tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16060382006850376222024-03-17T09:10:46.528-07:00Ilana TravelsTravel photography blog based in Berlin, with an aim to see slowly the whole world. Sharing knowledge about over 100 places in Germany and over 40 countries. And counting... Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-60166118831307329102020-01-30T03:54:00.002-08:002020-01-30T03:54:25.975-08:00A Guided Tour of Berlin State Opera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I've spent a lot of time as a kid attending opera performances, but my preferences in this musical area are very limited and I highly appreciate very modern - revolutionary I dare to say - interpretations. Since moving to Germany I haven't been to too many performances, unfortunately, but my latest visit to the world capital of opera, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/07/how-to-spend-3-lovely-days-in-bayreuth.html">Bayreuth</a></b>, is about to change this situation. As usually in my case, in order to be convinced of something I need a wise combination of culture, history and architecture. It's the only way it keeps me interested. </div>
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After visiting the impressive <b>Margravial Opera House</b> in Bayreuth, I wanted to continue with more similar encounters. Next on my list was the recently renovated <b>Berlin State Opera</b> on Unter den Linden/Bebelplatz.</div>
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The best way for me to get a better feeling of a place is through a guided tour, therefore I embarked on a 90-minute behind the scene tour in German - tours in English are also available, you can find more about it <b><a href="https://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/de/ihr-besuch/fuehrungen/">here</a></b>. The guide seems to be an opera lover too, therefore recommendations about the upcoming performances were more than welcomed. For one hour and a half, the ancient temple looking like building whose renovation costed 20% of Berlin's budget was a welcoming home of cultural findings that got me even closer to my culturally-filled childhood.</div>
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I am ready for 250 years of German music history. Inaugurated in the first half of the 18 century, and renovated several times Berlin Staatsoper is a historical institution as well. Destroyed by fire and the WWII bombs, it come back to life successful every time, attracting high profile music names across centuries, such as Leo Blech, Richard Strauss, Giacomo Meyerbeer or Herbert von Karajan.</div>
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Staatsoper's first architect was Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff who also designed the Sanssouci in <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/10/the-ultimate-list-of-top-things-to-see.html">Potsdam</a></b> and the enlargement of Charlottenburg Palace. He's mission was to put into practice Frederick the Great's plan of transforming Berlin and he partially succeeded: at the time of its inauguration, Staatsoper was the largest in Europe and Germany's first free-standing opera. </div>
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All the architects that remodelled the Opera tried to leave their own traces too, but the details of von Knobelsdorff's work are still present.</div>
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A short walk across the foyer reveals a good mixture between classical simplicity outlined by glamorous lights. A serious ambiance, indeed, which prepares the visitor for the solemn performance.</div>
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The cafe - closed at the time of the visit - is another elegant stop during our guided tour. Unfortunately, there is no way to check the delicious pastry that apparently is available here during the regular performances' program.</div>
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One of the latest architects that influenced the visual development of the opera was Richard Paulick. He previously worked with Gropius and overseen the massive post-war renovations starting with 1951, during which the representations were mostly relocated to Admiralpalast. Paulick, who was involved in the building of Stalinallee in Friedrichschain - currently Karl Marx Allee, was not so impressed by the flamboyant rococo fancied by its predecessors which tried to tempered with his preference for classical lines.</div>
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His efforts are visible in the festive space of <b>Apollosaal</b>. The only outstanding piece here is the candelabra which spread its glows over the otherwise austere interior.</div>
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The golden details still remind of Sanssouci though.<br />
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And the extensive potato representations on the floor remind of what?<br />
