Soccer mural

This mural between the babelsberg train station and work has always looked really awkward to me. I've attempted to grab this picture before, but have been thwarted by the sun, people gathered just in front of it, and being in a hurry. 

Picture from the train

I'm pretty sure I've posted similar before, but I continue to marvel that it is light on my way home. And then for another few hours. Yesterday, a storm was creeping in.

New lunch

I bring my lunch to work most days, but it's a little bit warm for the two soups I've been rotating. I don't really know how this bean salad thing is going to work. 

Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München

Sad bear

This particular bear is a little sadder than most of the Bears around the city.

Obsessed

I realized I didn't get a picture today, so here is my screen - I'm currently obsessed with the Hamilton cast album! 

Sunset by the TV Tower

I was tempted to treat you to another picture of sudewalk construction, but I thought this sunset was particularly nice. This time of year, I have to stay at work pretty late to catch a sunset on the way home.

Sidewalk construction again

This morning, the workers outside were laying the stones that form the sidewalk in front of my door. At this point, they were doing a lot of hammering to line things up.

This was much noisier. I think it's a giant sanding machine, or is otherwise designed to level the stones. 

I think they choose to do the loudest parts when I am working from home.

Ongoing sidewalk construction

They are (still) redoing the sidewalk under our apartment, so here are some pictures of the progress!

Berlin in summer

Yesterday I was showing around our friends from out of town - we ended our evening in a beer garden. A bit after 11, we were chased out by thunderstorms.

 

A bonus picture of David while he was out on his wooga team excursion:

Munich and a bit of Augsburg

We were going to tourist around in Munich, but the soccer-related festivities were starting to take over the city. After taking this dragon picture: 

We went to Augsburg for a few hours before the airport. Here's a selfie near the city hall: 

And an old guild house with frescoes from the 1600s (restored in the 1980's):

And a bunch of other old churchy buildings!

Saturday: Munich day 3

Here's the neues Rathaus at night. They were setting up the square for a victory celebration; apparently the local soccer team won! 

Friday: Munich day 2

We did see two museums and more architecture today, but our pictures were instead more related to food. For example, a fill your own bottle of wine station at eatily:

The seal on the wall in Hofbräuhaus (we just ducked in, looked too frantic to hang out in): 

And the Chinese tower in the English garden, which is in the middle of a beer garden.

Thursday: Munich day 1

An unfortunate series of events prevented me from posting these yesterday, but we took plenty of photos as we walked around and museumed. 

This is the museum Brandhorst. It's two blocks from where we are staying, but it looks a little more modern than we like. The exterior is super cool though!

This awkward sculpture of a guy on a pole is outside the Egyptian museum.

This is inside the Egyptian museum. The collection is good, but the building and exhibits were even better. This room had odds and ends displayed, but also had a timeline and informational plaques discussing history to put everything in context. 

The neues Rathaus! Super elaborate and pretty. 

Apparently, this victory gate (known as Siegestor) was originally to the glory of the Bavarian army, but then destroyed in WWII and rebuilt and red educated to peace. We were drawn to look at it after dinner because of the great lighting at night. 

Half a platform

The train station by my work is still half closed. Trains running every 20 minutes (instead of the usual 10) add an average of 20 minutes a day to the commute.

It would be worse if they weren't doing much construction, but they are pretty seriously ripping up the platform. 

Cleaner!

Thanks to a heroic effort by David, our fridge is cleaner than its been in a long time. Also, there are some pretty delicious leftovers in it!

Potsdammer Platz

We saw the new Captain America movie today, which involved heading down to potsdammer Platz. I'd never seen this little hut, located next to the old wall (marked by the line of stones in a lighter color). 

Taste America

David brought this home when I admitted that I get occasional cravings for it. My favorite part is the "taste America" label.

Live music

Yesterday, we saw live music twice! The first was during the culture carnival, where we saw a friend of David's play in a pop/funk/rock band (pictures below) and the second was my friend Brie's Jazz duo in a little cafe (no pictures this time). 

Sunset!

Sunset on the s-bahn, courtesy of David.

More of babelsberg

On the way to work yesterday: 

Sunny at warschauerstr station

I'm still surprised that it is sunny and pleasant outside even when I'm headed home from work.

Back at AIP

It seems while I was gone, spring started at AIP at last. This is from yesterday (and I'll try to remember to post today's tonight):

Springtime

Or yesterday, David took this one of our street in all its springy glory. It's now light until 9pm and warm outside! The only downside is the perpetual construction, including outside our window.

Water bottles

When these fill stations started popping up in a few airports about a decade ago, I thought it would only be a few years before they were all over. Sadly, they are still uncommon enough that I get excited to see them. 

Quiche!

This is for Mother's Day brunch. Maybe a little over cooked...,

In the sky again

From yesterday's plane:

Tucson at night

I forgot to post last night, but I took these pictures just after sunset where everything looked pretty against the glowing blue sky. My little iPhone does not do it justice. 

Tucson again!

Tucson is the most familiar place that I have never lived. I've made more than 10 trips either to or through, so I decided to stop counting. 

From the U of A campus: 

Titanosaur

One benefit of visiting the research side of AMNH is that I can see the exhibits too. We only had 10 minutes free, but a friend took me up to see the Titanosaur!

It was awesome!