Berlin

[bjd]

It's raining outside, I feel like being elsewhere, so thought I would post some photographs of one of my favourite cities, Berlin.

After wanting to go for years, I finally went in April, 2008 and again in June, 2010. The first time we (a girlfriend and I) stayed in Kreuzberg, the second time in Wedding. We in fact spent most of our time in the former East Berlin. In June of last year, we went further west.

You will be able to guess the year from the colours -- in April of 2008 it was cold and gray.

Gendarmenmarkt, a square with a concert hall, a German church (shown here) and a French church.


These little boys were playing to get money. It was freezing outside.


Oranienburgerstrasse, with a renovated synagogue


And a monument in the former Jewish cemetery near the synagogue. I preferred this to the new one by Libeskind.


A church in Nikolaiviertel. The old part of Berlin, but which had been destroyed and rebuilt. Now it seems only destined for tourists.


Bears, of course, being the symbol of Berlin

[bjd]

Two years ago, Alexanderplatz was not under construction. I liked these Socialist Realist statues, but didn't see them last year.


And Marx and Engels. Behind them, you can see the demolition of the former East German parliament building, which was completed by the time we returned.

[bjd]

Prenzlauer Berg has become a fashionable area, especially for young, arty expats. Although, as the guy in the hostel in Wedding told me, "the Berlin you saw two years ago, is not the Berlin of today."

Former brewery, now a concert and cultural centre


Secondhand clothes for sale on Oderbergerstrasse




This bridge used to be one of the crossing points between east and west


Karl Marx Allee, former area of fancy apartments. This was on a Saturday morning, so not really lively.

[bjd]

Entrance to a squat near Kreuzberg


Tacheles Hof, cultural centre which I believe is being removed.


Bike store in Kreuzberg


Preparing Sunday brunch at the Hanibal café

[bjd]

Mauerpark


Part of the Wall at East Side Gallery, before it was renovated for the 20th anniversary of its fall




The wall used to go through here, although even in 2 years, there were fewer signs of it.

[bjd]

Two years later and further west.
Schloss Charlottenburg


Fancy shopping area on Kurfurstendamm


Apartment buildings from the early 20th century


Eating at the KaDeWe department store


and at Tegel airport


Cake in a pastryshop


Tourism at the Brandenburg Gate

[bjd]

Reichstag dome


Part of the new federal chancellery


street performers


These two musicians were there 2 years earlier


Punks on Alexanderplatz


and sausage sellers

[bjd]

Outdoor cinema


mailboxes


Beergarden on Alexanderplatz


Memorial to people killed on the Wall


Friedrichshain wall art

[bjd]

[bjd]

Kreuzberg, where there is a large Turkish community

[Deleted]

That is a really excellent variety of Berlin scenes, bjd. I really like Berlin, too, and part of it is because of the incredible contrasts. People who haven't been there don't realize how relatively huge the territory of Berlin is with its forests and rivers in addition to the city, so it is often hard for them to grasp how all of the pieces can possibly fit together.

Actually, they don't fit together at all because they have enough room to stay apart!

[bjd]

I agree, in 4 days each time, we didn't even get out of a few neighbourhoods.

[bjd]

Of course, we mostly walked, unlike these tourists who rented bikes and went on a tour




We didn't go for a boat ride on the Spree either

[bixaorellana]

Aaaargh ~~ I just wrote a long post, burbling on about how much I'm enjoying this thread, then stupidly pressed a wrong button.

Anyway, it's wonderful!

You really capture the vitality and spirit. I love the colors -- so much happy yellow. It's a shame those two Socialist Realist statues are gone, but perhaps they'll turn up elsewhere. Are all traces of the former government being removed?

Do you have any more interior photos? The one glimpse of the Hanibal café is lovely.

Are there many squatters &/or ad hoc buildings such as the one you show where the Wall used to be? Also, do you know if there is much poverty? You said the little under-dressed violinists were playing for money, but maybe that was to buy video games or whatever, rather than food.

