Merry Christmas!

This creche is from the Schloss Charlottenburg Christmas Market. It's one of the biggest and prettiest in Berlin and they always have a nice manger scene. These figures were handmade by a local chainsaw artist. I always wonder how they can get so much detail with a chainsaw.

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas, hopefully surrounded by friends, family and those you love.

Hark the herald angels sing!

I really liked these angels that decorated the Schloss Charlottenburg Christmas Market this year. They're quite simple, but make a big impact, especially in the dark!

My best wishes to you this holiday season!

Big wheel

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make the rounds to all of the Christmas Markets in Berlin this year, but I did make it to some of the best. This giant ferris wheel was set up at the market near the Nikolaiviertel. The colors are not so Christmas-y to me, but it does make a good landmark when you're meeting other people there (don't ask me how I know this).

I hope that you've all been having a wonderful holiday season so far. We are headed off to Florida tomorrow for a bit of relaxing golf under the sun before celebrating with my family. I have a few posts scheduled, but I probably won't have time to get around to all of your blogs. Enjoy this time up to Christmas and see you in the New Year! 

Inspired by a great

I found this colorful mural at the Picasso Elementary School in Prenzlauerberg. Do you see inspiration from the great artist himself? It certainly is eclectic and eye-catching! For more murals, take a look at Monday Mural.

Park tour

We're back to Ernst Thälmann Park. It is actually not the prettiest of places, there was a lot of graffiti and vandalism, but I managed to find some nice things to show you during my stroll. These round benches must be popular during the summer months.

 

The pond and the vegetation around it was also really pretty with all the autumnal color in the trees and being reflected back.

And a last quick look at the leaves in close-up. Hope you've enjoyed the park. You'll find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Larger than life

Here is a likeness of the man himself, Ernst Thälmann. It's only unfortunate that his life and death became a kind of propaganda story for the communist party of the DDR. I am not sure he would have agreed with all of the practices and policies of the German communist party that re-emerged after the war.

I also find it unfortunate that his memorial is covered with graffiti and broken beer bottles. Perhaps he'll never get the respect he deserves as a man who lived and died for his ideals.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Memorial park

Ernst Thälmann was a German communist party leader who was arrested by the Gestapo as a political dissident in 1933. He spent more than ten years imprisoned under the Nazis, where he was most likely tortured, before being assassinated at the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944. Check back tomorrow to see the centerpiece of this park which bears his name. Until then, you'll see more signs at Signs, Signs.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Selfie in black and white

Käthe Kollwitz only started sculpting during the later part of her life, but her works from this period have become some of her most well-known. In both her painting and sculpting, she did a lot of self portraits. This is one example that was on display at the Kollwitz Museum here in Berlin. The collection is small, but the museum is definitely worth visiting, if you're ever in the city.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Famous corner

I found this old postcard on display at the Kollwitz Museum when I visited awhile back. It's funny because this is actually the corner where I now work, although it looks much different today. We don't have streetcars in this part of the city anymore and the church down the street (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church) was heavily bombed during WWII and never fully rebuilt. My building stands on the left forefront corner of the intersection of Ku'damm and Joachimsthalerstrasse. The area is known today as the Neues Kranzler Eck. There are certainly worse places to work in the city!

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Naked man in the Tiergarten

I guess I'm just on a naughty roll... I actually took this picture a few weeks ago at the height of fall. All these leaves are probably gone now, but don't they look pretty scattered on the grass? And to be fair, you do see quite a bit of nudity in the Tiergarten during the summer. There are areas where nude sunbathing is tolerated, if not explicitly allowed.

Reflective rump

A quick look back at yesterday's window. I couldn't resist this rather naughty view of one of the mannequins! Hope you enjoy the myriad reflections in his bum. You'll find more of them at Weekend Reflections.

It's been an interesting first week at the new job. Working really wears you out, but it makes the weekends even sweeter. After almost a year in our apartment, we're also finally having our housewarming party this weekend. I'm cooking a Thanksgiving feast, so that's going to be a lot of work, but a lot of fun too!

Another window

Originally, this was my choice for the December theme day, but I liked that pink bench so much, I changed my mind. These black and white mannequins grace the window of a store on the Ku'damm that's going out of business. It's a little sad actually, as I have been shopping there ever since my first trip to Berlin back in 2005.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

Holiday windows

 To be fair, the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop is a year-round Christmas shop, but they still put in an extra effort at this time of year.

I especially loved this display of all sorts of Santas, Father Christmases and Weihnachtsmanner. I could take them all home! For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

December theme day: Shop window

Berlin has so many wonderful shops and most windows are decorated for the season now. Despite that, I couldn't resist showing this unique tailor-made jeans shop window. The combination of the funny shop name, the bright colors inside, the reflection and most of all that bright pink bench makes for a perfect shot. Hope you enjoy it!

