly irritated expression.
I attempted a helpless version of sign language. Still, nothing. Finally, after a horribly awkward silence and inaction, the woman behind me pointed to large reusable bags located at the beginning of our line.
Smiling, excusing myself, waving my hands, and sweating through my shirt, I crouched down and grabbed one...oooops, not big enough...now two...big bags. Oh, they weren't free.
More irritated stares.
I really wanted, needed, a lifeline. Why didn't ANYONE SPEAK ENGLISH!?!???
Transaction concluded and I met the rest of my people waiting outside. The indignance and embarrassment I felt ran deep.
How dare that cashier not help me!
Yeah. Then it settled in. I'm on his turf.
To be continued...
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