Mr. Appletree

Cemeteries have so many scenes that are perfect in black and white, like this mausoleum.

The details inside are meant for monochrome too! You'll find more black and white shots at The Weekend in Black and White.

Cemetery gate

Here's a look at the entrance to Weißensee Cemetery. I just love the intricate work on the wrought iron gate. As you come inside, you see the inscribed stone that I showed you earlier in the week.

There are also a number of other memorials, like this one to victims of the National Socialist regime who were tried at killed at the Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. 

There was also this more general memorial made up of a marble star of David and a myriad of white stones. Very appropriate for a Jewish cemetery. 

I am so glad Friday is finally here. I've been feeling under the weather this week and there's a lot going on with my new job, so I'm ready for a few days of rest. What about you, do you have any big plans for the weekend, or are you going to just take it easy? Whatever you have on your calendar, I hope it's fun! And don't forget to take a look at Good Fences for more gates and fences.

Monochromatic

I am guessing this is the grave of Leo Levinth. Something about it just cried out for a monochrome treatment.

A look around

As I explained earlier this week, the cemetery was left to ruin behind the Iron Curtain. There are a few reasons for the decay, one being there were not a lot of Jewish people left in Berlin after the war. Survivors mainly went to live in the US, Israel or other countries, so there was no Jewish community to maintain the graves. The other reason is practicing any type of religion was generally frowned upon in the communist GDR.

Today volunteers from Berlin's newly thriving Jewish community are working on restoring the graves and bringing some order to the wilderness.

I really enjoyed walking around through the older part of the cemetery and just taking a look at all of the names. I was also happy to see there are new burial areas, so these sacred grounds are being used once more. I'll show you some more of the cemetery tomorrow, but until then, you'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.

Waiting

These lovely benches have been placed in the hallway leading up to the synagogue as a place for visitors to rest before the service. I just love those arched windows. Tomorrow I'll show some of the graves, hope you'll come back!

Weißensee cemetery

This week we'll take a trip through Europe's second largest Jewish cemetery - Weißensee. Unlike other Jewish cemeteries in Europe, this one was not destroyed during WWII. Rather, it was left to ruin during the divided days as it lies in the former East Berlin. 

Many of the graves are barely standing anymore, but this beautiful, brick building still stands in the center of the cemetery. It houses a small synagogue for funeral services. I hope you'll come back tomorrow for a look around.

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.

Unknown

Grave of an unknown soldier found in my local cemetery.

Do you like it better in black and white or color?

Victims

I visited the Gedenkstatt für die Opfer von Terror und Gewaltherrschaft (Memorial for victims of terror and oppression) awhile back. Something about seeing these names listed on a cold tablet made me really sad. If only memorials like this could really convey something of the people who died - their lives, their stories... 

Heinrich Mann

Heinrich Mann was the older brother of better-known author Thoman Mann, although he was also a successful writer in his own right. He was a vocal critic of the National Socialist party and fled to France in the early 1930s. Once France capitulated, he made his way through Europe and finally settled with other German emigrants (inlcuding Bertholt Brecht and Helene Weigel) in Santa Monica, California. Unfortunately he died just before he was to return to his homeland, but later his ashes were transported to East Berlin. He is buried in Friedhof Dorotheenstadt next to his old friends Brecht and Weigel.

Tulip explosion

I actually took this picture a few weeks ago when the tulips were at their peak. They're on the way out now, although you still see a few here and there. Günter's wife or partner happened to be at the grave when I walked by. I asked her if Günter was a fan of tulips. She said not really, but that she is and she especially likes the color. I told her that I love tulips too and her "gardening" work here looks excellent. She didn't even seem to mind that I took a photo (some Germans are uptight about that).

It's Friday again! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I am going to play some golf and cards. But first, I've got to get the house clean today. Happy weekend!

Cemetery fence

There's just something about the light in this photo that I love. It's so soft and diffused. It's Friday again, hope you have some good plans for the weekend. I may play some golf if the weather is nice enough. Hope you enjoy whatever you have planned and don't forget to stop by Good Fences.

Beliebt

Judging by the amount of flowers here on this grave, Vati and Mutti must have been well-loved.

Shadowy

You sometimes find beautiful things in the most unlikely places. 

These lovely shadows were made by this door to a mausoleum. I thought they were perfect in black and white. Hope you agree!

Reflecting

A reflective lady reflecting... more reflections can be found at Weekend Reflections.

Old graves

It's time to ask the age old question again. Color?

Or black and white?

For more old stuff, take a look at Rubbish Tuesday.

Old graves

I found these old crosses in the Old Garrison Cemetery of Berlin. It was very quiet there and I enjoyed strolling around taking in all the old soldiers graves. For more relics, take a look at Rubbish Tuesday.

Brecht

I finally made a visit to the Friedhof Dorotheenstadt to see the burial site of one of my favorite dramatists, Bertolt Brecht. As you can see, his grave is actually quite simple in design, I suppose he would have wanted it that way. Now I've just got to see a show at the the theater he founded - the Berliner Ensemble.

The crypt

The Berliner Dom houses a fabulous crypt where many of the Hohenzoller's (Germany's royal family) are buried. I had a great time wandering around and looking at all of the sarcophogi - most of them are really ornate!

Unfortunately, most of my shots didn't quite turn out as the lighting conditions were quite poor. But here is a look at Friederich Wilhelm, The Great Elector's final resting place. His tomb was less ornate than the others, but to be honest I prefer this simple style, it seems more dignified. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Tucked away

This may not be the right weather for it, but I can imagine those two benches tucked away under the trees as a nice place to sit and contemplate during the warmer months. I found this beautiful snowy scene in the old Jewish cemetery in Mitte.