Where to begin?
Once I returned to Berlin, I anticipated the visit of my loverly friend Jen from London as we were going to travel to Leipzig for WGT (Wave Gotik Treffen), a 30,000+ person music event that has been happening for 20 years. This was my fourth time going. But first we exposed ourselves to a little Berlin culture...
The Bodemuseum. Built between 1897 and 1904. Houses beautiful Byzantine art.
The Holocaust Denkmal. Constructed in 2003. Memorial for Jews killed by Nazis between 1933 and 1945. You can see Jenn in the last one, weaving her way through the undulating field of concrete slabs.
A section of the Berlin Mauer (Wall) I hadn't noticed the previous *3* times I'd been there!!!
The Fernsehturm (tv tower)
The Alte Bibliothek built 1775. Next to Bebelplatz, the site where the book burning on May 10th, 1933 took place.
Bebelplatz. Designed in the 18C was renamed in 1947 after the social activist August Bebel. Also the location where the Nazi burned around 25,000 books written by "enemies" on the Third Reich. This window exposes a room with empty bookshelves to recognize this horrible event. There is also a plaque on the ground that reads:
"Where books are burned, in the end people will burn." ~ Heinrich Heine
The Berliner Dom. Neo-Baroque architecture dating from 1894 to 1905. Notice the bullet marks in the last photograph.
Caught on surveillance monitors at Potsdamplatz U-Bahn!!!
And now, WGT 2011... 20th Anniversary. Jenn and I awaiting some good live music, then Covenant, then me in front of a clothing store window display welcoming the people of the festival to Leipzig and finally Homo Futura.
After Jenn returned to London, I continued to do a little exploring on my own.
Olympiastadion built for the 1936 World Games in Berlin. Designed by Werner March, in the Nazi architectural style inspired by ancient Rome.
The Nothing eats Neukölln... a huge storm that ransacked Berlin... came and went in probably 10 minutes. Pretty common here.
Street art in Hackescher Hof.
The Siegessäule - Triumphal Column 1864. As well, the Goldelse on top. The trees in the BG are the Tiergarten.
Cute cat and mouse door handle I wandered past by chance.
Wild flowers back lit by the setting sun in Mauer Park.
A sweet present from Momma!!! Ginger molasses cookies! Sehr lecker!!! Vielen Dank!!!
My Klappfahrad... collapsing bike. It's black with red splatter. And wee just like me!!!
This sums up my July Berlin photographic entry. However I do have a few other things to add that can't be captured on film.
Firstly, I started Deutsch Schule in the beginning July. It is an intensive course for 4 weeks, 4 days/wk and 3hr/day. I have one week left to go... think I'm learning pretty well, but still having a hard time *hearing* the words. It's getting better, but I shouldn't be too hard on myself considering I've only been studying for 2 months. :) In August I will commence the next level.
Secondly, I got a job! Although don't get too excited... it's not paid because it's a student film. However, it's a start, some connections and experience on a German film set so I can get my feet wet. The costume crew all seem really loverly and are grateful to have me and are willing to teach me the way... in GERMAN!!! And of course in English too, but it's a great opportunity I simply would be stupid to pass up. It will be challenging especially since I am also still going to school. From one to the other, when they need me, which might not be all the time. I've even started a small book to make notes of all the German film terms. :D
Thirdly, I got to DJ at Dark Markt. A daytime market catering to the gothically inclined, for lack of better words. ;) It was great, and I was DJing along side a Berlin friend and we will both get the opportunity to do it again in August!
Okay, now I'm done. Coming up next:
~ Köln
~ Amphi Festival
*heart*
Devi