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Until I am considering the various options, our group moved to the opera hall. Part of the extensive 2009-2017 renovations, the roof was raised and the acoustics was significantly improved.</div>
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There technical teams are preparing the evening performance but there are no actual rehearsals therefore no way to check the sound quality right now.</div>
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The opera hall as such does not look impressive at all, but it has a kind of simple grandor that promises qualiy.</div>
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During the DDR times, the former <b>Royal Opera House</b> (Hofoper) become the State Opera of East Germany. The golden plaquette representing a proletarian revolutionary scene is there as a reminder of those times.</div>
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As our guided tour advances, we feel the business of the preparations for the performances. Everything is set many hours in advance, including the costumes.</div>
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One of the many advantages of taking such a guided tour is of being reminded of the tremendous work behind every single show, and it includes not only the artists, but especially the members of the technical teams, in charge with setting the decor or doing those simple things as the make-up, for instance.</div>
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The super sound-proofed rehearsal rooms are waiting to be filled soon with the sound of the classical music.<br />
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The 90-minute journey behind the scene was extremely informative, but also an encouragement to see a couple of performances this season. For the English-speakers, there are some good news: many representations do offer English-German translations.</div>
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<b><i>Disclaimer: I was offered the opportunity of a free guided tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own.</i></b></div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-47661438644832500282020-01-16T13:41:00.001-08:002020-01-16T13:41:36.895-08:00Kassel Slow Travel Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
One of the things I've acknowledged in four years of intensive travel with a little child is that the planning of a trip rarely works. There are so many constraints and unexpected things happening - tantrum, anyone ? - that you better keep being realistic and relaxed and get the best of everything, even it is only a very small amount of what do you wanted to achieve.</div>
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I wanted to visit Kassel for a long time, lured by the idea of checking the Brothers Grimm Museum, the traces of <b><a href="https://www.documenta.de/">documenta</a> </b>art happenings and various places of local history and arts. I finally booked a trip at the end of November, with an ambitious to-do-list and one full day to see them all. Which was not necessarily what my little travel companion wanted too. On both sides, we had to accommodate and the journey ended up as a pleasant slow travel experience. Unusual for me, but the compromise guaranteed a smooth trip and the chance to focus on the quality of an experience, instead of the quantity. Almost two months after, I am still thinking how to practically do this more often during my trips.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionXAaQ0MNID68hjR1SBwc1zXThasgf7_8Cm4H_jfUi6yo7G3usqIityDRWKcd1vg2mTjWswrMg_oserDXpzIcQ10DagQTUL0VvCabVqdgcb4_vXruWYpnfsavE2XyoH-kSxkH_8OjX8I/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionXAaQ0MNID68hjR1SBwc1zXThasgf7_8Cm4H_jfUi6yo7G3usqIityDRWKcd1vg2mTjWswrMg_oserDXpzIcQ10DagQTUL0VvCabVqdgcb4_vXruWYpnfsavE2XyoH-kSxkH_8OjX8I/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The train left us in <b>Wilhelmshöhe</b> area, highly recommended by travel experts and friends of friends living there, for the old charm and the healthy concentration of both natural and cultural sightseeings. My perfect kind of travel match.</div>
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From the train station, we took directly the tram that left us opposite the park entry.</div>
