Weinachtsmarkt

The Christmas market

It’s a tradition and it comes every year the same. But if you’re happy to go for a hamburger which has the same taste everywhere in the world it’s the same for the markets because you find every year the same colours and smells. And we enjoy it every year the same. All those tacky things to buy, the glühwein (hot wine with fruits), the cinamon cakes, the bratwurst (grilled sausage in bread) and the atmosphere. Everyone’s happy. You really feel Christmas is near and you’re finally in the mood to celebrate. On the contrary of Paris where you have to stay at work until the very last hour and then you have to hurry to the supermarket and prepare the whole thing (and it's always that evening at 8.00 p.m. before you at the cashier that Mr Retired decided to buy toilet paper...), here you feel the time to enjoy a few weeks before. Because I was at my friend’s home for a few days near Heidelberg we payed ourselves a visit to the Christmas market. It’s a very nice one and even Japanese on their journey in Europe make a stop in this city. It’s also a very nice city to visit and one of a kind for its Christmas shops opened all year long. If you’re courageous enough you can walk to the castle to enjoy the view on the city but frankly said, once you’ve done it, you wait until next summer because you prefer to enjoy another glühwein in the cold. Happy Christmas to you all.

Speed train

The french speed train TGV has become a big adventure. When it started it wasn’t speed the whole way (still not for some portions of the journey). It had this orange colour, I guess to make it noticeable when it travels, and mostly to go to south of France. Now it’s blue/grey and travels everywhere. The first time I took it, it was to go in the Alps and it looked small compared to the other trains. I let you imagine how it was with the luggage, the skis and the friends all together in the small space. But from Paris after 2 hours you were in Lyon and then normal speed until the mountains. At least we avoided the car traffic in the snow. I kept on taking it once in a while and because I had to travel a lot and far I couldn’t travel with it anymore. I moved abroad and heard that it improved a lot and the net was growing in France but also in some other countries. From Paris you easily travel to Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and soon to Spain at a 300 km/h speed at the least. Today I’m in it on my way to Germany. I go to Karlsruhe to meet a friend I didn’t see since a year and I agree it’s better than ever. The space is big, the seats are comfortable, thanks to my favourite french fashion designer Christian Lacroix , you can find a free space for yourself to work calmly on your computer with all the technology you expect nowadays. Plugs, high speed connection (it goes with the train, I let you imagine) isolated seats if you want to be private and all this so fast that you don’t even have the time to look at the landscape. There is of course a restaurant but as far as I remember it was quite expensive and because of the moves of the train you’d be lucky if you don’t throw you cup of coffee at the head of your neighbour (you can use this formula to make new contacts but make a right selection before …). The french train company SNCF takes care as well of the travelers and I guess wants to improve all the time its service. That’s why you have to fill in a questionnaire of 5 pages to indicate what you enjoyed and why you did not. The personnel is polite enough to not disturb you while you’re sleeping on the contrary of the flight intendant in a plane who’s screaming at you because your bag is not under the seat. Of course the big issue stays the moment you wish to go to the toilets. The minute you can’t stand it anymore unless you pee in your trousers means that you have to go now. The thing is only the idea to stand up in front of the crowd, disturb the neightbour who’s sleeping or have his table full of food, beverage and papers and then reach the area and face the look of the people looking at you while waiting at the door and when it opens going inside and then saying to yourself : « I won’t make it ». Most of the time it’s too small. And because you can’t leave your hand bag unattended at your seat you I took it with me. Where’s the space for it ? Where’s the space for my jacket ? It’s not that it is dirty but I never trust the one who was there before and the one before and … . As a man you pee standing up on your legs. And it’s always (always) while I (try to) pee that the train changes the road that I lost my balance, the stream of the liquid going outside the toilet and starting to flow on the floor. This is what I call « a big moment of solitude ». What do I do now ? Take some tissue and clean the floor ? Wash my hands and leave (where’s the soap ?, why is there no water ? so what do I do now with the soap on my hands ? but why there is no tissue in the basket ? …) don’ t forget I have to put my jacket back on and take my bag. And then open the door and smile to the next one who was waiting long enough and then watch some liquid on the floor escaping from the place.
I’ll wait until next station, whatever it takes.

