Bogey bear

Meet Bogey Bear, he's one of two Buddy Bears at my golf club. He was created by artist Rolf Kinkel.

His other side shows the golf club's logo. Do you like his blue side or green side better? It's sign time again and you'll find more of them at Signs, Signs.

Take a seat

Remember the fire brigade station from last week? These benches are just to the right of all the garage doors. There was also a third bench, but it was occupied by some firefighters and I didn't dare to photograph them.

One Berlin

I was out and about around Bernauer Strasse recently. The street was a major dividing point in the old East and West days. Homes and churches were torn down here because they stood in the way of The Wall. Today there is a Wall Memorial that runs along a long stretch of the street. The Memorial shows what life was like in the divided city through photos and personal accounts.

Bernauer Strasse was one of the few places where Easterns and Westerners could "meet up" again. Here we see a mother and father lifting their twin babies high in the air so that family in the East would get to know them. 

A Western couple was smart enough to bring a ladder, so they would have a better view of their loved ones in the East. I find it so hard to imagine what life must have been like for people then, and it's not even that long ago - only twenty-five years! 

It's Monday again and you'll find more murals at Monday Mural.

Fire brigade

I love the bright red garage doors on this firehouse, but the cyclist crossing my path really makes the shot. Hope you are having a great weekend so far!

A tree grows on Potsdamer Platz

A look at both old and new reflected in a small pool on Potsdamer Platz. It's finally Friday again, do you have any big plans for the weekend? You know where to find me! I've got to make the most of this nice fall weather and get some golfing in while I can. If you like reflections, you'll find more at Weekend Reflections.

On the water

As I said yesterday, there are many ways to enjoy your time on the Spree. Perhaps one of these canoes strikes your fancy?

A paddleboat is another fun way to get out on the water.

Or there's always the paddleboard - you can always take a little break if it gets too tiring. How would you like to spend your summer day on the Spree?

Other side of the bridge

I showed you this bridge from the other side a few weeks ago. Now here's a look from the Insel der Jugend out across the Spree to the mainland. While you're on the island, you can enjoy a coffee or a snack here at the beachside cafe.

If you're feeling more sporty, you can rent a canoe or if you're really adventurous, maybe a paddleboard. For more signs, visit Signs, Signs.

The monumental monument

As promised, here is a look at the Soviet War Memorial. I hope the people and the little biker give you an idea of the scale of this sculpture - it's massive!

The sculpture was created by Soviet artist Yevgeny Vuchetich and alledgedly represents the true store of a Soviet soldier who risked heavy machine gun fire to save a young German child during the Battle of Berlin. In reality, the Soviets ransacked the city of Berlin when they marched in, raiding homes and businesses for anything of value. Rape and abuse was also rampant during that time and it is said there is a whole generation of children who were conceived during that violent time.

Here's a look back on the rest of the memorial park from atop the plinth of the statue. The whole thing is a little too grandiose and pompous for my taste. I know bad things happen during wars, but it's hard for me to accept this view of history. I'm still glad I made the trip out to see it though.

Memorial mural

We are back to Treptower Park and the Soviet War Memorial. This mosaic is actually inside the monument (which really is monumental) itself. I'll show it to you tomorrow. Until then, you can find more murals at Monday Mural.

Painters reflections

If you need some painting done, Erez is the man to call! 

I'm out of town for the weekend and won't be posting or commenting. Hope you've got exciting plans. I'm playing in a golf tournament in Nuremberg and then heading to Oktoberfest in Munich. Until then, you'll find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.

Rose garden

I recently took a walk through Treptower Park, mainly to see the Soviet War Memorial, but also to just get a feel for this area of the city (I rarely venture out this far east). There was a lovely, little rose garden within the park marked by this sign.

Though beauties like these don't need signs at all! In case you do need signs, you'll find more at Signs, Signs.

Marble gallery

When you walk into the Altes Museum, you come directly into this domed area which is encircled with marble statues of varying ages and subjects. I just loved the way they were presented here. I hope you've enjoyed this short tour of the museum, I'm going to move on to other subjects this week. Although I might come back at sometime in the future as I still have a few nice shots from here.

King of hearts

I found the mural on this piece of the Berlin Wall rather intriguing. Is he the king of hearts or volleyball - or both?! Something to ponder this Monday. You can find more murals here.

Deus ex machina

We are still at the Altes Museum. Today's work is entitled Medea Sarcophagus. It was found near Porta San Lorenzo in Rome and dates back to around 140 - 150 AD. Here is more about the piece:

The relief shows four scenes from the Medea myth following the homonymous tragedy by the Athenian poet Euripides. Topics from Greek mythology were a popular motif in Rome for sarcophagus reliefs, especially when the depicted, as is the case here, wedding and death, happiness and sorrow of life.