Today is my first day on the job. I hope working won't cut into my blogging time too much! Don't forget to check here for other variations on this month's theme.

Bayerisches Viertel

I was out and about recently trying to build up my archives a bit when I came across this large-scale mural near the Bayerischer Platz. It's a rendering of how the square looked in its heydey. Unfortunately, the decorative structures and fountains in the middle didn't survive the war and weren't rebuilt. It's still a fun neighborhood to explore though. It's Monday again and you'll find more murals at Monday Mural.

Send your light

I can never resist taking a candle shot in a church. This one comes from Saint Matthäus church near Potsdamer Platz.

A phoenix in Berlin

Look closely and you'll see a Phoenix rising above the Berliner Philharmonie building in the middle of Berlin's Kulturforum. 

The bird was designed by Berlin native Hans Uhlmann and represents how the city of Berlin arose from the ashes of WWII and once again became a bright and vibrant city. The Kulturforum is just a short walk from Potsdamer Platz, which itself is a symbol of the reunification of East and West.

Telespargel reflected

At look at the Fernsehturm (aka the Telespargel) as reflected in one of the buildings on Alexanderplatz. 

Another look at the TV Tower in her full glory. You'll find more reflections and Weekend Reflections and for more skies, head to Skywatch.

This is my last weekend as an unemployed person, so I'm trying me best to make the most of it! It's a bit cold for golf, but I do plan on going to see a movie and perhaps do a little shopping for a first day outfit. What about you? Do you  have any fun plans for the weekend?

Wasserturm

This lovely old water tower in Prenzlauerberg is a well-known landmark that most locals would recognize. The tower had good beginnings as a place for water to be stored and distributed to residents of the area, but later darker things happened here. It was used as a prison under the nazis and it is said prisoners were often tortured within the tower's walls.

 

Today the structure has been renovated and the floors are divided into apartments. The building is owned by the state, so there's a long wait-list to live inside the building. However, there have been reports of strange happenings and hauntings in some of the units. I'd love to take a look inside, haunted or not!

PS: Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! Please eat a slice of pumpkin pie for me. 

Crest

A crest found in the Nikolaiviertel. I'm not sure who it belongs to, but I think it looks good in black and white. What about you? For more signs take a look at Signs, Signs.

Shiny stones

These cobblestones were slightly shiny on this rainy, autumn day. I thought it gave them a nice look, but be careful not to slip!

Nikolaiviertel

It's been awhile since I've featured a buddy bear, so I thought I'd show you this cute and colorful guy who watches over the historic Nikolaiviertel. 

PS: After three interviews, I am soon to be amongst the gainfully employed! Thanks for all of your positive thoughts and encouraging words. I know they helped.

Shadow shapes

Those big windows right above the museum entrance let in so much wonderful light! I love the lines and shapes they created here on the floor, though I found it almost hard to keep my eyes open.

This is the end of our tour of the Kunstgewerbemuseum, I hope you've enjoyed it. We've been having good museum weather here in Berlin - cold and rainy - but I think I'll take a break from the galleries for awhile and show some city shots. Don't forget to stop by Shadow Shot Sunday for more shadows.

Have a seat

This big bench is just inviting visitors to take a seat while looking at all the different items on display at the Kunstgewerbemuseum.

Any way you look at it

I love the really graphic signs at the Kunstgewerbemuseum. The Garderobe sign is very eye-catching, especially since you see it here forwards and backwards. The people at the cashier desk looked at me a little funny while I was taking this picture, but it's such a perfect reflection, I couldn't resist! You'll find more of them at Weekend Reflections.

It's Friday again and I've got my third interview for the job scheduled for this afternoon. Keep everything crossed for me, though I've got a good feeling I'm soon to be amongst the gainfully employed. That will be a very happy day for me!

Limoges vase

Limoges is a city in Central France known for its beautiful vases painted with the email technique (enamel paint on copper). This little beauty was painted in 1927 by artist Henriette Marty. I just love the little bird and his bright blue color.

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Fashion

I freely admit that the Mode or fashion section of the museum was my absolute favorite. There is just something so fascinating at looking back on the styles of days gone by. I hope you'll indulge me as this post will have a few more photos than usual.

I am sure every woman has secretly dreamed of wearing one of these beautiful silk ball gowns and twirling around like a princess.

I do admit, I sometimes wish I had been born in an age where we could wear these kinds of dresses, but then I remember how restrictive and uncomfortable they really must be and I'm glad for my yoga pants.

This asymmetrical silk dress from the 1930s could probably still pass muster in a runway show today.

