Two days in Berlin with the Americans and Angus returns home exhausted. He's arranged a hectic round of meetings with members of parliament and government advisers.
Tours of the Bundestag and the new government quarter. Trips to museums, visits to art galleries.
At the Hotel Adlon a dog that we think might be a PON but is a cross between a Border Collie and an Australian Cattle Dog (?). The Americans learn that dog owners will start up a conversation at the drop of a hat.
Architectural visits to the French Embassy by the Brandenburg Gate ( bland ), the American Embassy ( like a Hyatt in a St.Louis business park ) and the British Embassy ( won't age well ).
One of Angus's favourite pieces of architecture - a modern church in the western part of town. On a sunny day like this the windows glow.
On the facade of Goerings Air Ministry a cermaic mosaic put up by the Communists in 1952. This portrayal of a workers paradise a rare surviving example of its type.
A fascist era painting in the National Museum. We stand and discuss it for twenty minutes. All of human life is there.
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This dog is attracting attention in Spain :
17 comments:
The church looks beautiful
I wonder what the lady in the brown coat is thinking
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There are so many facets to Berlin - it's not always beautiful but an endlessly stimulating. And with all those meetings too - no wonder you came home exhausted.
Thank you for a glimpse of Berlin. Having never been there, I feel as if I have taken a mini tour. The church is stunning!
I first went in the early '90s, when the division was still evident. Later it all became so hip. I remember walking back to my hotel after the opera and deciding to cross a street--my instincts for safety as a female alone on a deserted street at night. Not a car in sight. As I crossed on a red light, I heard someone "tsk, tsk" from far behind me.
Such hospitality...these lucky young Americans will, I'm certain, remember their stay with you and 'The Font' as one of the highlights of their youth. I keep wondering whether you ever found a new housekeeper.
I'm sure you could use one about now.
From what I read, it sounds like Germany is going through some difficult times both economically and
politically these days.
What a fantastic walk through Berlin! Thank you for the pictures, as I am sure I will never get to those parts of the world, as much as I would like to. That church! Beautiful!
Who is the artist that painted the work in the last photo? I am quite unfamiliar with this. Good read ups for winters nights.
I thought it was by an artist called Muncke. Can't find him on Google. Have asked one of the American law school boys to pop in to the museum before he flies back Stateside to get the name. Rare painting because it shows a wounded soldier, two women looking embrassedly on and a widow in black pushing a pram. Surprising that the authorities allowed it to be displayed in 1943 - not the most uplifting of outlooks for a propaganda driven country and era.
Of course I was tucked up and asleep by 11. That is the time the twenty something were just thinking about going clubbing.
We first went in 76 and spent a lot of time there in the late 70's early 80's. Believe me the difference is enormous.
The economy is doign well but the politics are shaken by the migrant question. Merkel may well lose a major regional election today with the far right getting 20%+ of the vote. Plus ca change....
Modern architecture doesn't always work but this does. Even the chairs are designed to meld with the colour scheme.
It's a huge city.
Enjoying the peace.
Lovely article about the dog Maya, though the second picture and caption are heartrending. All very interesting pictures, especially the stunning church window. I would like to know the artist’s name, too.
Dog owners universally love talking about their dogs!
Will be interesting to know about the artist and the circumstances surrounding how the painting came to be.
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