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.

Hollyhocks

A beautiful display of hollyhocks in Wannsee. I love the simplicity of these flowers, in German they're called farmers roses.

And a look at the hollyhock bicycle, which I featured here back in 2015. This bicycle had been parked in the same place for almost three years... just last week I saw that it was moved to another lamppost about 50 meters away. I wonder if it gets lonely now without its longtime hollyhock companion.

Lone piano

This piano certainly looks like it's seen better days. I do like the contrast of its drab color against that red wall.

Book box and bass

I found another book box when I was out and about recently. How serendipitous that this man with a double bass just happened to walk through my shot! It's Wednesday and you'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.

Moby Dick

The Moby Dick is one of the better-known boats on the tour circuit in and around Berlin. The dh and I gave it a whirl awhile back when we did a tour of the lakes and canals just north of the city. It was a relaxing afternoon/early evening and now I can say I've finally been on the famous Moby Dick! If you want to see the view form the inside of the boat, take a look here.

And for more signs, visit Signs, Signs.

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.

Pop up lab

I was taking a walk during my lunch break last week when I came upon the Pop Up Lab. It was a display of some of the technologies that are being developed in Berlin, both by established companies and start-ups.

No technology show would be complete without the ubiquitous 3-D printer. This one was working on a laundry basket.

There was also a funny robot who dropped a box with a little prize inside right in front of you.

It contained a small, but tasty, treat! For more signs, don't forget to take a look at Signs, Signs.

Sad sign

These ghost bikes are everywhere these days. This one has a sign in memory of a 75-year-old woman who had a fatal accident at this intersection on 1 October 2015. Very sad. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Art?

I'm not sure if this broom is art or just a broom. A thought to ponder... I hope you enjoyed the tour of the bunker, even if it did not include as much art as I would have liked.

Another window

Originally, this was my choice for the December theme day, but I liked that pink bench so much, I changed my mind. These black and white mannequins grace the window of a store on the Ku'damm that's going out of business. It's a little sad actually, as I have been shopping there ever since my first trip to Berlin back in 2005.

PS: Don't forget to take a look at Halcyon Travels for more from my trip to Israel.

A phoenix in Berlin

Look closely and you'll see a Phoenix rising above the Berliner Philharmonie building in the middle of Berlin's Kulturforum. 

The bird was designed by Berlin native Hans Uhlmann and represents how the city of Berlin arose from the ashes of WWII and once again became a bright and vibrant city. The Kulturforum is just a short walk from Potsdamer Platz, which itself is a symbol of the reunification of East and West.

Lenin and the blue door

You may wonder where statues of former dictators go? I can tell you where at least one is! This likeness of Lenin stands in front of a removal company in Kreuzberg. Lenin was removed from his original spot near Alexanderplatz after the fall of the Wall. I guess someone just couldn't bear to see him destroyed, or the removal company thought it would have some kitsch value. I wonder how many young people would even recognize his face today. I admit, I wouldn't have known who this was.

PS: Don't forget to stop by Halcyon Travels for a look at my recent trip to Israel.

The religious room

Sometimes it seemed like the rooms at the Märkisches Museum would never end - there was so much variety in the exhibits. This room was dedicated to religious artifacts collected from Berlin churches over the years. A school class was visiting on the day I was there and these three girls stayed back to marvel over the alterpiece.

I, however, marveled over this piece. I'm not sure what the story is, but it looks like that fellow in the middle is having his head stepped on by Jesus. Ouch!

PS: I've got pictures from my recent trip to Israel on Halcyon Travels. Stop by and take a look!

Odd setup

It's nice that the museum has offered these benches as a place to rest, but this room was totally empty. I'd much rather sit in a place where you can at least contemplate the artwork on the walls. I also find the placement of that church thingie (technical term) and the spotlight somewhat random. 

It's Friday again! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I'll be out on the golf course and hopefully will also have some time to get out and about for some pictures of the gorgeous fall weather we've been having. Whatever you have planned, I hope you enjoy it!

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.

Back to bikes

This old bicycle has become a staple of my neighborhood. I walk by it several times a week and always think to myself, I've got to get a picture of that. With the announcement of the August theme day, I finally took my camera to the street and clicked a few shots (I also got funny looks from passers-by). 

It's difficult to show how the bike really appears; those hollyhocks have really become one with the bike. I sometimes wonder what has happened to this bike's owner, did they have a severe injury and can't ride anymore? Or did the planter of the hollyhocks park the bike here on purpose? Another mystery, but every time I pass by, I smile. And that's a good thing! 

 

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!!!

Traveling butler

The BSR comes up with the funniest campaigns to help keep the city clean. Reiner the "bin butler" makes an appearance every once in awhile on Friedrichstrasse or other heavily-trafficked areas to remind people to put their bins in the bin! If you like signs, you'll find more of them at Signs, Signs.

PS: I have a bonus Viennese sign up on my travel blog. And please send me good luck and positive thoughts this afternoon - I have a phone interview (only my second since moving to Berlin).

Let us make art

Lettuce dipped in food coloring was part of a recent art installment I saw at the Künstlerhaus Bethanian. This particular work is by artist Elizabeth Willing. What do you think? Is this art of lettuce?

Book box

I was surprised to find this "Book Box" just outside of Grunewald station. There is one just steps from my apartment and I thought it was unique to the city. You never know what you might find when you decide to venture out a bit!