Berlin's biggest problem: dog fouling

Forget unemployment, rising rents, gentrification, air pollution, the "new" airport that will probably never open... the biggest problem in Berlin is the dirty pavements (or sidewalks if you prefer US English). Walking along the pavement without looking down every few seconds to check for dog mess is a hazard. Going for a walk in the park, especially if you dare to leave the main path, is like playing Russian Roulette with the soles of your shoes. Everywhere there is dog mess. Because Berlin may be full of children, but it is also full of dogs and rude dog owners. 

Some people are trying to tackle the problem with "no fouling" signs. The picture below was taken outside a Kita (children's nursery). It reads: "Children play here. This is not a toilet for dogs". I have seen similar signs near flowerbeds. Urban gardeners are clearly facing the same problem. Over the past month my son and I have stepped in dog mess three times.    

According to the website Bußgeldkatalog 2017, the fine for dog fouling in open spaces in Berlin is €35, while the fine for parking your car without a ticket for up to one hour is €15. Now I have a suggestion: Berlin is full of people working for the Ordnungsamt patrolling the streets day and night to check whether car drivers have paid the parking ticket. If half of these people started patrolling the parks and pavements and handing out fines for dog fouling, we might notice some improvement in the cleanliness of Berlin's pavements and paths and the council might even end up making more money. Berliners what do you think? 

How is this problem being tackled in other parts of the world?

Carnival in Berlin: Pfannkuchen time

If you live in Berlin you might not even realise that it is Carnival time. Unlike other German cities like Cologne or Mainz, Berlin does not have have a strong Carnival vibe. I was rather surprised therefore to discover that Berlin has in fact an old Carnival tradition, which is relatively unknown. Berlin's Karneval dates back to the 15th century, when the first Carnival parades were introduced by migrants from Lusatia. The Prussian kings continued the Carnival tradition by celebrating with masked balls. Then when the Rhineland became part of Prussia in 1815, migrants from this region brought their Carnival traditions with them: the first Rhineland Carnival clubs in Berlin were founded in 1870.

Nowadays, one of the few signs that it is indeed Carnival is the notices in bakeries advising you to order your Pfannkuchen. In other parts of Germany these pastries are actually called Berliner, but in Berlin they are called Pfannkuchen and are similar to doughnuts but without a hole. They are usually filled with plum jam or plum puree (Pflaumenmus) and are topped with icing or sprinkled icing sugar. They are traditionally eaten on Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday.

The other telling sign is the Carnival costumes in toyshops. With a few exceptions, Carnival in Berlin is mostly an occasion for children to dress up and have fun. 

There is actually a Carnival parade (Faschingszug, which has just celebrated its 15th birthday) through City-West, along Kurfürstendamm (or Ku'damm as it is called by Berliners) and ending up at Wittenbergplatz, but 
I certainly would not suggest coming to Berlin for the Carnival atmosphere.

For the real Carnival party, however, I would recommend waiting until the spring for the Karneval der Kulturen (literally Carnival of Cultures) in Kreuzberg. It is a four day street festival that celebrates Berlin's diversity. It is very international, loud and colourful. The street parade will take place on 4 June this year, so make a note in your diaries (or digital calendars).

Mittendrin oder rundherum?

Have you ever wondered what it is like to sit in the middle of an orchestra surrounded by professional musicians? At Konzerthaus Berlin, on Gendarmenmarkt, this is possible.
Mittendrin literally means "right in the middle" and is the title of a series of interactive concerts performed by the Konzerthaus orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer. The idea is to bring the audience as close as possible to the orchestra in order to "experience the music up close and personal". At the end of the performance there is also the opportunity to ask Iván Fischer questions by sms.

Last Thursday I attended my first Mittendrin concert. In this case rather than sitting in the middle of the orchestra, the seats were arranged around the orchestra. As soon as the Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer walked into the concert hall, he was quick to point out that Mittendrin was not quite the right description and that rundherum (all around) would have been preferable. He explained that this type of music - Philip Glass "Façades" and 

John Adams „Fearful Symmetries" - could only be performed by the orchestra when the musicians sit together. Nevertheless, it was a unique experience. The music sounded amazing and the introduction about minimal music was made all the more interesting by  Iván Fischer's eloquence (very impressive for a non-native German speaker), charm and humour. To anyone looking for a different way to experience music, I would definitely recommend attending the Mittendrin concerts. As all the good events in Berlin, tickets sell out fast so make sure you book yours well in advance.