Street sign and lamp

 

It's good to be on the lookout for details. For example, I love the Berlin Bear symbol atop this street sign. Although I have to admit, I originally took this photo to show the old East-style streetlamps. Hope you enjoy both! For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Super decayed

It's a little sad to see some of the beautiful old buildings of Berlin in such a state. But they make for such great photos, especially in black and white. For more "old stuff" take a look at Rubbish Tuesday.

Crazy eye owl

I found this really cool owl somewhere on Schönhauser Allee in Prenzlauerberg. It's only unfortunate so much of the original mural has been tagged. It's Monday again and you can see more murals at Monday Mural.

Benches at the altar

If you are coming down the stairs of the Pergamon Altar, you would be faced with these benches. Unfortunately, the freize lining the wall was not intact when it was found, but there are still lots of really nice pieces. 

Here are a few details from the freize. 

As you can imagine, you could really spend a lot of time here studying all of these pieces. It's such an impressive museum. I hope you've enjoyed this short tour through the main exhibits. I still have a few detail shots, but I will probably post them some time in the future.

Floating head

This scale model of the city of Pergamon gives visitors to the museum a better understanding of how all the pieces were laid out. Sometimes you get more than you bargain for with photos through glass, like that floating head behind the young man in the Oregon sweatshirt. More reflections can be found at Weekend Reflections.

Happy Friday! Hope you've got some nice plans for the weekend. I'm sure mine will include more planning and shopping for the apartment renovation. Exciting stuff!

Missing something?

 

I'm afraid this cherub seems to be missing something... 

Dreamy statue

Somehow I find this scene amusing, like that statue is directing the people on the bench to stop their dreaming, get up and move out. Hope you find some humor in this shot too!

At the market

One of the other big draws of the Pergamon is the Market Gate of Miletus. This was taken when the museum was still open, so those people milling around give a sense of the size of the gate - it's HUGE! Unfortunately, I couldn't even get the whole thing in my shot - the next time I'm there I will definitely bring my wide angle lens. 

All of the pieces I've shown you so far are the real deal - not reconstructions. Back in the early 1900's archeology and anthropology became very popular and the scientists (or hobbyists) found things at dig sites, they typically packed them up and brought them back to Europe for everyone to enjoy. I'm pretty sure none of this would fly in modern times, but the Pergamon is really special and if you're in Berlin it's a must-see. This is my take on "decay" for Rubbish Tuesday.

Roar!

Here is another look back at antiquity from the Pergamon Museum. This particular work can be found on the Ishtar Gate - there are rows of different animals, such as dragons and goats but the lions were my favorite. I know this isn't exactly a mural, but I think it's close enough. For more "wall art" head to Monday Mural.

Almost empty

I was looking through some photos and I realized that I never showcased a trip I made to the Pergamon Museum back in March. I took a guided tour which was so interesting, we got a bit behind, but the guards were nice enough to let us finish up about ten minutes after the official closing. Otherwise it would be very rare indeed to see the Pergamon Altar so empty - usually it's a real traffic jam of tourists! I find the Pergamon one of Berlin's most interesting museums and I'll be showing more of it over the next few days, so please stop by.

Famous first

This is another post that was supposed to publish during my absence. Although it may be hard to believe, this is one of Mies van der Rohe's first commissions. It's worlds away from his later work on the TD building in Toronto  or even the New National Art Gallery right here in Berlin, but you can see the symmetry and the big windows that became so important in his later works are already apparent here. I've also got a bonus look at his gravesite over on Halcyon Travels today.

Doorway decay

Graffiti and general decay in a doorway near Rosenthaler Platz. Sadly, I think there are actually people living in these apartments. Although what is even sadder is once they are renovated, the current residents probably won't be able to afford to live there anymore. And then where will they go?

Liebe

I found this giant LIEBE installation at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauerberg. It somehow reminds me of the LOVE sign in Philadelphia and I think it looks fantastic in black and white. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Easter benches

Some of the posts I had scheduled to run during my time off didn't publish. So here is another look at the Arcades shopping center on Potsdamer Platz. The Easter decorations were fabulous, including loads of real flowers from the Sans Souci gardens. 

I've got suitcases to unpack and clothes to wash, but I am happy to say I'm back from vacation fully relaxed and rested. Now it's time to put my full energies into the apartment renovation and job search. And of course, I'll be back to regular blogging too!

Happy Easter!

The Arcades in Potsdamer Platz always go all out when decorating for the season, whether it be Christmas or Easter or anything in between! I found this beautifully painted egg in the shopping center a few weeks ago. There were also many beautiful plants on display, like these hydrangeas, that were from the gardens of Sans Souci.

I will be boarding the cruise ship today and sailing back from the New World to the Old. It should be alot of fun and very relaxing. If I ever get over my lazy-itis, I may post some shots on my travel blog. Until then, I hope you have a fantastic Easter and that the Easter bunny brings you lots of chocolate and yummy treats.