Teaser

Here's a little teaser for tomorrow's theme day. I actually took these shots in May 2014 at the Ai Weiwei exhibit in Martin Gropius Bau. 

I don't think I ever shared them though as I am not 100% pleased with how they turned out.

But I did like this sculpture and thought it was worth going back to and showing. It's Friday and I've got big plans this weekend (that don't involve golf). I'm heading with the hubs to Hamburg to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The weather should be nice, so I'm looking forward to strolling around a new city. And of course I'll take lots of photos!

Arcades

Found along Karl Marx Allée - this was once the fanciest shopping area of the DDR. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot for sale and what was on offer was typically unaffordable for most people. I do like this facade though, even if that's all it is really...

Cafe Moskau

Although it's no longer open to the public, the famed Cafe Moskau still stands on Karl Marx Allée. It was one of the top spots in the DDR, though not everyone could afford the high prices. The architectural design is somewhat dated, but I still like it somehow. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Towards the telespargel

A typical street scene in Berlin - a lady hauling her shopping up Karl Marx Allée towards the Television Tower.

Storming the wall

A photo of East Berliners storming the Berlin Wall stands next to an a couple of old fragments of the Wall in the courtyard of the Pankow Museum. I just finished reading Anna Funder's book Stasiland. If you are interested in that period of history, it is an excellent read. Funder describes her personal interviews with both victims and collaborators of the DDR regime. The result is book of stories that will draw you in; I could hardly put it down.

Here's a better look at the photo. I can hardly imagine how these people felt. I wonder where they are today?

It's Monday again and you can get your weekly mural fix at Monday Mural.

Reflecting or resting?

I whipped out my camera and snapped this shot as soon as I saw these three people sitting in front of this altarpiece. The real question is, are they reflecting upon the craftsmanship of the carving or are they just resting after a long day in the museum? I'll let you decide!

Our tour through the Bode Museum has come to an end, I hope you enjoyed it. I've been visiting a lot of museums lately, but perhaps I'll take some time off from showing them, the outdoor sights of Berlin are so lovely at this time of year.

Skyward

Looking up at the grand cupola inside the Bode Museum. I admit, my main objective in visiting this museum was to see the architecture. It was definitely worth it!

Grand staircase

Remember those three Freddies I showed you the other day? Well here they are again, ready to greet you as you ascend the grand staircase inside the Bode Museum. Just looking at the scene makes me dream of the days when balls and parties were held in places like this. I'd love to make an entrance coming down these stairs. Sigh.

For peace

The Buddy Bear of peace greets you from behind a glass wall at the Auswaertiges Amt! For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Hanging out

Just a bunch of Freddies hanging out at the Bode Museum!

Trio

This beautiful mosaic depicting the angels Raphael and Gabriel flanking Jesus dates back to 545. It's part of the large collection of Byzantine art at the Bode Museum. This particular piece comes from Ravenna, a city on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its many early Christian mosaic pieces (like this one).

Here's a better look at how the apse mosaic is presented in the room. I know this is not exactly a mural, but I think it's close enough. You'll find more of them at Monday Mural.

Looking through

There were so many wonderful architectural details at the Bode Museum. Enjoy!

Peaceful

One thing I really like about the Bode Museum is the use of color. Most of the walls were painted with wonderful, deep colors like this blue room.

Friday is here again! The warm weather is back and hopefully my golf swing is coming with it. Do you have any big plans? I hope so!

Perhaps a gentleman

This work is entitled Portrait of a Scholar and comes from the workshop of Italian sculptor Guglielmo della Porta. The piece is part of the museum's permanent collection and was completed in the mid-1500s; it was originally part of a tomb. The man is obviously a scholar, but was he a gentleman too?

One God

The architecture of the Bode Museum is really fantastic. Just look at those vaulted ceilings and that marble floor. I did check out the Ein Gott exhibit while I was there as well. It's always interesting to see artifacts from the past. There will be more from the Bode tomorrow, but until then you can see more signs at Signs, Signs.

