03 maart 2007

Our lovely Kwik E Mart (by Tobias and Violeta)

We all know Abu Nahasapeemapetilon who runs the Kwik E Mart in Springfield.
Luckily, we have got the counterpart right in front of the door: the Mercato Poccolo. It is one of lots of mini-super-markets here in Prenzlauer Berg which are called “Spätkauf” because they open far into the night. Abu´s store opens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Mercato Piccolo opens when his owner feels like it! For us this mode is ok because we see the shop from Tobias’s lliving room (see the impressive poto). For all the others it is a matter of luck…
The products on offer are selected, he sells the basic things you may have forgotten to buy: milk, butter, coffee etc. and everything you need for a night in front of the TV: beer, cigarettes, coke etc. That´s all, but that´s enough.
The owner is the friendliest shopman you could think of, he receives every customer being all smiles and when you leave his shop he always says: “Tschüss, schönen Abend noch” (the equivalent to Abu´s: “Thank you, come again”).

Yesterday at the cash desk there was a lady in front of us who already looked like as if she confuses Mercato Piccolo with the fancy food shop at Galeries Lafayette…
And she said: “I would like to have fresh zander?”
Our poor owner of the Mercato Piccolo was completely confused (we assume he didn´t know exactly what zander is and the only kind fish he sells is an instant fish soup…), showed his most beautiful smile and answered: “No, no zander.”

What the hell was that lady thinking of? Fresh zander? Late at night? At a sort of Kwik E Mart?

People here in Prenzlauer Berg sometimes have lost their marbles…