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Among the many new things you learn while being on the road with a small child and not owning a car is how to use the local public transportation network. It saves from a lot of complains but can be also considered a fast way to move from a point to another. As I had a long list of places, I purchased a <b>weekend multi-ticket</b> for just 6 Euro. I mostly used the trams which were in time and fast, and with good connections. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoAz00EnmyCZ2HbAm1zStuGNj2iCCjXQCal73NpcbbxGUowu7gWtVOeBi32DLR61fGwcND-jjY7qZDP-kaNY_D8szuwpm_QeRrREhoC6Vhzk50bKXNi7UhpmRM-SduWfdxMRTnLDPE3Q/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoAz00EnmyCZ2HbAm1zStuGNj2iCCjXQCal73NpcbbxGUowu7gWtVOeBi32DLR61fGwcND-jjY7qZDP-kaNY_D8szuwpm_QeRrREhoC6Vhzk50bKXNi7UhpmRM-SduWfdxMRTnLDPE3Q/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The autumn day started good, and the <b>Bergpark</b> area was entincing. Together with locals of all ages and sometimes their dogs too, we slowly follow the beaten path leading to the top of the hill. An easy hike during which I kept filling my lungs with the fresh crispy air.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg1wKrlqJ8bYxc2ZR1tz1mfHeWNXhmUJAOVVGhDKIM3WyF7ceMJTN8JaCSBloC-wHa6-imthMEB1oPW20Ecf79qDPEgm2hLOB-kXks06fgBz8uXhDo9IOv4vW5fzyE_sPSwfKPAC6ooc/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHg1wKrlqJ8bYxc2ZR1tz1mfHeWNXhmUJAOVVGhDKIM3WyF7ceMJTN8JaCSBloC-wHa6-imthMEB1oPW20Ecf79qDPEgm2hLOB-kXks06fgBz8uXhDo9IOv4vW5fzyE_sPSwfKPAC6ooc/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spectacular tree shapes looking derelict also kept a good company, showing how many unexpected turns nature can take.</div>
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After more than half an hour of walking, the simple neoclassical figure of the <b>Schloss Wilhelmshöhe</b> revealed its majesty. Built in the late 18th century, it was used as a summer residence, and nowadays it houses an extensive art collection. Since 2013, it is part of the <b>UNESCO World Heritage Site Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe</b>.</div>
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You need more than two hours to carefully admire the international art collection which includes, works by among others Caravaggio, Rubens and Rembrandt. From the third floor, you can have an extended panorama of Kassel, which was for me the only was as for now to see the city in perspective. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DZJzp1oov8LmWXtGDEXDxDi3MvRCkMbhKjy6kkBkqCwdt1sjcIng9s0at4HSBD5oWSKTjeFeVwTUmDHuQ6ljd9O5uuXVlGdumJgx3pCkbsV1qpC6gqpLu9hmMFgFov3ZNW-sdL0hlCs/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DZJzp1oov8LmWXtGDEXDxDi3MvRCkMbhKjy6kkBkqCwdt1sjcIng9s0at4HSBD5oWSKTjeFeVwTUmDHuQ6ljd9O5uuXVlGdumJgx3pCkbsV1qpC6gqpLu9hmMFgFov3ZNW-sdL0hlCs/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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You can easily spend one full day exploring this park covering 2.4 sq. km, which makes it Europe's largest hillside park. But due to time constraints, I had to skip the pleasure of seeing the massive Hercules and explore the many romantic corners. As for now, as I bet it makes it a gorgeous outdoors destination for the summer.</div>
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I have just another look at the details of the palace, snap a picture and hurry up to take the tram to the center of the city.</div>
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Which center, compared to the middle class feeling of the Wilhelmshöhe area, was an aesthetic disappointment. Most of the buildings are new, from a time when the building materials were expensive enough and cheap variants were chosen instead. </div>
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The main shopping areas are crowded with people trying to have their holidays presents, while the rest of the public space is taken by the boots of the Christmas market to be inaugurated in a couple of days.</div>
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The only presence worth a picture is the historical building of the city hall, in the front of which soon a protest for human rights in Iran will be held. As the protesters showed in significant number I couldn't stop hoping that maybe there is a good Persian restaurant around, which apparently was not. This is now I ended up eating some bland food at the Karstadt food courts on the other side of the road. What a shame...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUYV3vAb6-jo3M487hZNkXLM5ECefoFyNAgyOFNVWGumlkIXE4w1jsJq_M1lLmEDoAxy1LIIORVc_hAIohymcIxGm_6PiJfGxzfhoLIR_fIYTbxdmfF0MSuPOgTKui1T_N7kVVb2g8TU/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUYV3vAb6-jo3M487hZNkXLM5ECefoFyNAgyOFNVWGumlkIXE4w1jsJq_M1lLmEDoAxy1LIIORVc_hAIohymcIxGm_6PiJfGxzfhoLIR_fIYTbxdmfF0MSuPOgTKui1T_N7kVVb2g8TU/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The side streets are less packed and you may even find some remnants of the past, like the 15th century tower, <b>Druselturm</b>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOv-MF6QRCqBDsYX_tEa7y_YPiuFKGAiPLNhCLKQpySdwdfXGQpw5Uz1T-gFrOzk7KXxUykDLzk2_itqnYL5qNWuHIcMHndyxuxKCq5a3pbBaG5EAlPfPt92OfuSQQBQoXpEwPMSuskU/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOv-MF6QRCqBDsYX_tEa7y_YPiuFKGAiPLNhCLKQpySdwdfXGQpw5Uz1T-gFrOzk7KXxUykDLzk2_itqnYL5qNWuHIcMHndyxuxKCq5a3pbBaG5EAlPfPt92OfuSQQBQoXpEwPMSuskU/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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And, as just another travel