I go to Berlin Hauptbahnhof almost every day. Bahnhof is German for train station and Hauptbahnhof is German for the main train station. Every city has one. DC’s Hauptbahnhof is Union Station, for example, and in many ways comparable.

The Berlin Hauptbahnhof houses my local coffee shop, my local grocery story, etc. To be honest, there is always something going on there. And everything is a promotional or is branded. This is one of the rare train stations that have become a center for children and their families.

German “Hauptbahnhofs” and “Bahnhofs” are known to be dens of prostitution — however, Berlin Hbf is far from that. It is a destination. Also, because there are weird laws that prohibit retail stores from opening on Sunday, everyone comes to the Bahnhofs because only train stations and gas stations are licensed to do business on Sundays.

So, these stations are packed with all sorts of stores and are packed on Sundays by the people who want to do some shopping on the Lord’s Day.

Laksa or Laska or Just Spicy Noodle Soup, originally uploaded by Chris Abraham.

This is one heck of a fine Laksa that I can order from the local pan-Asian restaurant, Asia-Gourmet at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. I am off to get one right now, in fact.

Morning Berlin Hauptbahnhof, originally uploaded by Chris Abraham.

I took a walk to grab some breakfast and detoured through a local part commemorating a prison while munching a butter croissant. Well, isn’t this a pretty morning photo of the modern Berlin Hauptbahnhof. It is really quite an impressive structure.

Walk with me to Berlin Hauptbahnhof to grab a couple things at the shops:

My Neighbor Berlin Hauptbahnhof, originally uploaded by Chris Abraham.

If I walk across the street, I get to walk into this majestic building, the “new” Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Restaurants, cafes, bars, drug store, a grocery store, a pharmacy, and — yes — trains! Hauptbahnhof basically means “main train station” or “central train station,” sort of like Union Station in Washington, DC. The best thing about being a neighbor of the Hauptbahnhof is that it is fully open on Sunday and nothing is bloody well open on Sunday in Berlin. What a hook-up!