There must be an angel ...

There was a woman in the train almost empty this early morning. She sat alone and I was facing her two ranks before. This man came from behind and sat in front of her and started to talk to her. He said that it was divine intervention and it was absolutly normal and she had nothing to fear. He said everything comes from above and what she was experiencing at the time might look a bit cruel but it was only rational.

She felt suddenly in tears and answered that she was traveling at this very moment to the burrying of her best friend. The man stood up and again repeated that her friend is happy where he is now and she can't be sad because he is not. She can be sad of course because he's not with her anymore but she should not worry for his future. Then the man left for another wagon. The woman then started to talk to God rising hands asking how such a thing could possibbly happen. I looked at the sky expecting for a sign but I was at destination.

Instantanés

In Paris this week-end ...

L'épreuve du temps Sinclair

wednesday's child

It's a matter of time

I think that with the time we've become typing machines. You will notice how we work today. most of the hard workers disapeared. Of course they are always people pushing wagons deep in the mine but in our "civilized" rich countries you have more chances to see someone with polished nails than with rough hands (and I'm not speaking of women)... even a friend of mine makes his toe nails done ! (and it's a girl who told me that). And studies done say that the human body is changing as well. Of course human race keeps on evoluating, meaning that our genre is becoming more and more androgynous : men and women all together tall and slim wearing interchangeable Jil Sander suits. We're not that far from the science fiction series we watched on TV at a younger age while not going to school. When the generation of my parents look like typical macho father who takes care of the garage and submissive mother who cooks and clean the house I would say we are the generation who had to try everything to find its own way and be emancipated. Of course we paid the price (no real situation because do not know where we are, feeling cruicified and rebuilt, lost in your own life with no guidance or landmark, with difficulties of getting older and old, no stability ...) but our children are more than independent, it's a success. I don't know if it's for their own good to be lost in la pampa without education because my generation is too busy trying to make its own but at least they're not afraid in/of the dark.

Coming back to my typing machine type, look at the way we spend our days. Most of the time seating in a comfy chair at our desk waiting for our secretary (sorry personal assistant now) to bring the morning expresso (no darling, black and no sugar I had a rough night and I'm on a diet yeah leave the file there I'll have a look later and don't forget to shut the door when you leave thank you) and to organize meetings at your desk it's more convenient. You type all day reports, mails, sms on your mobile, you don't communicate with words or body language anymore and the strongest parts of your body are your fingers.

It's a bit of the same in private. How many sms per day do you send or receive (not including week-ends) ? I had two recent experiences that made me think about it. This guy smiling at me in the bar I thought "oh a Human !" so I started to have conversation and his first words were to ask me if I had a profile on internet ! Do I have to understand he wants to check my details before asking me my first name ? Last saturday at the Moebel Olfe party (by the way top of the list) while having my (biiiiiiippppp !!!) glass of wine this guy (gorgeous I admit) stood next to me without saying a word for a (long) time. Please people talk to me, I don't bite (well not straight away), or smile at least !

So because you typed all day at work what is the first thing you do back home ? switch on the computer of course because you need to check your mails, it makes you feel wanted. I understand the success of all those Myspace and Facebook or why you find so many voyeurs and exhibitionists on the net. Then you type again to friends, family and a little time surfing on internet to cruise. We stay alone in our room thinking that making the market helped by megabites it will simplify communication. And even if you'd find someone matching your criterias I'm sure you'd be too afraid to even make a start. And how do you it want today, Sir ?

And what am doing right now ?....

We r glitter

and now the oh la la version ready to go... shopping !

