last trip: Museumsinsel

Tags

Berlin, museumsinsel, photography, photos, tourists attractions, travel, world heritage site

Today is my last full day of Berlin and I am taking it slow, trying to get organised for my train-trip to Hamburg tomorrow. I am packing my bags, repacking them and then packing them all over again, somehow I will have to find room to bring everything back to Dublin with me. I have had to buy an extra bag as hand-luggage to be able to transport all my breakables, yet ,somehow even so my luggage has gone super nova.

Thankfully the weather is cloudy and wet, a little like yesterday, so I don’t mind staying in and relaxing, mentally preparing myself for a week of family fun near Hamburg.

But while I busy myself with the mundane and rummage around with my stuff I can leave you with some images from my last trip in Berlin, my day on the Museumsinsel in the middle of Berlin. this tiny island holds Berlin’s most important treasures. In six museums you can find art work from ancient Egypt, the Babylonian era all the way up to famous paintings of the last century.

In 1999 the Museumsinsel was declare a World Heritage Site and although there is still lots of digging and restoring going on it is one of the main tourists attractions Berlin has to offer.

outside the Bode Museum, which is filled with sculptures

the large dome

wall stucco

a bronze bird

I think he looks like a pirat

stunning colour

looking up at the small dome

doors and doors

a marble Bacchus

a skeptical boy, sculpted from clay

I fell in love with this beautifully sculptured woman, burnt clay

walking towards the Neues Museum where the Bust of Nefertiti is … and yes she is stunning but no photos allowed

the roofed passageway

you could have met me here

a rider in the sky

inside the Pergamonmuseum, the home of some spectacular architecture ans the famous Pergamon Altar

walking through a Roman Gateway

even then graffiti was around … Latin anyone?

a Babylonian wall, no idea what kind of animal this is meant to be

walking back towards the Alexanderplatz I passed by the Dom

bright green angels watching over the door

a special exhibition is lining the streets of Berlin reminding everyone of the Nazis rise to power 80 years ago. These Pillars show the faces and tell the stories of those people who dared to disagree. many where artists, actors, journalist, but some where just brave citizens of Berlin

some bucket lights

Berlin lacht (Berlin is laughing)

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pretty, posh Prenzlauer Berg

Tags

alois senefelder, Berlin, frog prince, Germany, Kathe Kollwitz, Lithography, Märchenbrunnen, parks and playgrounds, photography, photos, travel, yummy mummies

Late Post due to internet issues!

If Kreuzberg (my post on Kreuzberg is here) is Berlins angry, alternative little brother then the Prenzlauer Berg is the prettier and posher big sister, and I paid her a visit yesterday afternoon.

Everywhere you look you’ll see hipsters, yummy mummies, pretty kids and men in expensive suits. They sit and chat in the vast array of coffee shops, restaurants and ice-cream parlours that line the streets of Prenzlauer Berg. Most of the old houses have been restored, renovated to modern standards and are sold as homes to the young and upcoming yuppies of Berlin.

Admittedly it doesn’t have the same kind of edge that Kreuzberg does but the atmosphere is lovely and the paths are lined with trees, flowers and beautiful stucco facades.  And due to the young growing families there are lots of kids on bikes, in parks and playgrounds, providing for a giggling, laughing, chatting and squealing sound-collage.

There aren’t any “big” sights to see in Prenzlauer Berg but as you stroll around you’ll find lots of little interesting sights to spot. One of the bigger ones is possibly the Käthe Kollwitz Park, the artist lived on the square and provided Germany with some stunning art work but also helped the destitute, providing shelter, food and clothes.

Another interesting person from the neighbourhood is the German actor Alois Seefelder who invented Lithography in 1796, which then of course led to the possibility of mass printing. Come to think of it, I probably should thank him for my job!