And this hot number from the 1950s would still look great on the red carpet. Some looks are timeless. Hope I haven't bored you with all these pictures of dresses. You'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.
  
PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Art deco glass

These two art deco period stained glass windows were originally created in the 1920s by artist César Klein for the apartment of famed Berlin art collector Wolfgang Gurlitt. Wouldn't you love to have something so beautiful in your home? They'd look especially nice in my south-facing living room.

PS: I have my in-person interview today. Please cross your fingers and hold your thumbs for me!

Kunstgewerbemuseum

This week I'm going to take you on a little tour of the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts). This was my last stop on my Museum Tour before my yearly card expired. They have a large and varied collection from porcelain vases to fancy ball gowns from the 17th century. I hope you enjoy the tour!

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Stripes on stripes

Serendipity! I was in the right place at the right time. This woman in the stripey sweater was crossing the bridge in Volkspark Wilmersdorf just as the sun was making those wonderful stripey shadows from the barrier rails. Hope you have been having a wonderful weekend. It's rainy and gray here, but I'm planning to visit the Kathe Kollwitz Museum later on. Hopefully they will allow photos and I can share my visit with you. Until then, you can see more shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.  

Memoria Urbana Berlin

This beautiful dome structure celebrates freedom of conscience and immigration. It stands on the ground of the former Bethlehem Church which was a center of worship for religious outcasts from Bohemia who were invited to resettle in what was then Prussian Berlin by Frederick William I.

Unfortunately, the original church was destroyed during the bombings of WWII, but this monument entitled Memoria Urbana Berlin was erected as a temporary art installment in 2013. It was so well-received that local administrators got permission to make it permanent. With the recent wave of immigrants and refugees to Germany, I find this memorial even more poignant. We need only to look to the past to help shape the future.

I hope you have a blue sky weekend ahead of you. It's looking a bit gray and cloudy here, but we've had such a spectacular fall, I can hardly complain. You'll find more skies at Skywatch.


PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Chapel entrance

A perfect scene in black and white.

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Windows and bench

I was traveling through Schlesisches Tor station recently and just had to stop for a photo. The windows and the bench made for such a perfect scene. Hope you agree! For more signs, visit Signs, Signs.

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Lenin and the blue door

You may wonder where statues of former dictators go? I can tell you where at least one is! This likeness of Lenin stands in front of a removal company in Kreuzberg. Lenin was removed from his original spot near Alexanderplatz after the fall of the Wall. I guess someone just couldn't bear to see him destroyed, or the removal company thought it would have some kitsch value. I wonder how many young people would even recognize his face today. I admit, I wouldn't have known who this was.

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

Two years in Berlin!

It's hard to believe I've been in Berlin for two whole years now. Blogging has been a good motivator to get me out and about with my camera and I hope you've enjoyed exploring the city with me. This is another look out over the Spree from Monbijou Park with the Berliner Dom in the background. I am loving this season!

Though I've only been in Berlin for two years, I have been a member of City Daily Photo since 2007. I've made so many friends through this blog and my previous blogs and I've even had the good fortune to meet a few of you in person. Here's to many more years in Berlin, or wherever the winds may take me.

Autumn day on the Spree

What a gorgeous season it has been. I have enjoyed strolling through the city with my camera, not only because of the beautiful colors, but also because of the unseasonably warm weather. Hope you are also having a wonderful fall season and a great weekend. For more shadows, take a look at Shadow Shot Sunday. And don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for pictures from my recent trip to Israel.

Balls of color

I was recently invited to dine at the Wannseeterassen and I was immediately taken by these colorful light fixtures that greet guests in the foyer. I like how they shine and reflect at the same time. You'll find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.

It's Friday again! I've got my phone interview this afternoon which I'm nervous and excited about. Maybe I'll be back in the workforce before the holidays, I hope so. Do you have any big plans for the weekend? My hubs is out of town, so I will probably spend some leisurely time wandering the city with my camera or hanging out in a coffee shop. Whatever your plans are, have fun!

Change of season

I love the wander through cemeteries at any time of year, but it feels especially poignant in the autumn. I love the way this grave was graced by one fallen leaf. 

I was in Munich recently and did a few walking tours. On one of the tours, I met a Canadian lady from Ontario. She is a history teacher and usually comes to Germany with her school groups, but this time she was on her own. We got to talking and it turns out she lives not far from where my husband used to work in Toronto. When the tour was over, she gave me a lucky loonie. I feel bad, because I don't even know her name, but I am sure this loonie has already brought me some luck as I have a phone interview for a promising job tomorrow. Keep fingers and toes crossed for me. And don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for pictures from my recent trip to Israel.