dream, the time has come to return to the train station to get back home. As we arrived early, used the extra time and for 5 EUR. visited the <b>Caricatura gallery</b>, just at theWilhelmshöhe station. It exhibits cartoons on contemporary topics - politics, environment etc. Some did have a drop of humour but more of them did not resonate particularly with my standards in this respect. A matter of taste, of course,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw9lRAiSSV19DU-kMHJuI7iPMeayC5YofVhuSclpKRGjrLlRPKL_8AXk9_evXA-R04k3ZqRQn8CAjglMFQicHEwPLjZfnVhZfK4DuUbnspH1hUyEkQsqI8FRepce_A5mKvKPUuPXkunk/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw9lRAiSSV19DU-kMHJuI7iPMeayC5YofVhuSclpKRGjrLlRPKL_8AXk9_evXA-R04k3ZqRQn8CAjglMFQicHEwPLjZfnVhZfK4DuUbnspH1hUyEkQsqI8FRepce_A5mKvKPUuPXkunk/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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While slowly moving towards a bench to rest, the empty train station halls resonated with the piano sounds. There were different hands, and techniques and styles and music. The source was a real piano where the passers by were able to practice and play. For the next hour, I've watched idly people <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Jlo3bheAH/">coming and going in the front of the piano, playing their loneliness and hopes</a></b>.</div>
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The perfect ending to a trip that left so many open doors for a return. </div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-37599577126470352502020-01-09T23:28:00.001-08:002020-01-09T23:28:47.857-08:00Discovering the Mysteries of Body Worlds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
My parents wanted for me to be a doctor and having spent time a good amount of time as a child in hospitals and various medical facilities for my own medical reasons or just keeping company to various relatives made my familiar with the world of science and medicine. Although I made my own career choice - and proud of it - I was left with a sense of respect for the medical profession and with no fear of needles and blood and anything that has to do with medical proceedings in general.</div>
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Therefore, I was really excited to finally have the chance to visit <b><a href="https://koerperwelten.de/">KÖRPERWELTEN</a></b> exhibition, a couple of steps away from the iconic TV Tower. I've read a lot about the exhibition that started in 1995 in Japan, including about the opposition to it, as it displays the interior human bodies, a view for some might be controversial. Visiting it is a matter of personal choice, after all and no one should tell other people what to think and where to go - or not - whatever the reason. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynea-VMpdzMYS-eliYgpZI8QIykCf4XWTcWawKxW7oyxxjxpkb-IRhUao3wHHvjA-0MIP1g0wbdlXjl_5qxc7O8JkU0qCEHgNGYS8E838ona6PXkkDTDiWxSyO3xsxAood-PsHXI5LkY/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynea-VMpdzMYS-eliYgpZI8QIykCf4XWTcWawKxW7oyxxjxpkb-IRhUao3wHHvjA-0MIP1g0wbdlXjl_5qxc7O8JkU0qCEHgNGYS8E838ona6PXkkDTDiWxSyO3xsxAood-PsHXI5LkY/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Besides offering a throughout view of human bodies, the exhibition offers also valuable information about physiology and health. Many sensations and emotions we experience during our lifetime may have a scientific explanation. Take, for instance, the broken hearts, explained at the exhibition: 'Their symptoms are like that of a heart attack: shortness of breath, chest pain, anxiety and fear of dying'. A physical examination will not reveal any physical findings, as in fact the shock of a breakup or the lost of a dear one triggers 'an avalanche of stress hormones that flood the body and paralyze and permanently weaken the heart muscle'.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK7ksxa5xuhXHgmAaB8L6hyt82cETq4nTEKszFsov5EeQZF1rO2C5K1EVjaXW97PmL9oytUI5vhGB_frZ8AXdcpXLG-mHKV0AYp6gNFLxfMMmUP4knE5TCIBzbWpOVpWrj6l2lURmyLk/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK7ksxa5xuhXHgmAaB8L6hyt82cETq4nTEKszFsov5EeQZF1rO2C5K1EVjaXW97PmL9oytUI5vhGB_frZ8AXdcpXLG-mHKV0AYp6gNFLxfMMmUP4knE5TCIBzbWpOVpWrj6l2lURmyLk/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But more than various explanations I read, the view of the body in various contexts of movements is what fascinates me. The display of muscles and arteries, the complex structures hidden under the fine layer of skin is humbling. It shows both our fragility and strength.</div>
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Another outstanding piece of the exhibition is the <b>Fisherman</b>: The anatomical structures of the body are opened up and shifted apart. The spaces left in between allow to see the specific organs of what is described as a seated fisherman.</div>