Refurbished colossal

Here's one of the beautiful marbles from the museum's collection. It is entitled Colossal Statue with Cornucopia, Snake and Portrait of Antonious. It was acquired by the museum in Rome in the late 1700s, but dates back to around 130 - 140 AD. Here is more information on the work:

Head and statue are ancient but were combined as recently as in the eighteenth century. The portrait depicts Emperor Hadrian's lover Antonious. The attributes allow the statue to be interpreted as Agathos Daimon (protective spirit). Restored with support from ZDF and the Lions Club Berlin-Alexanderplatz.

Guardian for the afterlife

This Funerary Lion was found somewhere around Athens and dates back to approximately 320 BC. Here's a little more information on the piece:

This large lion either marked a grave as an individual monument or, together with a counterpart, was a corner figure of a monumental funerary precinct in late classical Athens. As a symbolic guardian, the lion grants magical protection from grave robbers. Its artistic quality is indicative of the commissioner's wealth.

Free at last!

The Altes Museum is, as its name implies, Berlin's oldest museum. The collection is made up of mainly old Greek and Roman marbles. I enjoyed my stroll through antiquity and will share a few pieces with you this week.

This work is called Funerary Relief of Publius Aiedius and his Wife Aiedia. It was found in Rome and dates back to around 30 B.C. Here's a little more information:

This type of relief belonged to funerary buildings of freed slaves who were given civic rights. Clothing (toga) and clasped hands (wedding ritual) proudly demonstrate the acquired social status. The realistic rendering of the portrait is a traditional symbol of dignity and virtue.

Hope you've enjoyed the tour so far. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Old Museum

Looking up inside the dome of Altes Museum. My yearly museum card will soon expire, so I've been making the rounds to all the museums that are included. I'll have a few more shots from here throughout the week. Hope you enjoy the tour!

This way, please!

I found this mural in Kreuzberg when I went out for my job interview last week. Apparently, there is a radio studio right in the neighborhood. There were lots of other murals and street art in this neighborhood, but I didn't have time to snap shots of everything. I'd like to stop back there sometime though (hopefully as a gainfully employed person). For more murals, take a look at Monday Mural.

Blues skies over the bridge

I recently made a trip out to Treptow and spent a lovely day walking through the Treptower Park and along the Spree. On my way, I came across the Insel der Jugend which was used by young people in the former East as a disco and meeting place. Today it houses a youth sporting club as well as a cafe and boat rentals. It looks like a fun place to hang out on a summer's day and I just might have to come back! For more sunny skies, take a look at Skywatch. And more reflections can be found at Weekend Reflections.

It's Friday again! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? There is a street festival in my neighborhood this weekend. I plan on seeing what they have to offer as well as playing a little golf. Hopefully the rain won't put a damper on those plans. Have fun, whatever you do!

Burning bridge

I was looking back through my photos from the Wannsee in Flammen tour a few weekends ago to see if there were any other shots worth showing. It's hard to see here, but this is the famous Glienicke Bridge (where spies were traded between the East and West in the Cold War days) lit up by a cascade of fireworks. It was really quite beautiful, I'm only sorry my photos don't really do it justice. Maybe I'll go back and do the tour again next year, but I'll come better prepared.

The fox and the ermine

I don't quite remember what kind of establishment this sign was for, but I found it somewhere in the Nikolaiviertel. The Nikolaiviertel is the oldest part of Berlin (though it has been rebuilt since the wars) and it's always fun to take a stroll through. There are loads of these old shingle-style signs there and I love seeing them all. Guess I'll have to go back and investigate what this place is offering. Don't forget you can see more signs at Signs, Signs.

Confidential to my brother: Happy birthday!!!

September theme day: Curiosities

I hope no one is shocked, but this piece entitled Peace be with You, is certainly a curiosity! The man pictured here with his large member on the side of the TAZ (Tageszeitung) building bears a certain resemblance to Bild editor Kai Diekmann. A feud has been brewing between the rival newspapers since the sixties, but came to a head in 2009 when this work was erected. The mural is positioned so that it is perfectly visible from Diekmann's upper story corner office. Despite complaints from others in the neighborhood, the piece by artist Peter Lenk (known for his risque work) is now a protected landmark. The next time you're in Berlin, just take a detour down Rudi Dutschke Straße near Checkpoint Charlie to see it for yourself.

I can't believe September is already here. Where did the summer go? It's time for the latest CDP Theme Day and you'll find more examples of Curiosities from around the world here.