Ooh La La

and It's Monday again

Everytime I start a week I say to myself "Again ???" because it's soon too early. What I have done with the week-end ? Every mOnday morning in the bathroom while shaving I can't help thinking of this Bob Fosse's movie All that Jazz when the choreographer takes his pills and repeats himself the same words on the same music. And soon it's Friday. At work I sometimes stop working watching at my colleagues and the movements around me. Most of the time I'm too busy to notice or anywhere in a meeting but today I just took the time. You can do this exercise: look how the people move or stay stand while talking to other colleagues, how they occupy the space near them, of what they're talking. With men I can recognise a gay one even if he says he's not or just don't accept it. The right leg usually straighten up and the left delicately bended : that gived you a movement of the butt quite interesting. Or a leg crossed to the other one. Related to this I will not advise you to go out partying the night if you have to go to work early morning after. You might still be drunk and it's no fun.

Instantanés

BlackJoy Untitled
http://www.myspace.com/blackjoy2000

Send your Bear out

Because you're not the only one who should travel. Why do you always go away and leave your loving teddies at home ? For a change send them on vacation and thanks to Teddy tour this is now reality.

Concert

This afternoon concert was not at the Philarmonie. It was in Gendarmenmarkt near the busy street Friedrichstrasse. It's a beautiful place and a big spot for the city. You're in the new center. It's also the place where you find a very nice Christmas market. During the break at the concert we could go out on the terrace and feel the mood of it. It's a very special moment of course.

Strauss, Reinecke and Strawinsky made the program and thanks to Andris Nelsons we could feel everyone was happy to play his part. This man is very lyrical when he leads the music. I understand his job is very physical. Because of the scene position we could see all his efforts. Not disapointed and it's a good opportunity to enter in December.

Christmas Market from concert hall's terrace

World Aids Day

Tonight's party is organised by one of my best spot Moebel Olfe. It celebrates the first 5 years and for that occasion they organize a free party. I expect a crowd so that explains the early opening. But I'm sure good mood in perspective. I asked friends to join me and because entrance is free it was not difficult to decide them. ANd I appreciate donating while having fun. So just follow the signs ...

Contradiction

It's always when I listen spanish music in a bar drinking my glass of wine that I start thinking of Barcelona. Funny how just a music theme can make you remember of what you had before without noticing at the very moment that you had a good time. It's like a sad song that reveals you feelings you thought lost deep in your heart. Listen to a sad song and the thing you want most of all is cuddle up with your man in the warmth of the bed. But in the end nothing happens the way you want to.

Last night was discovery. Because I always drive myself in the same direction of the city yesterday I turned the other way to Prenzlauer Berg. It's kind of hype and a lot of tourists stay there. On my way to the trendy places I stopped to a bar I liked the name : Schneeweisschen und Rosenrot. It sounds difficult to say (and it is for me) but the place is for everyone. No special public inside but you feel at ease inside. It is also very big and talking with the owner who's also behind the bar he told me that it is also a restaurant. Looking at the menu I told myself this a place I coild enjoy dinner. Apparently we also should come for lunch time Sundays when the chef is cooking specialties. As well as for Christmas : you'll get food of Berlin, meaning sausages and potatoes salad. The best part of the bar is certainly the strawberry mojito that I never saw before and of course the wine. Lars the owner made a good choice with the Merlot which is very rare. This one is light and fruty. A place to come back to enjoy the red leather sofas. But the ambiance makes it all and it was time to close the bar and I heard some weeks before that for the time in the area a gay disco had opened lately. A chance I told the barman because the opening was last night and he was invited so I went with him at BT club . This is a good idea to place a gay disco there because though gays are everywhere there was no entertainment round the corner. Now it's done. I can't make any critics because again it was the opening so the owner shows you the big picture adn when you come back to the bar the second owner you knew nothing about wants to bring you to the same tour but reverse ! sorry mate, already done this one ... But if it stays like this I might go once in a while. Public is mostly gay but I'm sure ladies will not feel themselves alone with the charmant waitress. It's not dark and it's not big. It's like many rooms all joined together so it creates a movement in the disco with a meeting bar which is the bar. And again it was late and the party was soon over. So time to come back under the rain.