Happy Eid

We were so surprised today when we walked through the "Arab Street" to see, hear and smell things that would make us think we were right in the middle of an Arab city in the Middle East. It is the first day of the big Eid (3-day holiday after the month of Ramadan). Everyone was out in the streets, children in their fancy, new clothes with new toys. The restaurants were packed with people eating publicly, something they hadn't done for one month. Many had been fasting throughout the daylight hours for 30 days; others had been eating in secret. The streets were alive with people mingling and lots of happy sounds. At one point I was shocked to hear the call to prayer ringing out loud and clear throughout the neighborhood. There were cheap carnival rides set up in the parks for the children to celebrate their holiday. We needn't be homesick for the Middle East or North Africa anymore; they have duplicated their lifestyle right here in the heart of Berlin! We feel right at home.