After wandering up and down streets in Prezlauer Berg I took a walk over to Friedrichshain (my post with photos from Friedrichshain) to see the Märchenbrunnen (Fairy-Tale fountain) in the peoples park. I had missed it on my earlier visit and wanted to see it before I left.  And it didn’t disappoint. A little tacky for my taste maybe but my favourites where all waiting for me: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and of course the frog prince. So, just like I did as a little curly haired girl, I finished the day with a happy end, prince and all!

flowers outside a shop

waiting for a guest

at the Kulturbrauerei (Culture Brewery), an old brewery turned into a cultural center

Liebe =Love in big letters

stepped on this

old street sign

Bücher Tauschbaum, a free book exchange inside some tree trunks

stepped around this

wouldn’t fit into my bag

renovated in multi-colour

good to know but you need good walking boots

a fruit and veg shop display

at the Rykestrasse Synagogue

keeping the signs warm and colourful

at the old Wasserturm (water tower) … during WWII the Nazis used it as a prison now filled with pie shaped flats

keep your shoes clean

urban gardening at it’s best

pretty in pink

a squirrel at the Käthe Kollwitz Platz

and a snail at the playground on the Käthe Kollwitz square

no water anywhere near on this hill, but you should always be prepared

ice-cream parlor

I found this wonderfully exciting children’s playground with a fire pit, a wreaked car and lots of things to walk on, climb up, crawl through and even a place where you could create … I really was wishing I was ten again

hand-made flags

a plant-pot

a cool seat

even some low hanging fruit, not quite ripe

at Alois Senefelder statue … his name is mirrored as it would be using his printing technique

up high .. wonder if this means the same thing as it does in Dublin

another playground

balancing act … on my way to Friedrichshain

at the Märchenbrunnen … can you name them all?

final countdown

Tags

Berlin, berliner Luft, friends, music, travel

Had issues with my internet connection hence the late post this was from Monday

I only have three days and one morning left to take in as much of the Berliner Luft (Berlin air literally translated) as possible. The song “Berliner Luft” was written by the famous composer Paul Linke 1904 and has become the synonym to describe the atmosphere and free-spirit of Berlin and it’s people.

For Berlin is more the way the German Jazz musician Roger Cicero describes it in his song “So Geil Berlin”. He talks about how Berlin is unconventional, very direct, a little dirty and with it’s very unique odour… exactly the way I have experienced it.

For me Berlin is loud, colourful, filled with the usual and unusual sitting happily side by side. People are friendly but a little rough around the edges, culture, both traditional and alternative, is everywhere.

Food is cheap, if you want it to be, but you can find really expensive places too. But no matter what size your purse you are sure to find what ever you hearts desires and taste-buds demand … every country, flavour, spice and combination you can’t even dream of is just a s-bahn trip away.

No matter what time-period or era you are looking for Berlin has something to offer but somehow Berlin is timeless, shops open both early and late, a day becomes a week and before you know it the month has passed.

Since I only have a few final days left to fill my lungs, heart and head with the unique flavour this wonderful European Capital has to over I think I’ll put on my shoes and take a walk in the rain and enjoy a bit of bustling Berlin from underneath an umbrella, something i haven’t been able to experience yet during this hot summer.

 

 

more aunty stuff

Tags

Alexanderplatz, aunt, Berlin, family, fernsehturm, neptune fountain, photography, photos, rotes rathaus, travel, worldclock

Berlin decided to turn up the heat this weekend and has become a boiling oven. Not the perfect time to be wandering the streets with two teenagers but I did what I could, sweating like a dripping tap and trying to imagine the north-pole, ice-cream and snowman-hugs.

Alexanderplatz right in the middle of Berlin

The 1970s Eastern German Fountain of International Friendship

the worldclock

even superheros hang out here

Our first stop of the day was the Alexanderplatz, I wanted to show them all the sights around the former Eastern German hub. Unplanned, as it was still meant to be closed for cleaning, we stood in line for tickets to go up to the visitors platform in the Fernsehturm. But since there was a long waiting-list for the lift we walked around the Alexanderplatz, went down to the Neptune Fountain, walked over to the Nikolaiviertel and passed by the Rotes Rathaus to while away the time.

