A Down Day, in a Good Way

 June 11, 2025

With everyone at work or school or camp, I was on my own for much of today. I was happy to take a down day. I spent the morning like I would at home, playing through the NYT games and puzzles, reading some news. I’ve been news free since leaving home, so I only stuck my toes in. I’m not about to dive in fully. I mean, how stressed out do I want to make myself?


I walked up to the Schoneberg Flohmarkt, an outdoor market that operates Wednesdays and Saturdays. I knew I was getting close when I heard the vendors shouting. I was looking for fruit and berries. The strawberries are in season and are spectacular, and there were also raspberries, cherries, nectarines, and I wanted all of those. I stopped for cherries, and the vendor shouted, “Eins Kilo?” and, not knowing on the spot how to ask for half, I said yes, and got the kilo. I stopped for raspberries, which came in small clamshell packs. The price was €2 for 2 packs, so I thought, but the vendor hauled out a case of 6. I said no, but he shouted, “Zwei Euro!” and I said okay. I started to catch on to this game, and when it came to nectarines, I asked for four, just four. The guy looked at me like I was out of my mind, but he sold me just four. The strawberries came in baskets, so that was simple, just one basket. This was early afternoon, close to wrapping-up time, and vendors wanted to get rid of stuff. I think at the end of the day, you can pick up food for free, or almost free.

On the way home, I stopped in at the discount store again — this is like a Winners, but smaller, and…European! I found a linen shirt I liked, and I was pretty sure I needed it, so I bought it. Souvenir, right?

Once home, I made a big fruit salad for the family, and served myself a bowl of it with yoghurt. Lunch.

Katharina got home with Amelia, and shortly after, her mom Agnes arrived, followed by sister Theresia and Damien and their two little ones, Frida and Valentine. So nice of everyone to come by! We ate Katharina’s rhubarb cake and drank tea or coffee. It was 6 pm. Why not have tea and cake at 6 pm?

I took Ezzie, Katharina, and Amelia to dinner at a tapas place around the corner. I have always wanted to go for tapas, but they are few and far between where I come from, and in the distant past when I encountered them, I couldn’t afford to eat there. Tonight, with too many Euros burning a hole in my wallet, I “insisted” (family joke) that we go and feast on the little plates of Manchego cheese, grilled peppers, beans with grilled tomatoes, shrimp, calamari, little filled croquettes, and of course patatas bravas. Everyone was delighted — yum! 

Amelia digs in!