Brazilian Bear

Or maybe not Brazilian, but found near the Brazilian Embassy (where the Diplomatic Choir is currently rehearsing). 

Xmas tree, 2016 edition

We finally found a half hour to decorate the mini tree. Happy holidays! 

Driving school and wine shop

Sorry to be so infrequent here! Today I've got our local driving school and wine shop. Really, it's both. 

Birthday!

I turned 32 this weekend, and we had a small dinner party. I took one picture, in which some of our guests are hanging the Happy Birthday banner (which was brought special delivery from my parents' kitchen)! 

Crowds near the TV tower

Spotted from the train, a row of people taking pictures of... My train? 

Berlin Elections

I don't think I will put up a chatty mid-week post, so in the meantime, here are some election posters: 

What election? I gather it's for some sort of city council AND for a state council (Berlin is both).

Monday's picture: die welt

I sing with the Diplomatic choir of Berlin, and we rehearse in the foreign office (Auswërtiges Amt). This weekend, we sang at their "open day," where they invite the public to see what they do. 

In case it isn't clear at your zoom level, the "welcome" is written in many different languages! 

In Kreuzberg

In addition to my usual sorts of activities, I also went to two museums last week! Today I'll do my usual weekly photos post, and tomorrow I'll talk about the museums.

These are all pictures from hanging out in and around Kreuzberg. First, a sign that was up in the building where I meet with my new choir (I'm now in two)!

The moon, a biker, and a typical street:

A creatively illustrated driving school:

And a picture of the Berlin sunset, looking northwest from the south end of the Oberbaumbrücke (Oberbaum Bridge):

Nearby scenery

To start of this week's pictures, here's one of the Babelsberg Rathaus (city hall), it stands accross the street from my bus stop on the way to work.

And then the Rummelsberg harbor from a run today:

And a memorial to Marx - I could neither read the text nor figure out what the pictures were about:

Berlin mural

I came across this mural painted with lots of Berlin landmarks - there was one from most neighborhoods. I didn't get the best angles, but hopefully you get the idea: 

Also, here is another bear:

And sculpture!

Giant air stairs

It seems to be much more common in Europe - and especially at Berlin's far outgrown airports - that the gate takes you on a bus that takes you to the plane. This is the largest plane I've boarded via the air stairs! 

Dog!

Dogs are on most of the transit, but this is the first time I saw one on the Regional Express. He wanted to cuddle my feet, and I managed to not sneeze!

TV Screens

Every bar and cafe with outdoor seating also seems to have a television propped up outside, presumably so one can watch the soccer outdoors.

Bike protest

I heard lots of bike bells and whistles outside yesterday, and when I looked the entire opposite street was full of bikes. The people were wearing vests that said GEW, and as far as I can tell I witnessed a bike protest by teachers.

Today in absurd

I bring you: a terrible idea for a chocolate bar: 

And a supposedly welcoming garbage can:

Swiss army?

This is vaguely Father's Day themed, as my dad always carries his Swiss Army knife. The street art version is a little more... Bizarre.

Variety post

First, a family of cranes:

Then, art in the club we were at: 

And David photographing an ad in the u bahn. 

Frankfurter Tor Tower

Yesterday was the first time I saw people up there!!

Sidewalk progress

Have been working at home lately got a variety of reasons, so the sidewalk was yet again the most interesting thing to photograph.

Just under my building, it looks fine but is still oddly roped off:

Further down on the next block, the sidewalk is still torn up.

Mini train

From yesterday, a short train. I'd seen these single car trains on the tracks, but this is the first one I saw at a station. 

I just checked, Jüterbog is 60km south of Berlin.