70s flair outside the Fernsehturm

yes we want to go up there … 203.78m above the ground

built in 1891 the Neptune Fountain

someone scattered “lucky” butterflies around the fountain

the door to the Rotes Rathaus were locked, after all it was a Saturday

After some cool drinks and ice-cream it was finally time to view Berlin from the top, after all the Fernsehturm is the highest building in Germany and the fourth highest in Europe. We really did get quiet  a spectacular view even if it was an expensive treat.

inside the lobby

the lift … the little red light tells you where it is

somewhere way over there is Friedrichshagen

that’s where we went yesterday … how tiny the Brandenburger Tor and the Reichstagskuppel look

After that we took the S-bahn to the Ostbahnhof and took a walk along the East Side Gallery for two reasons: 1) to show my niece and nephew some part of their countries past 2) but more importantly because me niece wanted to take a photo in the exact same spot where Harry Styles from the boy-band One Direction had his photo taken while touring Germany … GIRLS!

as the good aunt that I am I even had a pen so Sarah-Ann could sign her name … *sigh*

After that I took them to Friedrichshain where we had food opposite the RAW Temple,once the Reichsbahn-Ausbesserungs-Werk = RAW, now a cultural workspace and quite alternative. My niece and nephew sadly weren’t that impressed with the area, I think they don’t have my liking for the wacky, weird and unconventional. nevertheless they enjoyed their food and by the time we got home all the wanted to do was play a few rounds of memory and go to bed.

some quirky graffiti on the RAW temple

even in the roughest place a rose can bloom

a uninvited feathered guest

even the lighting is a little “dirty”

some table decoration

Luckily for me they told me they enjoyed their stay in Berlin when I dropped them off at the Train Station, two tired, hot teenagers who got a small taste  of a big city. And as I waved them good-bye I have to say I felt more than a little relieved that my aunt duties were done  and was delighted that I hadn’t broken, burnt or lost either of them.

back in Freidrichshagen on my own … enjoying a little bit of peace after three days of aunty duty

aunty duty

Tags

Berlin, brandenburger tor, chocholate, famiy, Germany, niece and nephew, photography, photos, ritter sport, the wall, travel

Yesterday evening I picked my niece and nephew up from the train-station. They will be staying with me until Sunday and I am full on aunty duty, which with teenagers is no easy task.

Since I can’t stand the “don’t care – don’t know – whatever” answers teenagers have so perfected I did what every good aunt should do and dragged them around Berlin all day long, hitting some main sights along the way and tiring both them and me out.

even the man-holes give you tips on what to see

However even before we saw anything of interest my niece and nephew disappeared into the Ampelmännchen Shop. Now to understand this phenomenon I will have to explain about the Ampelmännchen. It is one of the few eastern German things to have survived the Iron Curtain and the little man wearing a hat has become an icon. He has even gotten company from a  pigtail wearing woman, after all we can’t the the guys take all the glory. You can but t-shirts, pencils, postcards, pens, soaps, tea, sweets, bags, cup, lamps … really anything you can thing of with an Ampelmännchen on them, probably Berlins most desired souvenir.

The nostalgic “Ampelmaennchen” from the DDR … now the must-have souvenir

Once out of the store, more than a few Euros lighter, we headed down to the Brandenburg Tor. Me trying to teach them things, they enthralled by all what was happening around them.

Right a the Brandenburger Tor

two dudes dressed like statues fascinated my nephew

blowing massive bubbles

From there we wandered through the shade (thankfully) to the Reichstag. I had asked for an appointed (you need one to enter the Dome designed by Norman Foster) earlier in the week and was glad it all worked out as both me niece and nephew where thrilled. We spent a while up over looking Berlin and I invited them to a special treat of cake/ice-cream on the roof-top terrace.

