Fishy

I found this mural inside a local church. Each of the smaller fish pasted onto the larger fish represent a child who was born and christened within the parish during the calendar year. A cute way to welcome new members to the flock. For more murals, take a look at Monday Mural.

I am having a really hard time coming up with something for tomorrow's theme. How are you feeling? Was this an easy one for you? Maybe I'll just take a picture of my sofa!

Reflections on the Spree

You can see Angie's washing machine reflected in the steel and glass government buildings that line the Spree in the Regierungsviertel. Not such a bad place to work, eh? You'll find more reflections from around the world at Weekend Reflections.

I'm so glad Friday is finally here, this week seems to have dragged on forever. If the weather is nice this weekend, I plan to play a few holes of golf. If not, maybe I'll take in a movie. What exciting plans are on your agenda?

Silhouette against the city

A lonely pigeon looks out on the skies over Berlin at the Berliner Dom.

West vs East

These signs were a familiar sight to anyone who grew up in West Berlin. These days, you mainly see them at history exhibits like this one at a shopping center on Potsdamer Platz that showed photos and memorabilia from the divided days. It is quite an interesting display and it comes back from time to time. If you'd like to see more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Remember

A cross memorializes victims at the Wall Memorial near Bernauer Straße. Such a strange time in history and it wasn't really so long ago. I'm linking this one with Tuesday Treasures.

Look back

These two murals are some of the best known large-scale works here in Berlin. They were painted by street artist Blu in 2007-08 in reaction to changes to the working-class neighborhood, Kreuzberg. The mural on the right also celebrates the reunification of East and West Berlin, if you look closely, you'll see that one of the figure's fingers make the sign E and the other a W.

Sadly, the walls were painted over in December 2014 at the request of the artist in protest of the further gentrification of the neighborhood. These buildings were sold to developers and are slated to be torn down to make room for luxury apartments. You can read more about the development plans here and you'll find more murals at Monday Mural.

Horse and rider

May I introduce you to Friedrich Wilhelm, also known as The Great Elector. He was the ruler of Prussia from 1640 until his death in 1688. He was a great military leader and political strategist, as well as a staunch supporter of the protestant church. His likeness can be seen all around Berlin, but this statue is particularly notable as it stands in front of the Schloss Charlottenburg. 

I was lucky to get this shot on a blue-sky day and you can see more skies of all kinds at Skywatch. 

Looking down

Looking down the spiral staircase that takes you up to the top of the cupola at the Berliner Dom, including a bonus look at my shoe!

Memorial

A memorial to victims of the National Socialist regime near the Reichstag. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Unknown

Most of my posts lately come from my archives and I'm sorry to admit I can't find any additional information on this statue. I think it was taken somewhere near the Heinrich Heine Straße U-bahn station. I hope you'll enjoy it anyway! You'll find more interesting finds at Tuesday Treasures.

Faces of Kreuzberg

You never know what you'll see in Kreuzberg. I liked all these different faces, but I wonder what the people who live here think about having decorations like these on their windows! Hope your week is off to a good start. More murals can be found at Monday Mural.

Another Kollwitz

We're on a Käthe Kollwitz roll! This is proabably her best known sculpture, depicting a mother cradling her dead son in her arms. Kollwitz had personal experience with the loss of a child, her own son died in battle during WWI.

This work stands inside the Neue Wache just off Unter den Linden. It's a monument to all victims of war and tyranny. It's really a beautiful and moving monument and Kollwitz's work is the perfect fit. I've featured other works of hers previously here.

I am so happy the weekend is finally here. Do you have any plans? I'm going to a birthday party on Saturday and will maybe play some golf on Sunday. Hope you have something fun to look forward to too!

Kollwitz Platz

An imposing statue of Käthe Kollwitz stands right in the middle of Kollwitz Platz in Prenzlauerberg. There are tons of cute cafes and restaurants right around here and if you're lucky enough to be in Berlin in the springtime, you'll find an abundance of cherry blossoms lining the square.

This sculpture is both of and by Kollwitz. I really love her work. The people always look so ordinary, but somehow that's what touches me about them. I've shown another one of her sculpture selfies here.

Looking through

A look through the gate at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Berlin. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

World peace

Do you ever think we'll see world peace? I am doubtful. For the people living under the Communist regime in the DDR, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Iron Curtain was already a kind of peace. This is a detail from a peace column found in the former East Berlin. I'm linking it up with Tuesday Treasures.

European bear

I found this cute Buddy Bear when I was out and about awhile back. I love how all the European countries are represented with their flags. I hope you'll indulge me this week and consider this a mural, you'll find more at Monday Mural.

Sweet stuff

The last stop on our cafe tour is the Süsskramdealer. It's a cute and quaint cafe/sweet shoppe located inside an old cigar shop. I've passed by many times and always wanted to give it a try, so I finally went for a visit recently with a friend.

 

In addition to hot drinks, they also serve cakes, sandwiches and salads. I guess you can already guess what I had... chocolate cake! 

I'm not very good at denying myself the little pleasures of life. I'd definitely come back to this cafe, it's not so far from my home and I really liked the unique atmosphere. I hope you've enjoyed this week of cafes from Berlin. Happy weekend!

Aloha

Nope, I haven't run out of cafes yet! Today's featured coffee house is the Honolulu Cafe. This place is quite a trek for me, it's in the the former East Berlin borough of Friedrichshein. Honestly, I don't get to that part of the city very often, but I passed this place by one day and just wanted to come back.

So when I happened to be in the neighborhood with a friend last summer, we decided to check the place out. The inside is very cozy. You can pull a book off the shelf and settle in for a read, if you're so inclined.

 

There was no chocolate cake on the menu here, so I just had a coffee. Hope you are not too disappointed! Come back tomorrow for more of my cafe tour.

Looking out

I was happy to get the cyclist passing by as I got this shot looking out into the street from Wild Caffe. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Another coffee house

Here's a look inside another cafe that I like to frequent, the GM 26. It is a bit further from my home, but still within walking distance. It's an especially nice place to go in the summer as they have a really nice outdoor terrace.

As I said yesterday, when chocolate cake is on the menu, I can't resist. This piece was so good, I forgot to take a picture until I was about halfway in. Oooops!

February theme day: Scene from a coffee house

I am so excited the February theme day is finally here! There's hardly anything I like better than spending an afternoon in a cafe with a good book or some knitting, though with my job, I have less time for those pleasures.

Today we're looking inside the Wild Caffe, one of my favorite local spots. It's a quick walk from my home and I have spent quite a few afternoons here enjoying the cosy atmosphere.

In addition to delicious coffee, Wild Caffe also serves a daily lunch special and a variety of cakes. When I stopped by a few days ago, chocolate cake happened to be on the menu and it's rare for me to turn down anything chocolate. I promise, it tasted as good as it looks! 

It's a new month again and I hope you've enjoyed this look inside one of Berlin's lovely coffee houses. For more coffee scenes from around the world, take a look here.