Old Museum

Looking up inside the dome of Altes Museum. My yearly museum card will soon expire, so I've been making the rounds to all the museums that are included. I'll have a few more shots from here throughout the week. Hope you enjoy the tour!

This way, please!

I found this mural in Kreuzberg when I went out for my job interview last week. Apparently, there is a radio studio right in the neighborhood. There were lots of other murals and street art in this neighborhood, but I didn't have time to snap shots of everything. I'd like to stop back there sometime though (hopefully as a gainfully employed person). For more murals, take a look at Monday Mural.

Blues skies over the bridge

I recently made a trip out to Treptow and spent a lovely day walking through the Treptower Park and along the Spree. On my way, I came across the Insel der Jugend which was used by young people in the former East as a disco and meeting place. Today it houses a youth sporting club as well as a cafe and boat rentals. It looks like a fun place to hang out on a summer's day and I just might have to come back! For more sunny skies, take a look at Skywatch. And more reflections can be found at Weekend Reflections.

It's Friday again! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? There is a street festival in my neighborhood this weekend. I plan on seeing what they have to offer as well as playing a little golf. Hopefully the rain won't put a damper on those plans. Have fun, whatever you do!

Burning bridge

I was looking back through my photos from the Wannsee in Flammen tour a few weekends ago to see if there were any other shots worth showing. It's hard to see here, but this is the famous Glienicke Bridge (where spies were traded between the East and West in the Cold War days) lit up by a cascade of fireworks. It was really quite beautiful, I'm only sorry my photos don't really do it justice. Maybe I'll go back and do the tour again next year, but I'll come better prepared.

The fox and the ermine

I don't quite remember what kind of establishment this sign was for, but I found it somewhere in the Nikolaiviertel. The Nikolaiviertel is the oldest part of Berlin (though it has been rebuilt since the wars) and it's always fun to take a stroll through. There are loads of these old shingle-style signs there and I love seeing them all. Guess I'll have to go back and investigate what this place is offering. Don't forget you can see more signs at Signs, Signs.

Confidential to my brother: Happy birthday!!!

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.

Muskovite mural

Remember the Cafe Moskau from a few weeks ago? Here is a lovely mosaic mural that graces its (not open to the public) entrance. It's Monday again, you can get your weekly mural fix here. 

PS: Sorry for not visiting your blogs the past few days. I had a busy weekend with the golf tournament and now I'm preparing for a job interview tomorrow. Keep fingers crossed and thumbs held!

Sunset over Wannsee

Another shot from the cruise I took last weekend. The sky was so beautiful and you can see more of them at Skywatch.

I'm sorry for being so quiet the past couple of days. My Internet suddenly went out, but I'm back now! Another weekend is here - do you have any big plans? I'm playing in the club championship at my golf course. I know I don't have any real chance to win, but I hope my good game will be available. In any case, it should be fun getting to know some new people. 

Confidential to my sister: Happy Birthday!!!

Keeping cool

The heatwave has passed, but I still wanted to show how Berliners keep cool on a hot summer's day.

I liked both of these shots so much, I couldn't decide which one to include. So here's both of them for you!

Coffee, cake and more

Who can pass up the offer of coffee, cake, lunch AND magazines? Okay, I admit I've never partaken from the magazines at West Berlin, but their coffee is good. And look what's in the window - another bike! For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Sacrow church

It turns out, taking pictures at night on a boat is really difficult! I'm really sorry the focus of this shot isn't better, but it's one of the best of the series. The boat tour was really interesting and I'd love to go back and do it again next year. In addition to the castles and palaces being lit up, there was also a fireworks show, a shadow dance and a brass band.

This is the Sacrow Church which is famous for the beautiful frescoes inside depicting Jesus and the Evangelists. Obviously, we didn't see those - but the church did look beautiful all lit up. Hope you agree!

On the horizon

These colorful murals grace the walls of the Kreativhaus near Märkischesufer. It looks like some fun times are on the horizon for the kids and families that come to play here! It's Monday again and you'll find more murals here. 

Bridge completed

Seen on a recent boat trip through the Regierungsviertel. The new government buildings are perfect for capturing lots of interesting reflections. 

Friday is here again, do you have any plans for the weekend? I'm taking a cruise through Berlin's waterways on Saturday night. The different palaces and castles on the water will be lit up for the occasion. I'm excited to see it and, of course, I'll be bringing my camera! For more reflections, take a look at Weekend Reflections. 

Impromptu memorial

Visitors to any of the major European cities have probably encountered a Stolperstein or two, but I have never seen one graced with flowers and candles before.

Friends or family of Bertha Pohl must have passed by and left this little impromptu memorial. I rather like it - it certainly caught my eye and made me remember how grateful we should be for our happy and carefree lives. It wasn't so long ago that people were persecuted just for being who they were. It was a dark period of German history that I am glad is over, but one that we must never forget.

Strong bicycles

Yes, it's another bike shot. This one just seems so Berlin  to me. The name of the shop is Bicycles out of Steel - they must be very strong and HEAVY! You'll find more signs at Signs, Signs.