The Reichstag,, he meeting place of the German parliament: the modern Bundestag.

inside the dome, my niece and nephew hiding  between bars

looking out over Berlin

my Berliner Weise mit Schuss (Berlin white Beer with wood-ruff flavor) and a Herrentorte (a gentlenmans cake)

my nieces lavish chocolate cake which she enjoyed with tea

my nephew went for strawberry ice-cream and ginger ale

some detail on the old part of the Reichstag

a big balloon up in the sky

outside the Reichstag a reminder to all murdered political heroes

Happy and fed I made them walk back to the Brandenburger Tor to see the Holocaust memorial as I really enjoyed it with my friend. At first they were unsure but after a while they got it and we played hide and seek between the slaps.

the holocaust memorial

hiding or seeking, am unsure

shadow -play

From there we went to the Ritter- Sport house. For all non-Germans, Ritter Sport is a chocolate brand that sells there delicious goodies in multi-coloured squares. The reason behind this trip was that you can mix and match the contents of the chocolate and create your every own chocolaty treat.

chocolate as far as the eye can see

tubes filled with tiny bars reminded me of Willy Wonka

what to chose was tricky

even the chairs where square and colourful

We had to wait a while for the chocolate to cool and since it wasn’t far I took my niece and nephew to see Check-Point Charlie. This was the best know crossing point from West into East Berlin. Not only did they see the sign that you can buy all over Berlin as postcards but we went to an exhibition that showed what it was like when the wall was still there. A massive mural gives you the feeling you have stepped back in time and speeches from Erich Honecker (former leader of the East German Governmennt) and John F. Kennedy even gave you an auditory vibe of an era long gone.

The famous Check Point Charlie sign

some old pieces of the Wall reused for pop art

some old pieces of the Wall reused for pop art

the mural

As we walked back to collect our chocolate my niece and nephew where fading fast but I still had time to spot a few interesting things.

some colourful windows … the sun made them different colours

an interesting house

roadworks everywhere and the reason why we couldn’t take the subway

standing in our way – a big blue digger

some odd sculpture

Now the two tiered teenagers are fast a sleep, possibly dreaming of the adventures of the day . And I have to admit that I am totally exhausted from my aunty duties, my feet are sore and all I want is some sleep … after all I’ll have to do it all again tomorrow!

Sanssouci

Tags

baroque, Berlin, Germany, photography, photos, potsdam, roccoco, sanssouci, travel, world heritage site

This is the second part of my Potsdam post …

After spending most of the morning  and my lunch in Potsdams historical town center I wandered down towards Sanssouci and the park. It was hot that I took my time and was thankful for any spot of shade. Sadly that meant I didn’t have as much time at the park so am contemplating to go again … maybe next week if I can somehow arrange it Otherwise I will just have to come back.

Sanssouci (without worries) was Friedrich the Greats summer residence. It is often compared to Versailles, but is more Roccoco than French Baroque as it breaks with the strict symmetry and is more playful … for my taste overdone.

Friedrich the Great wanted the summer palace to be a place he could retreat too from the pomp and circumstances in Berlin, lead a simpler life hence the name “Sanssouci” – without worries, concerns, being carefree. Built between 1745 and 1747 it reflects a time when the Prussian dynasty was very powerful and remained the residence of the German imperial Family (Hohenzollern dynasty) until 1918.

As it is in Brandenburg, Potsdam was a favourite holiday place for many eastern Germans, with Sanssouci and its expansive gardens as its main attraction. After the reunification it became a World Heritage Site and is visited by more than 2 million people from around the world every year.

If you ever think on going, you will need more time than you think, take good walking shoes, lots to drink and make sure that your camera is fully charged.

entering vial the Obelisk ortal

pillars across the water

lounging nude

flowerbeds

a happy sunflower

welcome shade

the roof into the Friedenskirche (Peace Church)

two old peacocks

inside the church, pain sitting

lights

rows waiting for Sundays service

the decorative ceiling

pillars everywhere

hand painted detailing

around the courtyard

church tower

the chapel

a pillar made of bright blue glass

odd headgear

haystacks being made in the grounds

my first glimpse of Sanssouci

the scope is incredible, and no shade anywhere near

a friendly griffen

love the ribbon

weird looking pots ….

