Has It Been TWO Years Already???

Two years ago, I had the honor of spending some solo travel time in Germany. It was awesome. I was there to improve my German (i.e. increase my vocabulary).

But looking back now, I realize it was also about continuing to learn how to live in the present.

The NOW.

THIS moment.

I made Lightroom galleries before of my fav pictures from difference portions of my trip, but now I have access to a groovy plug-in that let’s me do it here. In my Blog Glob. Yahoo! I LOVE some plug-ins!

So, without further ado, the Berlin part of my trip. : )

I definitely didn't see this sign 30-years ago when I wandered about East Berlin on my own for a day!

I liked this sign. "Miet me," a play on "rent" me (the literal translation) and the two English words . . .

I thought this work area in a post office near the Gedachtnis Kirche (memorial church) was really cool and practical.

Kreuzberg. That was the cool neighborhood where I had the honor to spend 3-weeks while in Berlin.

I spent a lovely afternoon here; I simply sat and read several kids' books about whales. : ) The next day it closed down for cleaning. Fortunately, there are many libraries in Berlin.

I joined my new friend, Zoe, for two lectures at Humbolt University. It looked different from when I was in college, but the history of educational philosophies remains the same.

Just a short bike ride away was Checkpoint Charlie.

It's quite a different scene from the one I experienced when I passed through the checkpoint and entered East Berlin 30-years ago.

And not just graffiti artists.

Tony and I visited Tascheles in December; I returned two more times, and each time I saw something different . . .

such as Andy Warhol.

Fascinating to see these posters all over the city; it felt like Hawaii was there with me.

See?

This groovy area had several movie theaters.

I decided to go see the one advertised on the right; it was really good (and all German as in the script, the actors, the production, language, etc.)

Thinking of my friend, Wayne.

I had the lucky honor of attending a performance of the Berliner Philharmoniker led by Reinhard Goebel. My kind hostess gave me her ticket since she had another commitment.

. . . such as this one. I got a special card so that I could go to this library on Potsdamerstra?e as well as the Unter den Linden branch.

Throughout the city are information placards which accompany actual segments of DIE Mauer, the wall. Germans speak of THE wall as opposed to the wall or a wall.

I went everywhere by bike.

Sunny day in the Tiergarten.

Sunny, but also cold. Luckily for my hands, I had on two layers of wool.

For such a large and vibrant city, there are plenty of places to go and find quiet . . .

My dear new friend also let me use one of her two bikes!!!!!!!!!! : )

Have you see the film "Wings of Desire"? If not, do; it's really good and a great way to see Berlin (the pre-wall-coming-down-version).

On one particular day, I just kept following the sun. You can imagine my surprise when I looked up and realized that I'd traveled hundreds of miles back to the city of my ancestry on my mother's father's side . . .

Thinking of my friend, JaNeen.

One day I ate an incredible dish of freshly made polenta with vegetables in the neighborhood Markthalle; all the locals were eating "cheeseburgers and french fries." I came back to give it a try; it was good, but not nearly as good as the polenta!

Glenn, my wonderful new friend and hostess' dog.

We went for a stroll one clear day to a nearby park.

I let Glenn off his leash so he could play with his new friends.

that he took off and jumped OVER the fence! Fortunately, he came back after about an hour. "Keine Sorge, s j," Elli reassured me. "He does that all the time!"

He was having so much fun . . .

Over a period of about 4 days, it got so cold that my water bottle would freeze!

Berlin is filled with canals and waterways of various sizes.

I woke up one night to this fabulous view. Okay, maybe it doesn't translate . . .

I had several cozy moments here reading or watching movies on my laptop.

The spacious Kreuzberg apartment, which my new friend graciously shared with me, is heated by a wood and/or coal stove.

Ze bike . . . check out the cool "chain." It folded up into a nice little bundle that tucked into the pocket under the seat.

Yes, it snowed on several days.

Thinking of . . . guess!

Late one Sunday afternoon I returned to this fabulous restaurant (known for its American breakfasts) with my new Berlin friends. Tony had found it in December on the "spotted by locals" website.

My Berlin family!

We met last December while playing charades till the wee hours of the morning; Elli generously invited me to stay in her apartment rather than rent a room (as I had intended). How cool is that !?! I look forward to

. . . reciprocating one day. The canal by Kreuzberg froze!

I was very conservative in my sliding. Somewhere in the back of my head was the awareness that I'm a long way from "home."

Several mornings this is what awaited me when I arose! : )

Thinking of my family in Pittsburgh . . .

Pretty neat, huh?

Three-quarters of a mile of THE wall remains. It's called the "Eastside Gallery." Many artists have added their 2-cents.

And like everywhere in the world where tourists gather . . .

Right across the street from the wall gallery . . .

The snow didn't deter this gal from riding and riding and riding.

A guard tower from the era of a divided Germany remains in Treptower Park.

The wall followed this path.

I'm not sure what they're doing either.

Can you feel how cold it was?

It's really hard to not takes pictures of the TV tower.

I asked her if it was heavy.

"Nah, it beats going to the gym!" she replied.

Nope, didn't have one. I don't think I've had a wurst since Tony went home . . . oh . . . I can tell ya'll are going to take that in the wrong way . . . lol

So many icons from one vantage point. Deutscher Reichstag. Brandenburger Tor. U.S. Embassy. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Apparently she's quite famous.

Her too. I asked a young girl who they are. "TV stars!" she said with a huge smile. Her mom didn't look too impressed.

Fourteen years ago, Tony and I just happened to be eating green pea soup in the museum cafe when I heard an monotonic announcement stating that it was the 8th anniversary of the wall "coming down."

There's an international film festival which opens today in Berlin . . . next time!

Couldn't help myself.

Made me think of Dūsseldorf.

Some of the graffiti in Berlin is amazing.

This "vacant" building has been taken over by artists.

Pretty long, I think.

Life goes on. Yes, it's a good thing, I think.

Abschiedsfeier/farewell party. I cooked up a veggie lasagna for my new friends, including Steve, on the left, who happened to be in Berlin for a couple of days. Earlier that day, we had a blast touring the city together.