‘Health & Fitness’ Archives
A Summer Guide To Berlin
Film still from "Heisser Sommer" 1968 In 1968, an East German “feel good” musical entitled, Heisser Sommer (Hot Summer) was released. Touted as the “The East German Grease” for its 2001 video release, it was in reality a far cry from the John Travolta and Olivia Newton John classic, though the concept was essentially the same: people making the most of the summer months. Hanging out, drinking beer, having fun. While our current European summers might be patchy compared to the [...]
STB’s 100 Favourite Places
Warning: This is not a conventional guidebook! Instead of highlighting the city’s hippest ‘hotspots’, we’ve taken a more patient and personal approach to bring you 100 special places, many of which would not be mentioned in conventional guides. While we have included recommendations on cafes and restaurants, museums and monuments, parks and architecture, we’ve resisted the temptation to compress the city’s commercial components into compelling soundbites in favour of giving our [...]
The Blind Healer of Neukölln
Anne Thomas meets Norbert Albrecht, a physiotherapist, psychotherapist and all round inspirational healer... Norbert Albrecht. Photo by Lara Merrington Being blind doesn’t mean you can’t have a vision. An obvious statement perhaps, but one confirmed when I got to know Norbert Albrecht. Physiotherapist, psychotherapist, husband, father of two, grandfather of three, a friend to many and – I was to learn – an inspiration to his community, this gentle bear of a man was initially [...]
Walking the 66-Lake-Trail
Paul Scraton discovers pine forests, sand dunes and run-down industrial estates on Brandenburg's 66-Lake-Trail... The 66 lake trail. Photo by Paul Scraton For the last four kilometres through the forest north of the spa town Bad Saarow, we do not meet a soul. Signposts and waymarkers amongst the trees suggest that this must be a popular hiking and Nordic walking spot in the warmer months; but with the forest floor blanketed in snow, the only other sign of human life beyond the crunch [...]
Bike Ride to the tip of the Spreewald
Paul Sullivan explores Berlin's industrial edgelands en route to the forests and lakes of the Spreewald...
Türkiyemspor
Stephen Glennon profiles one of Berlin's most "multi-kulti" football clubs, Türkiyemspor... Izmirspor was founded by a group of Turkish immigrants in 1978, and by the time the club changed its name to Türkiyemspor in 1987, the club had risen meteorically to the Landesliga, then the fourth tier of German football. Attendances for the level were remarkable, with around 1,000 fans present for most games, and an incredible 11,949 (or even more – plenty of fans without tickets found [...]
P-Berg to Prenzlau: A Cycling Trip
Paul Sullivan finds a curious mix of derelict buildings and pretty lakes and forests on a 100km bike ride through the former East Germany... About The Author Paul Sullivan is a Berlin-based writer & travel photographer and the founder of Slow Travel Berlin. You can check out his personal website here and some of his photography galleries here.
Cycling The Berlin Wall
Jenna Makowski cycles along the remains of the Berlin wall... I imagined the Wall long before I arrived in Berlin to cycle part of the trail. Barely old enough to remember (much less grasp) the events of 1989, my perceptions of the Berlin Wall had come from pictures in American-authored history books and post-Cold War History Channel specials. I’d collected a few of those impressions in my mind: a clip broadcasting Reagan’s keynote speech, the pulsating crowds storming the wall the [...]
La Mano Verde
Ruth Michaelson and Itay Lotem visit Berlin's premier vegan restaurant and find that the grass isn't always greener... Editorial note: there are no images to illustrate this article because the owner of the restaurant did not like the review and therefore refused to give us any. The Vegan’s View: Ruth Having lived in Berlin for almost two years before managing to pay hallowed vegan fine dining joint La Mano Verde a visit, it had taken on a golden glow in my mind, becoming something of a [...]
Roller Derby in Berlin
Tam Eastley profiles her Roller Derby team the Berlin Bombshells, and explains how the game is more than just an amazing sport... Sitting in Quad Roller Skate Shop in Kreuzberg, co-owned and operated by Molly Stenzel (aka Master Blaster) it strikes me just how big roller derby's become. The walls are covered with various kinds of roller skates, referee jerseys, multi-coloured shoelaces, jewellery made of wheel bearings, helmets, knee, elbow and wrist pads, and toe stoppers. Finally, [...]