Kaiser Friedrich

Back in the days when I thought I was getting a job, I decided it would be a good idea to use my museum card and visit all the museums that I've never seen. What better place to start than the Bode Museum. Standing tall in the entrance hall is Kaiser Friedrich III, the museum was originally named for him, but was changed in 1956 in honor of the collection's first curator, Wilhelm von Bode.  I'll be taking you on a tour around the museum this week, so please come back for more!

PS: Happy Bastille Day!!!

Bismarckstrasse

Bismarckstrasse station on the U2 is filled with tropical murals. I especially love this one with the hummingbird - the train car in the background is a nice touch! 

Hope you had a nice weekend. We had out-of-town guests and it was such a good time showing them around Berlin. It was also a good opportunity to restock my photo archives! Until then, you can see more murals at Monday Mural.

Spiral reflections

If I had seen this glass staircase earlier, I would have used it for July's theme day. 

The only thing I can't decide is if I like it better in color or black and white. What do you think? You'll find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.

Festspielhaus

A look at the bar seating area of the Berliner Festspielhaus. This is where I saw the Barbarians dance show last weekend. I loved this seating area near the bar. Just look at those fantastic windows.

Silhouette

Seen at the Foreign Affairs festival last weekend. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Bertha von Steglitz

I have walked by Berta bear many times and thought, I've got to take a picture of her. Luckily for you, the last time I was at the Forum Steglitz I did. Of course, I love her red tones, but I also think her mosaic style is very appealing. Hope you agree!

Hands together

This large-scale work was painted last year by street artist Case Ma'Claim. According to the artist, it is meant as a mark against fascism. Case is known for his colorful, intertwining hands and I find this particular piece very inspiring. You can read more about it here. And you'll find more murals at Mural Monday.

Foreign affairs

Here's a little look at last night's modern dance show. The performance was part of the Foreign Affairs festival which is going on all over the city. You probably weren't really supposed to take pictures, but I snuck in a few.

 

The work is entitled Barbarians and it was performed and choreographed by the Hofesh Shechter Company. I really loved the show - I was totally enthralled from the first minute to the last. It was actually the world premier, so I feel really lucky to have seen it! You can see a little video of the performance in rehearsal here. Enjoy!

Wet bicycle

This was one of my "tamer" choices for this month's theme day. I was out and about a few days ago when the skies opened up and it started to pour. Luckily I found a sheltered spot under some arcades and I snapped this shot with my iPhone.

Do you have any big plans for the weekend? It's going to be hot here, but I'll be out on the golf course anyway. I'm also going to a modern dance show on Saturday. Don't forget to stop by Weekend Reflections.

PS: It's back to square one with my job search. I found out yesterday that I didn't get the position. I am really disappointed, but I don't know what I could have done differently. I just hope there's another "dream job" out there, because this one was pretty much everything I wanted.

Summertime

Summer weather has finally arrived and people are flocking to the Wine Fest! I was among the numbers tasting some of the Rhine wines this weekend and I'll be back for more this week!

July theme day: Upside down

I have to admit, I really had to go hunting to find something good for today's theme. I had a few other ideas, but they seemed too easy. I wanted something more unexpected. So here is today's shot - it's an upward angle into a light concentrator in the Potsdamer Platz train station.

When Potsdamer Platz was rebuilt after German Reunification, everything was supposed to be ultra-modern and futuristic. Someone had the idea that these concentrators could be used to bring natural light into the S-Bahn station. Basically the concentrator is a long tube with a mirror, the mirror brings the light in and then it travels down the tube to the station. At least that's how it's supposed to work. In reality, it just makes a little circle of light on the ground, but it's still a neat idea.

It seems crazy we're already halfway through the summer. Where did June go? I am still waiting to hear back from my job interviews. Waiting is so hard, but I have a good feeling. Don't forget to check out the other CDP bloggers participating in today's theme, just click here.

PS: Happy Canada Day!!!