Your photo with the Berliner Bear

This utility box is painted up like a photo booth. It's pretty cute, though I wonder how many tourists take a few turns around the thing before realizing it's just an illusion! It's Monday again and you'll find more murals here.

Lucha libre

This mural looks like a masked lucha libre fighter to me. I haven't heard of the artist, but they must be well-known as the Pilpeled website is filled with other works. It's Monday again and you'll find more murals on Monday Mural.

Anne Frank

A likeness of Anne Frank is on the wall just outside the Anne Frank center here in Berlin. I love the joy in her eyes and smile, although we all know she came to a tragic end. It's Monday and you'll find more murals here.

Französischer Dom

Blue skies shine above the French Cathedral on the Gendarmenmarkt Square. Unfortunately, today's skies are not so blue, but rather gray and rainy. Hope the summer weather returns soon. If you're looking for more signs, you'll find them here!

Obey and other signs

I recently learned that these Obey signs are the work of well-known street artist, Shepard Fairey. He's a South Carolina native, but built his street cred as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design with his Andre the Giant has a Posse campaign. If you're looking for them, you'll find these posters in cities all over the world (I've seen quite a few in Berlin, now that I know what they are!).

Fairey has come quite a way since his student days, his most famous work is probably the Obama campaign poster, but he's also built up a successful clothing line, simply called Obey. If you're interested in his work, you can see more here. And of course, you'll find more signs of all kinds at the weekly linkup, Signs, Signs.

Line drawing

Remember I showed you some of the Berlin in Lights show a few weeks ago, well here is more! I really liked the way this effect makes the Berliner Dom looks like it was drawn onto the skyline with a pencil! 

In other news, Berlin Heute will be on hiatus until mid-January. I will be traveling through Southeast Asia for a few months. I am definitely ready for the adventure! Please check Halcyon Travels and my Facebook site for updates. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great holiday season and see you in the New Year!

Ghostly columns

The columns surrounding the Pergamon Museum take on a different look at night. I wouldn't be surprised to find some ghosts and goblins wandering through the arches this evening. Hope you have a happy Halloween filled with treats and maybe a few tricks too!

PS: I am posting more regularly on my travel blog at the moment, please stop by Halcyon Travels for more of beautiful Lisbon. 

Sony Center from above

This is a different view on the Sony Center than what I usually post! I found a secret cafe up in the rafters last summer with a nice terrace that gives onto the main space. If any of you are ever in Berlin, I recommend a visit! 

PS: Take a look at Halcyon Travels for more of beautiful Lisbon.

Konzert Haus, beleuchtet

Here's another look at one of the buildings taking part in this year's Festival of Lights. This is the beautiful Konzerthaus which stands in the middle of the Gendarmenmarkt. It's a beautiful building any time of the year, but especially so during this special spectacle! I hope you're enjoying the highlights.

Remembered

This is a memorial to Georg Elser, the lesser-known attempted assassin of Adolf Hitler. A German biopic on Elser came out a few years ago and I recently watched it. I had heard of the man before, but his attempt on Hitler's life has just never been as widely publicized as von Stauffenburg.

This message can be found just steps away from Elser's profile. It reads, "that the conditions in Germany could only be changed by eliminating the current leader." True words... More signs can be found at Signs, Signs.

Berliner Dom, beleuchtet

This week is a special time in Berlin, many monuments and important buildings are lit up with lights and animations. I braved the cold and caught a few last night. I'd like to get back and see some more before it's over this weekend, but it depends on the weather. For more special things from around the world, take a look at Tuesday Treasures.

Sunset over Berlin

I caught this beautiful sky on German Unity Day. There was a special festival set up on the "fan mile" which leads up to the Brandenburg Gate. The weather was fantastic and it was fun to be out and about celebrating with others. You'll find more skies at Skywatch.

Thank goodness it's Friday! These past few weeks have been tough, but now I can breathe easy. I've got a few rounds of golf planned for the weekend, I just hope the weather holds. Hope you've got some fun ahead of you too!

October theme day: Abandonned

You often see lost hats or lovies when you walk the streets of the city, but I was surprised to see this lonely puppet waiting for someone to claim him on a street pole. I can't believe October is already here. I do love the fall season, but it's always sad to say good-bye to summer. If you're interested in seeing more interpretations of this month's theme take a look here.

A fine day

It was a beautiful autumn day to be out on the water. I love seeing the city from the vantage point of the Spree!

Potsdamer Platz

I love the Sony Center on Potsdamer Platz. I often head over there to go to the movies and I always have to take a picture of the futuristic architecture. I never get tired of it! It's Wednesday again and you'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.

July theme day: Look down

If you keep your eyes to the ground when walking through Bebelplatz near the Gendarmenmarkt, you won't be able to miss the Memorial to the Nazi Book Burning. The empty bookshelves represent the universities and libraries that were emptied of all "un-German" works and publicly burned in the square on May 10, 1933. 

I took this photo in the evening when the room is brightly lit and creates a stark contrast to the black night. The memorial was created by Israeli artist, Micha Ullman. It's a stark reminder of those terrible times. As people would later learn, the words of Herman Hesse rang true, "Where they burn books, they will ultimately also burn people." 

Another month has rolled around. Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian readers! Don't forget to take a look here for more interpretations on this month's theme.

PS: For the moment, I'm posting more often at Halcyon Travels. Stop by and take a look!

On the Gendarmenmarkt

A look at the beautiful Konzert Haus on the Gendarmenmarkt in Mitte. It's always a nice place to walk around and I think the beautiful architecture lends itself well to black and white. Hope you agree!

PS: I have an Alsatian mural of sorts for you at Halcyon Travels.

Male torso

Here's another decorative piece that was on display inside the Humboldt Box. It seems the male torso has been dominated by an eagle. Make of that what you will. I'm linking this post with Tuesday Treasures.

Painted ceiling

Here is another mural of sorts from the Humboldt Box. Both Humboldt Brothers loved to travel and learn about other peoples and their culture. This painting is meant to show the influences of their non-European travels on their thinking. 

It's Monday again! After a few days of blue skies last week, we had a gray and cold weekend. It didn't stop me from enjoying Hertha's win at the Olympiastadion and a round of golf, but I do hope spring is coming soon. I'm linking this post with Monday Mural.

Kaffee und Kuchen mit Stil

Like all good museums, the Humboldt Box also has a cafe! It's on the top floor of the building and gives onto the construction site of the new Stadtschloss.

 As you can see, real progress has been made in the past few years that this has been underway. The cupola was added in 2015, I remember it being in the news.

There is also other construction going on in the area. A new subway station that will eventually be part of the line 5 is being built on Museumsinsel to make it more accessible by public transport. It seems like this project has been going on forever. I can hardly remember a time in Berlin without that subway construction, but it will be finished one day.

 

There's also a beautiful outdoor terrace at the cafe, but unfortunately, the day I was there was a bit cold and windy. I wouldn't mind coming back here though, it's a good stop if you have people from out of town visiting as you really get some nice views over Berlin. Best of all it's all included in the price of your Kaffee und Kuchen! 

I'm glad it's Friday. I'm also glad the weather seems to have taken a turn for the better. I've got tickets for Hertha this weekend and I don't want to sit in the cold. Hope you've got something fun planned for the weekend as well. Have a good one!