Patterns

I am definitely someone who likes to look up, but sometimes it pays off to look down. I love the patterns created by these cobblestones. And the specks of cherry snow make the scene even prettier. It's Tuesday again, don't forget to stop by Tuesday Treasures.

Signs of spring

Although we haven't had much sun or warm weather, the crocus are coming out like mad! I love the sight of them in spring. For more signs of all kinds, take a look at Signs, Signs.

I'm going to be away on a break for a bit. I'll see you in April!

Looking out on the Lust Garten

A view of the Lust Garten from the Berliner Dom. This was taken back in October when the shadows were long and the grass green!

Park tour

We're back to Ernst Thälmann Park. It is actually not the prettiest of places, there was a lot of graffiti and vandalism, but I managed to find some nice things to show you during my stroll. These round benches must be popular during the summer months.

 

The pond and the vegetation around it was also really pretty with all the autumnal color in the trees and being reflected back.

And a last quick look at the leaves in close-up. Hope you've enjoyed the park. You'll find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.

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

Larger than life

Here is a likeness of the man himself, Ernst Thälmann. It's only unfortunate that his life and death became a kind of propaganda story for the communist party of the DDR. I am not sure he would have agreed with all of the practices and policies of the German communist party that re-emerged after the war.

I also find it unfortunate that his memorial is covered with graffiti and broken beer bottles. Perhaps he'll never get the respect he deserves as a man who lived and died for his ideals.

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

Memorial park

Ernst Thälmann was a German communist party leader who was arrested by the Gestapo as a political dissident in 1933. He spent more than ten years imprisoned under the Nazis, where he was most likely tortured, before being assassinated at the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944. Check back tomorrow to see the centerpiece of this park which bears his name. Until then, you'll see more signs at Signs, Signs.

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

Naked man in the Tiergarten

I guess I'm just on a naughty roll... I actually took this picture a few weeks ago at the height of fall. All these leaves are probably gone now, but don't they look pretty scattered on the grass? And to be fair, you do see quite a bit of nudity in the Tiergarten during the summer. There are areas where nude sunbathing is tolerated, if not explicitly allowed.

Stripes on stripes

Serendipity! I was in the right place at the right time. This woman in the stripey sweater was crossing the bridge in Volkspark Wilmersdorf just as the sun was making those wonderful stripey shadows from the barrier rails. Hope you have been having a wonderful weekend. It's rainy and gray here, but I'm planning to visit the Kathe Kollwitz Museum later on. Hopefully they will allow photos and I can share my visit with you. Until then, you can see more shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.  

Two years in Berlin!

It's hard to believe I've been in Berlin for two whole years now. Blogging has been a good motivator to get me out and about with my camera and I hope you've enjoyed exploring the city with me. This is another look out over the Spree from Monbijou Park with the Berliner Dom in the background. I am loving this season!

Though I've only been in Berlin for two years, I have been a member of City Daily Photo since 2007. I've made so many friends through this blog and my previous blogs and I've even had the good fortune to meet a few of you in person. Here's to many more years in Berlin, or wherever the winds may take me.

Looking out

I somehow like the unfocused frame I got from looking out onto the Köllnischer Park at the Märkisches Museum. I've been searching through my recent photos and archives to come up with something suitable for tomorrow's theme. Hope you'll stop by to take a look. Until then, enjoy your weekend!

Fall in Berlin

A look at the Rudolph-Wilde Park in Schoneberg. I love it when the leaves start to turn.

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.

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.

Fruhling in Berlin

Everything here in Berlin is ablaze with blossoms. It's just wonderful! Hope you enjoy looking at the rhododendrons as much as I do. If you don't, don't worry, there's lots more spring to come.

Schöneberg im Herbst

A stroll around the Hirschbrunnen in Rudolph-Wilde Park is always nice, but especially so on a sunny November day. 

An Italian in Berlin

The Carlos Giuliano Park is not far from the Mauer Garden which I showed you earlier this week. I did a little research and found that Carlos Giuliani was an Italian man who was shot and killed during G8 protests in Genoa, Italy in 2001. I'm not sure why there is a park named after him in Berlin, but there it it! You'll find more information on Giuliani here. And you can get your weekly sign fix at Signs, Signs.

Marx and Engels

Due to construction of the new Stadtschloss, the Marx-Engels Forum has been all but lost. After some searching, I was able to find my old friends earlier this year. These two guys have always drawn tourists who like to climb up on Marx's lap and pose for a photo. This large work is a leftover from the GDR days, but there's something kitschy and unreal about it that I like.

A new friend?

I found this guy just hanging out in a park in Wedding. I don't know if he's a moth or a butterfly, but I like the colors.

PS: I am posting photos from my recent trip to Paris on my other photoblog, Halcyon Travels. Please stop by and take a look. You can click here or on the link on the right side of this page. Enjoy!

More benches from Wittenberg

I also didn't see any people using these benches, but it was a little cool for sitting outside on the day I visited. As you have probably guessed, that's another likeness of Luther. I hope that bench on the left gets repaired before the 500th Anniversary rolls around.

Spring reflections

This springtime reflection also comes to you from the Volkspark am Weinbergsweg. If you look very closely, you'll see the back of Heinrich Heine from yesterday's post under the trees in the middle of the shot. Monday is a holiday here in Berlin so my husband is taking a half day today to make a longer weekend. Although we aren't doing anything special, it's still nice to have the extra time together. Hope you enjoy your weekend, whatever you've got planned! You can find more reflections at Weekend Reflections.