Sorry about all the questions, but this is so interesting. I realize you were there as a visitor, but there are other people here who might know demographic details.

Bjd, this was the first thing I looked at on the computer today, and it is a real treat, both in beauty and interest.

[fumobici]

I love this, I think I would really enjoy Berlin. The street art is excellent and the general funk is charming. The picture with the Turkish women in the foreground and the young women in shorts in the background walking away is fantastic. Also love the ironic hand written sign on the entrance to the squat!

[bjd]

Rikita certainly knows much more than I do, of course.

The guy at the hostel in Wedding told me that 17% of the Berlin population is on welfare. Unemployment is very high too. In fact, Berlin is poor economically, compared to German cities like Munich or Frankfurt.

Berlin is a very popular place for youth and art and theatre nowadays. However, the hostel guy told me that all that, especially from foreigners who buy real estate because prices are low compared to similar cities elsewhere, do not contribute much to the city's economy and don't provide jobs.

There were lots of squats around, sure. Indoor pictures? Not many.

A nice bakery and restaurant in Mitte.


A Syrian restaurant in West Kreuzberg


The entrance to the building we stayed in the first time.

[bixaorellana]

You're a star, Bjd! Thanks for the answers and for indulging me with the inside pics.

[bjd]

I'm sure you would like Berlin, Fumobici.

One of the things I really liked was that in every single little café or restaurant, no matter how few tables or where it was, there were flowers on the table. Everywhere where there were outside tables, there were little coloured blankets to put on your shoulders in the evenings when it got cool.

And I also liked the way advertising played on the spirit of Berlin.

This was an ad in the subway for insurance, I think.

[bjd]

[hwinpp]

When I see pics like this I always think I have to go back to Berlin. The way you presented it is fantastic, bjd.

But I've always had funny feelings towards Berlin. I was all for Berlin becoming the capital again but being a child of and a great admirer of federalism I don't rate Berlin high on places to visit.

I much prefer other towns in Germany, Hamburg, Leipzig, Duesseldorf.

[rikita]

well i can't see the pictures right now as i turned that option off but will look at them as soon as i am home and with a different internet plan...

but whenever any of you go to berlin (again), feel free to contact me and i can show you around a bit...

hwinpp - i must admit i don't understand how being an admirer of federalism makes you not want to visit berlin? (not saying you have to visit it, of course, either)

anyway, to me it's home and it's a place i like calling home...

[gertie]

Really enjoying the pictures. Thank you for taking the time to post them here.

[Deleted]

I've only been to Berlin once - Easter 1989 - the wall was still standing then.

Hanibal café looks so familiar, I'm almost certain we had a meal there.

[rikita]

ah, i finally looked at the pictures now! really nice, a lot of them... i might start my own berlin thread at some point too, i will see...

[Deleted]

Yes, you do, Rikita, but I was happy that your comment on this thread allowed me to discover all of these great pictures again.

[nycgirl]

Great photos! I love all the street art, as well as all the portraits of locals. Berlin looks like a good time.

[bjd]

Thanks all. The friend I went with is going back for the marathon at the end of September, but I don't know when I'll go back. It's definitely a great place to visit.

[distantshores]

Rikita,

Did you ever start a thread with photos of Berlin? All of my ancesters on both my mother and father's sides were German. I finally got to go to Berlin in Sept 2013 and I felt so at home. I am fascinated with Berlin! I probably would be in other German cities and towns too I'm sure. But Berlin captured my heart! I'd leave today if I could!

[lagatta]

Sadly, I've never been to Berlin. Hope I get the opportunity to remedy that. This is a great thread and I love bjd's photography.

I'd try to have a bicycle for the visit, though.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Fantastic photos !!! I love Berlin but it's been over 20 years since I was there last, shortly after the wall came down. First time was in 1986 when the wall was still up.

Some day I will go back for sure !!!