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The details covered by the exhibition are extraordinary, going through the smallest details of the human body structure. I've found it very important the contemporary touch of the exhibition, which warns of the harm and changes to human physiology brought by the pressure we are under in our busy world, especially the daily stress. </div>
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The process of turning the human bodies - offered in this aim by body donors that expressed their wish during their life - is called plastination is lasts around one year. </div>
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It is a rich and thoughful amount of information one is processing after the visit at this exhibition. You can learn here more than in any classroom and it makes you take your body more serious. Body and mind are very well connected. Ignoring the signals sent by one or the other are a dangerous self-destructive move. The dynamism of our body shows in fact that we are made for life, but it is up to us to strive to keep ourself alive and healthy.</div>
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<b>Disclaimer: I was offered free entrance at the exhibition, but the opinions are, as usual, my own</b></div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-22156010885849246132020-01-05T03:19:00.000-08:002020-01-05T03:19:45.370-08:00Tasting Village Life in Germany: Weekend Day in Coppenbrügge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Over one year ago, I've seen some beautiful pictures of half-timbered red houses featured in a glamorous Instagram post tagging Coppenbrügge. I added the name to my list of places to see in Germany and this autumn I booked a train ticket there. However, a couple of days before the trip, while doing the documentation of places to see, I was surprised to not find anything. Asked on <b><a href="https://twitter.com/Ilanaontheroad">Twitter</a></b> and none of my 5,000+ followers were able to give me any hint. 'Well', I said to myself, there will be a surprise trip, I suppose. It was too late to cancel my ticket and unless high emergency, I refuse to cancel a trip only because I haven't found any online or print resources on it.</div>
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Reaching Coppenbrügge is not so easy. From <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/04/how-to-spend-2-hour-layover-in-hanover.html">Hanover</a></b>, I had to change twice, but listening to the names of the station, was not feeling a complete stranger, as it is close to both <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/07/colours-and-shapes-of-hameln.html">Hameln</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/07/discovering-bad-pyrmont.html">Bad Pyrmont</a></b> that I visited a couple of years ago. </div>
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Shortly upon arrival I realized that everything around looked exactly as my documentation about this trip: a quiet village - actually, Coppenbrügge I was visiting is a village part of a municipality with the same name covering other 11 villages. For a second, the thought of just taking the train back to Hanover, that I knew pretty well - as I also wrote a travel guide on it - passed my mind, but why go back to the predictable when I given myself the chance of one full day exploring the Germany village life in Low Saxony/Niedersachsen? </div>
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And, for the next hour, I kept exploring slowly - carefully to not finish walking the streets at least once before the time of my train back - scanning the details of the wooden-roof half-timbered houses.</div>
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Or deciphering the signs in the front of stores and parlours that were closed for the weekend.<br />
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Or trying to figure out the life behind the cute homemade white curtains covering the street windows of the ground floor of an old house.</div>
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If on the streets I've met no more than two wandering souls - one of them twice, after I resumed my walking - the family restaurant Bulut serving Mediterranean dishes seemed more appropriate for meeting the locals. Surrounded by a very simple background, there were over 10 people having their lunch or even celebrating a birthday. Even if it looked like a bigger fast food precinct, it has a friendlier customer service than many elegant venues in Berlin, children-friendly portions and accepts card payments. Prices were also good and my döner in pepper sauce with French fries was simply delicious. </div>
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The delicious lunch asked for more movement. This time, I am reaching the borders near the forest hills, passing near people walking their dogs. Another popular activity in the municipality is Nordic Walking done for groups on the surrounding hills, covering a length from 4 to 12 km. </div>
