Berlin: Dusk til Dawn

 

Like a girl gone wild ;)

 

 

Berlin: Touristas

My dear friends and I started our day in Friedrichshain, an artsy, student-populated neighborhood with fantastic cafes, galleries and bars, located in eastern Berlin. 

The next day, we walked though Tiergarten, hot coffees and warm pastries in our hands.

I was in high spirits in my new silk dress on the first warm, sunny day since arriving in Berlin. My only regret was not having a bike to cruise around on like the other happy Berliners.

We walked thorough Tiergarten and down to the Siegessäule.

Next, Brandenburger Tor.

After a marvelous day, we went home, took off our walking boots, had a large bier and watched the sun go down. Perfect.

Hidden Treasure

I love finding unexpected art installations. These pretty lights detect motion. We came upon them in the tunnel underneath the Siegessäule. Cool.

Berlin: Street/Alt Art

 Walking around in Mitte one lazy afternoon, we stumbled upon an enormous art collective, called Kunsthaus Tacheles.  The building and its function as a studio/squatting house for artists and punks has survived since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Now the artists who live/work there are fighting the man: the bank has purchased the building and is in the process of gating the property and trying to remove its tenants. Still, the energy and determination of the artists and community to preserve the work space is palpable. I've never seen so much art and graffiti concentrated  in one place. I'll be rooting for them. Viva Tacheles!

 

 

Paparazzi ;)

Alias

Haus Schwarzenburg. This art space used to be a factory during WW2. Its owner was a German who habitually rescued and gave jobs to the Jews, and our tour guide likened him to Oskar Schindler. His building was bought by the government and preserved as an art collective with a cafe, bar, and galleries. 

 

Natalie and our tour guide, Amy. She was dressed as a Leprechaun Bride for it was St. Patrick's Day.

Huge wall piece on the right by BLU.

 
Brad Downey.

Banksy in Kreuzberg.