Settled in Nicely

Guten Tag!
Let me sink into another sip of Warsteiner.  It's turned hot and sultry, and cool beer is very refreshing.
I like Berlin!  I didn't do much today due to jet lag, but I enjoyed getting to know my part of the city a little.  My new digs are a little off Kurfurstendamm with a few hotels around, but mostly it's a real people neighborhood and not touristdorf.
Given my experience yesterday, I viewed the directions from Sofitel to Citadines with some skepticism--and rightly so as it turned out.  For example, if you want me to really turn right, don't instruct me to turn left.  The directions were like a mirror image of what I really needed--and yet not consistently so, but I was mentally prepared this time.  Of course, I did manage to lose my sweater and had to double back fortunately not too far before I found it.
My route took me down Kurfurstendamm, the main shopping street in Berlin replete with handsome buildings (really the whole city has them) and one luxury brand after another.  It's a broad street lined with chestnut trees casting a welcome shade.  Apparently Bismarck meant the street to be Berlin's answer to the Champs Elysees.
My room was not ready, but I anticipated that.  I dropped my bags and went off to The Story of Berlin, a museum that recounts the history of the city.  Unlike most major European cities, Berlin is neither a Roman or ecclesiastical foundation.  It's fortunately seated on an easy crossing point of the River Spree and thus attracted merchants who formed a settlement, but it's not known exactly when.  The city is first mentioned in records in the thirteenth century.  The exhibits are multi media although I wished for more artifacts, especially in the earlier periods.
The presentation grows stronger in the more modern period with the Industrial Revolution, Rise of Prussia, and the two World Wars.  The establishment of National Socialism is particularly well done and very chilling. The Cold War gets a solid look in as well, with a good explanation of the division of Germany and Berlin itself and the reunification.
I'm glad you had a nice time, Pil, and I was glad to hear about the beer, but what's for dinner?  Eh?
After I got home from the museum and moved into my apartment, even though I was footsore and wilted, I walked down to the grocery store.
Now, you're talking!
Well, I was before, too, but it was about history, so you didn't care.  I got some breakfast supplies consisting of humus and bread, and treated myself to butter and aioli as well olive oil.  Let us sample some of the other items.
I rarely drink beer at home, and the occasion is generally an offer of some fancy craft beer from knowledgeable friends, but I do like German beer.  Brewers may grumble, but I think the strict purity rules create a superior product.  I like helles and weissbier.  What I'm drinking now is a rather hoppy Pilsner.  I drank a lot of water first though.  Some people forget to hydrate on trips. They end up sorry.
Maultaschen is a German noodle resembling ravioli and is cooked the same way.  The story goes that naughty monks wished to hide their consumption of meat during fast days by hiding it in dough.  I doubt the Almighty was fooled, but otherwise this was a good idea.  I dress mine in olive oil and garlic powder, but if I could find some green sauce I'd use that.  Truth to tell these yummy noodle affairs would be good with anything.
They are larger than ravioli, and mine are stuffed with pork and beef.  So good!  But for someone my age not something I'm having every day.