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In this part of the village, I am passing elegant villas with simple design, in the middle of green spaces, parking places for a car or two and open entries. I even found a small clean playground tucked between close rows of houses. </div>
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This is how village life looks like in Western Europe: slow life, clean streets, high-safety and predictable neighbourhoods. People may know each other for generations or just decide to settle for commuting to work in the cities, but nevertheless they know each other and are there to stay. </div>
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The inhabitants seem to be very much into hunting, as proven by the huge pair of antlers proudly displayed on the outer walls of a kindergarten (which made me wonder if they have some similar samples overviewing the children sleep or play areas inside), which is a popular hobby in this part of Germany. </div>
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Returning to the center, I am having a look at the old fountain, connected to the traditional healing waters of <b>Bad Pyrmont</b>.</div>
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The entertainment options in the village are relatively limited. There is <b>Woodstore</b> offering live music and cultural gatherings and a small bookstore where you can find the latest local and international titles. </div>
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There is also the <b>Burg</b>, a citadel hosting a small museum, a café and sometimes open air concerts. Earlier, a newly married couple was taking pictures in the front of the gates, while some families with children were slowly walking in the park around. (Indeed, everything happening during this day trip is on slow motion).</div>
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Although small the park is a beautiful natural venue, populated with spectacular old trees. After a little rain, the humidity soaking the yellow autumn leaves gave a certain feeling of loneliness and quietness that added more details to the meaning of village life I was trying to understand.</div>
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Although very old school in terms of presentation of information, the local history presented at the Burg added some content to the lack of details about this place (the entire museum information is in German). Besides presentations of local trades, I've also discovered that Coppenbrügge was a stop of the Russian Tsar Peter the Great during his 1697 European trip. Obviously, his trip was not only to discover the beauty of Europe, but also to settle some alliances and find some inspiration for his cultural plans.</div>
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The inner yard of the Burg was more interesting for its old touch of the stones and the layers of local histories added across centuries.<br />
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Outside, I wanted to take more chances of light hours to tour the streets and get more photo shots of the houses, which displayed a pretty diverse architectural style.<br />
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There were also small details that reminded me of the beautiful wooden doors and decorations from the Harz Mountains or <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/how-to-spend-lovely-day-in-colourful.html">Celle</a></b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP92kgThL1qCP7TFAF5XE85IIKewsomRvRmj1LcHsQKPorxgY6rBk3hRRx1xmUz-4shLSRT1C8Wr84iKrJmSWmDlskNgVpvV5b1K6Mrpv4Y5nSKUPJWDcYyi1vU38IUKIL0-Z-veyNo_E/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP92kgThL1qCP7TFAF5XE85IIKewsomRvRmj1LcHsQKPorxgY6rBk3hRRx1xmUz-4shLSRT1C8Wr84iKrJmSWmDlskNgVpvV5b1K6Mrpv4Y5nSKUPJWDcYyi1vU38IUKIL0-Z-veyNo_E/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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True is that part of the good impression was due to the late autumn leaves shades turning every facade into a colourful display of natural impressions.</div>
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Besides some classical chain supermarkets all the local stores were closed, which stole my chance of having a look at the local consumer patterns. With some time to kill before the trip back, I offered myself a long stop at the <b>Eiscafé Camilo</b>, where besides meeting a younger audience, I enjoyed some fresh waffles with fruits and icecream.</div>
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Not all my trips are spectacular, leading to fantastic discoveries and unforgettable human connections. Some are just like this trip to Coppenbrügge, involving turning round and round the same streets, taking pictures of houses and walking small compounds of houses whose inhabitants will instantly look at me suspicious because from the first and second sight I am clearly no local. Plus, I am visibly wearing a professional camera.</div>
