Doing a fair bit of hiking in the area around the capital these days. So strange that my exploring of the world started in its farthest corner and only now am I discovering my backyard.

Went to see a premier league basketball game for - I think - the first time in my life. Berlin was playing Ulm in the quarterfinals. Such a relaxed and family friendly affair. I only have soccer as a comparison, where it’s usually a lot of drunk people and heaps of police, versus… this: Only 10,000 in attendance though, that makes a difference to the 50k+ you see in a Bundesligastadion.

The US’ recent efforts to pour more oil into the Middle East conflict were met by a worldwide outcry. Berlin’s Palestinian community too raised its voice. By the looks of it, very few Germans were among the protesters. I guess most of them don’t care much. Or automatically hate everything with a headscarf anyway.

Berlin police recently demonstrated at their Hamburg visit, that the capital knows how to party. Today it was the LGBT(etc.) community’s turn. Warm temperatures went along well with everybody’s desire to wear as little as possible. Somehow… animals were quite the thing this year. I don’t think it was that prevalent in 2016. And of course, lots of costumes and paint. What’s the church’s current stance on gay marriage?

Nakba is an Arabic word, translating to “Catastrophe”. It refers to the begin of the occupation of Palestine in 1948 and “Nakba Day” commemorates that event every year. Earlier today I joined a demonstration that had been organised by the local Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) chapter and a couple of other groups. The participants gathered on Richardplatz, surrounded by heavy police presence. A handful of counter-protesters showed their blue-white apartheid colours, but stayed behind when the march started.