Ankommen

We landed September 1 and have been in Germany about 24 hours now. The Wohnung that we chose, based on a few pictures, a month ago in Logan is perfect. The building was built before the Second World War, when this area was centered on a huge freight train station just up the Rüttenscheider Straße. The station is long since closed, the tracks torn up. Now the old station is called Giradet Haus and it's the home of restaurants, shops, artist's studios and professional offices. There are lots of archival photos of Rüttenscheider Straße from that period and it was clearly a main boulevard. Now the streetcar line is underground and auto traffic is limited to one lane, so it's a street for strolling, with cafes spilling out onto the sidewalk when there's slightest hint of sun.

The best part: we're only a few blocks from a small coffee roaster who does an outstanding Italian espresso roast. Closed Mondays but number one on my list for Tuesday.