… and ugly cupids seem to be the taste of the era

blue sky

gold glistening in the sun

from behind

the Bildergallerie (Picture Gallery)

leaving new potatoes on old Fritz’s grave … or maybe the Irish were just here

main fountain from above

a mammy sphinx

more pillars

across the way the Norman Tower

mill detail

The historical, still working, mill

a visit to Potsdam

Tags

Berlin, dutch quaters, Germany, old town hall, photography, photos, potsdam, sanssouci, travel, world heritage site

Yesterday I took the train the to Potsdam. It lies just 26km outside of Berlin and is the capital of the federal state Brandenburg (former east Germany). And even though it is so close to Germany’s largest city and capital it has a whole treasure trove of sights to lure tourists to come and visit.  The biggest pull is the palaces of Sansouci (without worries) and it’s surrounding park, Germany’s largest World Heritage Site.

But since Potsdam has many a claim to international nobility and even was the main residence of the German Kaiser until 1918 the city itself is filled with impressive architecture and stunning quarters.

So since there was so much to see and much more to take photos of I have decided to dedicate two posts to Potsdam, one on the old city center, mainly around the gorgeous Dutch Quater,  and tomorrow I will show you what I found in Sanssouci.

my first view of Potsdam

The Fortuna Portal to the Senate

on a fountain in the old Market Square

the old university

I think you have something on your hat

St Nikolas Church

inside the church

this angel reminded me of my sister as a teenager

Atlas on the Old Town Hall

building decor

some fancy iron work

a stunning door

an old post-box

closeup

in the Dutch Quarters … I spent ages here, wandering around and enjoying the atmosphere, it was absolutely stunning

all of the houses have green doors and shutters

an old letter-box

a whole street was lines with restaurants

on a balcony

I want one

reminding me to “live”

a grassy bench

this one needs a lick of paint

both sides of the streets looked like this

and just outside the quarter a house I wouldn’t mind living in

on the Nauener Tor, one of three remaining gates into old Postdam

marking bicycle paths in old cobble stones

detour

one of many beautiful old turrets and houses lining the streets

like sugar icing

another town house

an old peeping “Fritz”

just across the road from the beginning of Sanssouci

Charlottenburger Schloss

Tags

Berlin, charlottenburg, charlottenburg palace, charlottenburger schloss, gardens, palace, photography, photos, schloss charlottenburg, travel

Since there seems to be a heat-wave rolling around Berlin at the moment I have had to just decided to ignore the heat and still go out and get things done.  So yesterday I braved the sizzling sun and went to Charlottenburger Schloss (Charlottenburg Palace).

This summer palace is the largest one left in Berlin and was originally called Liezenburg Palace, after the Village it was built in 1699. At the time Friedrich III, Elector of Barndenburg, was still just a German Prince and he built it for his wife Sophie Charlotte as a summer residence. When he crowned himself King to Prussia (wonder if I could just do that today… mmhhh), Friedrich I, in 1701 he enlarged the Palace.

After that a whole slue of Friedrichs took over, remodeled and increased the original Palace until it was today’s size. However it was badly damaged during WWI, most of the upper level was completely destroyed as was the back and many of it’s interiors where plundered or stolen from their hiding place.

But Charlottenburg was restored from 1951 and soon opened up to the public, its expansive gardens a great retreat for those living in the area.

