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Buoyed by the news that the Hoff is supporting the German team tonight, the Sheriff of Poppingham has returned to create his own artistic tribute to the Circus Hostel’s “favourite” celebrity. The installation, which is located in the Kunstbox of the hostel, will only be in place as a lucky charm for the football team, and so there will only be a short period in which you can check it out…
Rumours of the following are yet to be confirmed:
Wow, the tension is rising. Tonight the Iberian Classico between the CR7+10 of Portugal and the Tiki-Takistas of Spain will decide the first of the finalists for the 2012 European Football Championships. And then tomorrow, in a repeat of the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup, Germany take on Italy in a game that has the potential to be an epic classic. Berlin is awash with black-red-and-gold, with flags hanging from balconies, car windows and anywhere else that will support them. Some people are already imagining a dream final against the Spanish, but Germany have never beaten Italy in a tournament game, so they will need to break that run if they are to progress to Kiev.
Of course, we are showing both semi-finals in the hostel and the hotel, so come and join us for the game, as the tension rises and we get ever closer to the final showdown.
Meanwhile, the competition is also heating up in our Circus Tipping competition. With the semi-finalists in there were bonus points for pre-tournament predictions, as well as the tips for the quarter finals, Bully has maintained his lead. It could all come down to the pre-tournament prediction for the final winner, which brings some bumper bonus points and could be the difference between Spanish-like glory and English-like glorious failure.
Here’s the Top Ten with just the semi finals and final to go:
34 pts – Bully
31 pts – Katharina and Robin
30 pts – Tilman and Nicha
28 pts – Toga, Andrew, Rene, Sophie and Judith
Lotte and Bernie are six years old and regulars at the Circus. This is because not only do they go to pre-school around the corner, but because their parents (Bernie’s Dad and Lotte’s Mum and Dad) all work here. Today they brought their classmates round to have a look at the hotel, and as a very special favour to Sandra (our designer) they created the following “mood boards” for future design changes to the hotel rooms. We think they are rather fetching:
Every two years it happens and every two years it is always the same. I sit down with my sheet of paper, my European Championship (or World Cup) magazine, pouring over qualification records, injury lists, friendly results and the feeling in my belly, and make my tips for the tournament alongside all my colleagues and friends of the Circus. I try to imagine which team will find form at the right time, who will be the shock of the tournament, and which results I can predict that will make me stand out from the crowd.
Every two years it happens and every two years it is always the same. This time around my big tip was the Netherlands. And our survey says – Uh-urrrr. Poland, France, Italy and, yes, the Netherlands as group winners. Uh-urrrr. I am currently sitting on 12 points, languishing in joint 33rd place out of 45. If there was relegation from this thing I would be going down. I am the Ireland of the Circus tipping competition, just without the songs.
This lot are way better than me:
Circus Tipping Competition Leaders – After the Group Stage
26 points – Bully
24 points – Katarina
22 points – Tilman
20 points – Andrew, Sophie, Robin and Judith
There is still a long way to go…
Despite the odd rain-shower, we have had a lovely week of weather in Berlin, and it has given both us and our guests the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor spaces at the Circus Hotel. Of course, a quick glance at the weather forecast suggests some more showers over the next few days, but still, there is a lot of summer to go. So far we have been watching the footy in the summer garden at Fabisch (more great games coming up with Germany against Greece the highlight on Friday evening), grilling out there as well, plus relaxing up on the roof terrace which is also the location for a spot of yoga every Thursday morning. A couple of great spots to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, with some great views and nice food thrown in for good measure.
Here are some more pics…
After a break of one week due to EURO 2012 football this Wednesday is again All-You-Can-Eat-Pasta night for €2 in the Circus Hostel. The delicious pasta is cooked by Emma the Café Manager who just happens to be an Italian. What more can a hungry backpacker want than a load of pasta cooked by a native?
Well Mister Goldman of Goldman’s Bar fame is a very big lover of his spicy sauces. Sounds like a marriage made in heaven? Well we are going to find out very soon, but because it is horses for courses we have courtesy of Marie Sharp (Belize) 3 possible suitors for the pasta.
1) Habanero Pepper Sauce (HOT)
2) Belizean Heat (REALLY HOT)
3) Beware: Comatose Heat Level (F**KING HOT)
Not being an expert in hot sauces I would only suggest that discretion is a better part of valour And that Comatose Heat Level does sound jolly hot Or You could just do a Homo Simpson and then it does not matter:
Who will win the final group game?
Deutschland…
OR..
Denmark?
Big thanks to Bernie and Lotte for the illustrations, and if you want to come and watch the game, we will be showing the big match live on Sunday evening in both the Circus Hostel and the Fabisch summer garden in the Circus Hotel. Sausages, steaks, beers and cocktails… you know the drill. Come and join the fun.
Once upon a time there was a hostel called the Circus, that could be found on Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße, just opposite the Volksbühne. To reach the reception, weary travellers had to press a doorbell at the street to be let in, climbing a flight of stairs to the reception on the first floor. Whether a friendly Italian, German or Japanese greeting awaited you (or perhaps a grumpy Mancunian) depended on who happened to be working, but it was a happy place full of smiles and laughter.
A little way down the street was a tiny room behind a glass door, which housed a bar complete with six stools and a television in the corner. There was a staircase down to the basement and at the top of the stairs was a magnetic board upon which hostel guests and staff attached pictures to remind them what they had gotten up to on evenings lost in a haze of too much to drink. In 2001 the Circus opened a new hostel on Weinbergsweg, and although the old hostel remained for a few more years, the little bar closed down. Two of the bartenders wandered off to Australia (one of whom has wandered back again), whilst Mr Goldman opened his new bar, with much more space in which to entertain the guests.
Mr Goldman lived for most of the past ten years in an apartment in Berlin-Mitte. He recently moved, and in the process of doing so found a collection of pictures that once hung in that little bar on the Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße. They are filled with memories, of old faces and friends, and some who are still around (although now with added wisdom in their eyes). If you ever stayed at the Circus on Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße between 1999 and 2001, perhaps you will see your younger self in the pictures below…
