Free lunch

 At our visit in Berlin in 2014 we got a tip from our tourleader you could have a free lunch in the Nordic Ambassady! We couldn't believe our eyes to see this sign outside.

It was a very modern design building, you could just walk in and go upstairs.

We had a very tasty warm lunch all for free. I am not sure they still do so these days.....

Linking to Signs2 signs

Monday Mural

 I found in the archives some murals I saw in Berlin, at the famous Berlin Wall in 2014.

Linkking to  "Monday Mural"

Berlin Memories

 I was strolling through my photo's and found this one from 2014 in Berlin.

There was an exhibition of colourful artpieces in the street,  good for making photos!

Berlin

I am still looking in the archives,  this is the parlementsbuilding in Berlin in 2014 we visited during sunset.

With a wonderful sunlight  view over the city.

And a walk around to the top.

Berlin

An oldie of last year when I was in Berlin on top of the "Reichstag", the parlementsbuilding.

Ampelmann

This is the "Ampelmann" (little traffic light man), the symbol shown on pedestrian signals in the former German Democratic Republic or East Germany. Prior to German reunification in 1990 the two German states had different forms for the Ampelmannchen, with a generic human figure in West Germany and a generally male figure wearing a hat in the east.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall the Ampelman has survived the end of the Iron Curtain with his popularity and acquired cult status. The pedestrian lights in Berlin still have this little man and it has become a popular souvenir item in the tourism business.

Linking this to Signs Signs

Hospitality

These are the buildings of the "Nordische Botschaften" in the Embassy district of Berlin. The Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland together form the "Nordic Embassies". The five buildings are built close together in a cocon of movable green brass blinds.

Outside was this sign to invite you to come inside. Can you imagine this ever seen at the entrance of an Embassy?

Everyone can enter the building, no guards to check of your bag, no questions.

We climbed up the stairs to the cantine at the upper floor, where a lunch is served for public. From one o'clock a.m,  after the diplomatic staff had their lunch, the cantine is open for public and you can come in to have a lunch served by the chef of the only Norwegian restaurant of Berlin. You can make a choice between three plates with delicious international food for only 5 Euro!, a very low price.
Well  isn't that a welcoming, we couldn't  believe it, we had a great lunch there in the cantine of an embassy!

Shadow Shot

In the Berlin neighborhood "Onkel Tom's Hute" we watched these social housing for workers, built in 1924. and now renovated. The trees had grown above the building and gave nice shadows.

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday

Monday Mural

Another one from the Berlin Wall. This must be President Gorbatsjov from Russia with a hammer and sickle as a car steering.

Linking this to Monday Mural

Shadow Shot

In Berlin at the entrance of a U-Bahn,  the German Underground,  the upside down sculpture intrigued me.

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Shadow Shot

In the "Neues Museum" in Berlin this handsom  man with unfortunatly one hand, had a nice shadow at the wall behind.

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Grand Hotel Esplanade

The historical Grand Hotel Esplanade was once a central meeting point for the Berlin society before 90% of it was destroyed during the Second World War.

The entire facade and and remaining rooms of the Esplanade were restored to their original grandeur to serve as an architectural museum. Construction works at the Potzdammer Platz because of zoning plans, the whole project had to be moved and the facade is now displayed behind a protective glass wall.

You can read more about the history here

Linking to Weekend Reflections

Golden Victoria

The victory column, 67 meters high, with the golden Roman victory Goddess Victoria on top in Berlin.

It is a monument for the succesfull Prusian campaigns against Denmark, Austria and France (1870-71).

Linking this to Skywatch Friday

Pink Horse

In the Sony Centre in Berlin, a huge crowdy  indoor hall with restaurants and an IMAX theatre,  I spotted this girl in thoughts with the pink horse dangling above her head. 

Angel

This girl was posing as an angel for her parents in Berlin. 

Berlin Wall

Another piece of the Berlin Wall I posted about last Monday, now illustreated by artists.

I am linking this to Monday Mural

Today we celebrate our Liberation Day. May 5th 1945 the Canadian allies liberated the north part of the Netherlands which we will never forget. When you see this wall in Berlin you realize how precious freedom is and to keep it.

Berlin, Weekend Reflection

I continue with the dome in Berlin of yesterdays post. In the heart of the dome is a huge pilon with mirrors that reflects the whole surrounding. At the circle you see here are pictures about the history of German polictics. Well we all know that history so I skipped that part. When you bend over you can have a look in the Parlements room below. It was difficult to see but the members were present to discuss the situation about Russia and Ukraine.

Isn't it a great reflection, our selfie you can see at the right on top!

And one from above.

I am linking to Weekend Reflections

Parlements building

We visited the Parlements building in Berlin in the evening when the setting sun gave everything a bright golden brand.

The building has a dome on top which is openend for public to visit.

So up we went with a huge elevator to the roof and the dome.

Then started to walk up in circles to the top of the dome.

We felt like bees in a Beehive.

On top I saw the sunset over Berlin.

Linking this to Skywatch Friday

Berlin Wall

I am back again from  Germany with amongst others a visit to the city of Berlin. This is a remnant of the Berlin Wall which devided the east and the west part of the city. All kind of artists have painted the concrete walls now with beautiful murals.

Here you can see the remains of the wall that went down in 1989.
See for more Monday Murals here