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Such trips though, give me a grasp of humans and places better than any of my popular or glamorous choices of destinations. Booking my trip to Coppenbrügge was based on a mistake, but it was one of those mistakes I've learned a lot about.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-53642086789508334082019-11-03T04:04:00.000-08:002019-11-06T00:41:55.318-08:00Reality Mind Games at Illuseum Berlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I remember how after being to an illusionist show as a kid, how much I wanted to understand the tricks of the showman. When my mother finally decided to buy us a 'magic box', with tissues and some cubes and a pack of cards and even a magician stick, I was the happiest human in the world for at least one day. As I would have learn later in school, there is more science to 'magic' and the lack of knowledge is what usually makes the excitement bigger. However, there is excitement in pursuing scientific research too and the brain games could offer high rewarding for those dedicated to intellectual endeavourings. </div>
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My recent visit to<b> <a href="http://www.illuseum-berlin.de/">Illuseum Berlin</a></b> was a kind reminder that curiosity is a gift for all ages and it keeps our brain alive when we need it the most.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDBx287i8fpndPa3FRwAfWo4E-pGkVth2PTriwwCys5i9BjfiLBewHzx_URyiCocAxKyg6Z88HNEvHlqm7jShBPAw5Ks9jIegCLIMd5SCmskVbd7jt6xx4kFqyMx3zCQZycJCluqneiA/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDBx287i8fpndPa3FRwAfWo4E-pGkVth2PTriwwCys5i9BjfiLBewHzx_URyiCocAxKyg6Z88HNEvHlqm7jShBPAw5Ks9jIegCLIMd5SCmskVbd7jt6xx4kFqyMx3zCQZycJCluqneiA/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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I might be biased right now, but out of all the Berlin museums I've visited - and there is a big bunch of them - this is one of the most Instagramable I ever seen. It invites you to share your selfies and visual finds and there are plenty of them at every corner. You can find them here on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/illuseumberlin/">Instagram</a>, and use the hashtags #illuseumberlin.</div>
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Besides the visually entincing aspects, the explanatory part is also worth mentioning. For every 'magical' experiment, there is detailed information shared in Spanish and Italian besides English and German.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdH8KEcvKAkP5ppfV3NCDNO57vfWGsDuJ_bVe8nwdIniOWEM_zVoU9wIoHsBHmQBrqcIX_tDr5rqHx5z0Ogjr9icGim2EKECNzsSrkQhLJLQpU4UNsZwVgZcUgpU6pU4oGSQyY8HftY4/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdH8KEcvKAkP5ppfV3NCDNO57vfWGsDuJ_bVe8nwdIniOWEM_zVoU9wIoHsBHmQBrqcIX_tDr5rqHx5z0Ogjr9icGim2EKECNzsSrkQhLJLQpU4UNsZwVgZcUgpU6pU4oGSQyY8HftY4/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Recently renovated and rebranded, <b>Illuseum Berlin</b> is targeting a wide range of public: from small children to retired people, which made its offer even more generous - from children parties to team buildings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxzqXeB0jZmah9btZPKx5VhtBvprmV-0VN82lQrkfxuK8wvJBgPfjUBE4ftUM2m_ZA6BIHpiA3rnpIuL3sjw8UsxzkJCdlSsrGvQiqGVbaoDqwegpNvyjHurOPQkQI6UvWgs0f9opkso/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxzqXeB0jZmah9btZPKx5VhtBvprmV-0VN82lQrkfxuK8wvJBgPfjUBE4ftUM2m_ZA6BIHpiA3rnpIuL3sjw8UsxzkJCdlSsrGvQiqGVbaoDqwegpNvyjHurOPQkQI6UvWgs0f9opkso/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I visited, on a mid-day Monday, it was busy enough to wait for a couple of minutes the moment when you can experience directly one or the other of the 'illusions' available.</div>
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Here, for instance, you can put your lovely head on a plate and share the outcome on Instagram. No one is harmed during the experiment and you can soberly meet the rest of your body soon after. </div>
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You can get hipnotized, see how your companion(s) is growing or just disappearing, don't believe your eyes when you reveal the hidden secrets of the holograms or get really dizzy in the tilted room (it actually happened to me; just another occasion to think about how fragile our brains are).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6uepNFmXRM3MNAlSQgUUJ6dzNYWnH3INx9HR7FSBYpn3Mr2xLRXYT35HKVjKLpMbVcKmyvnUZSIhyphenhyphenGTFSJmCiw8SL8ouzFgtxZ-MZr6txC2ivBjJXHryVaw-IUVpJFSxA1w4lATW2T0/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6uepNFmXRM3MNAlSQgUUJ6dzNYWnH3INx9HR7FSBYpn3Mr2xLRXYT35HKVjKLpMbVcKmyvnUZSIhyphenhyphenGTFSJmCiw8SL8ouzFgtxZ-MZr6txC2ivBjJXHryVaw-IUVpJFSxA1w4lATW2T0/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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When life is more or less an illusion, travelling through the fragments of the mirror is a normal escapist solution. </div>