s-bahn station Jungfernheide

some Plattenbau balconies

reflecting back

a pretty lamppost

my first peak at Charlottenburg, a glittering Fortuna greeting me

even the fence is very fancy

you wander in under two naked warriors … and yes the sky was that blue

at the fountain

a detail

chained slaves to symbolize the Kings power

taking a look inside

chandeliers everywhere

the only original ceiling painting

this room is filled with porcelain in all shapes and sizes

mirroring back the trove

a happy nude china-man overseeing it all

and yes the fart is being turned into lightening

mirror, mirror on the wall…

going upstairs

what a grumpy fellow

you could meet me here

properly where the servants lived

garden decor

at the mausoleum in the park, which was built for the Prussian Queen Luise
in 1810. She was the peoples queen at the time, beautiful, kind and died young

passion flowers along the way

a friendly goose at the pond

looking back at the impressive palace

standing in my way

a tiny little palace in the gardens …

the balcony balustrade

left behind

a walk around Friedrichshagen

Tags

Berlin, friedrichshagen, photography, photos, travel

As it was so hot yesterday I stayed hidden from the world most of the day and caught up on emails, wrote  postcards and read while staying indoors. But in the late afternoon I needed to stretch my legs and decided to take a walk around Friedrichshagen, the suburb I am staying in.

Founded in 1753 by King Friedrich II of Prussia it came into it’s own in the early 1900s and the main boulevard, the Boelschestrasse, is lined by beautiful old art nouveau houses, all beautifully done up. However if you wander down a few side-streets you will find some typical East German Plattenbauten, flats build out of big concrete slabs, and some run down houses.

This combination of old and new, pretty and run down is the perfect playground for my camera and I hope you enjoy looking at these photos as much as I did taking them. (PS. sorry there are so many, just couldn’t decided)

church square

happy (a little out of focus) sunflower

thanks for slowing down retro sign

hand-painted flower

not sure this a bunker?

decorative houses

peeping-me

on an old door

conker heart

lace-like stucco on the houses

I wonder how lives here

some pretty graffiti

I love the colour

retro-gum, haven’t seen these in ages

metal ablication

even the airvents are kind of pretty

squatting lion

more floral decor

another door

window shutter flowers

love the combination of wood and metal

the tram, sound of the city

modern still-life

open window

balconies on the Plattenbau

like a n UFO

creative pot

more urban gardening

rusting metalwork on a balcony

old brick work in need of TLC

thinking of my mum and her green fingers

outside the school

grave yard art-work

green lattice

a happy Bacchus

old window

even some Egyptian influences

flea market and late night dip

Tags

50s, flea-maket, lake, photography, photos, swimming, travellers

Today I am hot … too darn hot as the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald says … and I have been since yesterday. I think it may be my Irish blood, my fair skin or just the fact that I seem to thrive in the shade but I am hiding inside today trying to stay cool. After my trip to the flea-market yesterday in the blistering heat it seems to be the only way to not spontaneously combust.

As I hopped from shade to shade yesterday as I browsed the stalls I had to giggle at myself and the insanity of being out in the glaring midday heat. But my beautiful finds made up for all the sweat and heatwaves running through my body.

the hoard

a handmade lace tablecloth … a bargin at 5€

I was delighted to find this jug as my friend who I’m staying with

two old milk bottles from the 50s, both are companies from Berlin. I think the are great, usable mementos of my time spent here

a coffee-pot and filter, also from the 50s … I will be using it for herbal tea

this is the filter and lid, the insert is original … and all for 6€

a book from 1955 and yes I have been to all three cities … only cost 50Cent

the book are the memories of a sports journalist

three little jugs, I love the black and orange one and will be keeping it, the other two I will give away, but at 1€ each I couldn’t resist

As the day started to fade and I had admired my treasures enough I decided the only way to cool down was to take a late night dip in the lake. I had to hurry a little as I had to make my way through the wood but once I reached the bathing spot and sank into the cool water contentment flooded right though me.

I swam, ducks as my companions and the friendly full moon smiling down on me from his big round face, the sizzling sun of the day becoming a memory. The waves my slow strokes made disturbing only the flies and mosquitoes dancing on the surface of the water. The lights of Friedrichshagen were twinkling across the lake, calling me home, reminding me that it soon would be too dark to find my way back.

Today that late night swim seems so long ago but I think i will wander down to the shores of lake again to day as I am not sure how else t cope with the heat. Again as Ella sings it so well “It’s too darn hot”