With this photo from the Malche in Tegel: Happy Birthday to me!
To celebrate my 35th birthday, I’ve chosen a photo of this tree that’s so close to my heart. As you may know, I grew up near Lake Tegel in the north of Berlin. Until December 2022, I always had a home waiting for me in Tegel, regardless if I was living in Frankfurt, Prague or Lisbon.
The northernmost part of the lake is called “Großer Malchsee” or colloquial “Malche”. This is where we had our small sailing boat and where I frequently went for walks. It’s such a dense forest all around that you would not believe you’re still in the German capital.
This particular tree has always fascinated me because it grew almost horizontally in the direction of the lake.
But it is another tree nearby that captures all the attention of the region. The “Dicke Marie” is possibly the oldest tree in Berlin and has been given the name by the Humboldt Brothers. Dicke Marie is said to have given shadow to Goethe when he visited Berlin in 1778.
Yet, to me, this nameless tree you see in the photo of the Malche is the most important one. When I look at it, I remember how my dog always jumped into the water, swimming back and forth. To me, this tree has some magical energy. If you ever want to look for it, you’ll find it near the “Malche Restaurant am See“.
