Festivals

We popped down for a drink (an Indian tea and banana lasee). It was the African beat pulsing up to our bedroom that did it. Downstairs the street was filled with people dancing or at tables drinking, smoking, eating or people watching where the cars are usually parked. All types of people, gay, straight, families with kids in strollers pushing their bedtimes, people on roller skates, all moving to the great drum beat.
There was a festival today right on Sharon's block, the first Goltzstrasse festival. It was a nice size turnout, not too crowded. It rained this morning and seemed to be mostly people from the apartments in the neighborhood. There was food, some jewelry and things for sale and a few things for the kids. It was fun and the music was good.
It has been a weekend of festivals. On Saturday we went to one at the other English- German school in town where a friend of Sharon sends her kids. It too was nice. A nice amount of people and the kids had lots of fun. Sophie and Grace got their faces painted like lions and looked very cute.
Later that evening we went over to Henner’s studio where they were having and open studio/ fundraising party. It rained there too (which was probably good because it got people in to look at the artist’s studios). They had a Flamenco troop which was great, performing all night. The space is under the train tracks and is a pretty interesting location. There is even a playground back there that the kids enjoyed, almost as much as running around in the rain. The turnout was good for Henner and I think he was pleased.
Although we are used to festivals these had a nice Berlin flair to them, people having fun, interesting setting, great music, not such good food. Sharon says there are lots of them going on in the city through November. One thing to get used to will be the rain. We will have to go shopping for proper gear.