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Here, you can play cards with yourself in a multiple version. Just take care to not get annoyed too much! Keep thinking about that's only one of 'you' who will always win! Win-win!</div>
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As the world looks upside down, you can always keep playing the fool, although knowing that in the end, the change is one click away.</div>
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<b>Illuseum Berlin</b> - discretely located opposite the famous TV Tower - makes you think about all the options and get into the mood of the everyday science of 'magic'. It's the healthiest brain game you can offer yourself and to your family too. </div>
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Tip: Don't forget to take your precious cell phone with!</div>
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<b>Disclaimer: Gifted visit but the opinions are, as usual, my own</b></div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-67994131646856205572019-11-01T02:47:00.000-07:002019-11-01T02:48:58.594-07:00Exploring the Limestone Pits from Rüdersdorf bei Berlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I must confess I do have a thing with industrial locations, factories and<a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/mining-life-and-art-surprises-in-goslar.html"> mines</a> - a domain I know way too well as a consultant for various PR projects in the field of the mining industry. Looking at all those machines and industrial landscapes is nothing fancy about but the production system as such might tell an important story about the local civilization. As the ecological concerns are becoming an important part of the contemporary Western culture, many locations, some with a high pollution potential, where turned into natural parks, like in the case of <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/naturpark-schoneberg-berlins-best-kept.html">this former rail yard in Schöneberg </a>turned into a natural park. </div>
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This time, I am out in a place near Berlin, to explore a limestone mine and processing complex, that provided the construction materials for famous locations such as the Brandenburg Gate, Sanssouci Palace or the Olympia Stadium: <b>The Museumpark Rüdersdorf</b>.</div>
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Arriving there is a little funny adventure in itself. From the S-Bahn Friedrichshagen in the Northern part of Berlin one takes a vintage tram for around 15 stops (aproximatively 23 minutes). Additional C area ticket is required. </div>
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We randomly stop somewhere in the middle of the village, curious to see if there is anything else to see in this <b>Rüdersdorf bei Berlin</b>. For instance, the city hall, used as an administrative building since 1968, a former sanatorium and lazaret. </div>
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Although there are some colourful views over water channels framed by autumn foliage, I couldn't find anything noticeable to keep me away from the <b>Museumpark Rüdersdorf</b>, the place where I will spend all my time in this little village.</div>
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If you are arriving by tram from Berlin, the station closest to the Museumpark is <b>Heinizstraße</b>, from where you just have to follow the directions until the entrance. The basic entrance costs 6 Euro, with the possibility of booking special historical or geological - searching for fossils is a recommended activity here - tours that high-up the price to an average of 15 euro. The program varies up to the seasons as follows: April to October, daily from 10.00 to 18.00, and November to March, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 to 16.00.</div>
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First time first, we are hungry and we make a generous stop at the small restaurant strategically located near the entrance. We are announced that there is no fried oil involved in the preparation of meals - no French fries, for instance. The hot veggie soup is bringing back all the good travel energies, while the burger builds up the proteins - wish the bread is a bit fresh tough. The prices probably takes into account that it's probably the only place around where you can eat.</div>
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Time to stop complaining about the economic challenges of German restaurant and start exploring instead! At the first sight, the location looks like an abandoned complex of castles and fortifications. In fact, every part of this park is a witness of the advanced technologies applied for the extraction of the shell limestone (Muskelkalk). Usually, those materials are hidden a couple of hundreds meters below ground. In the case of Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, an unique case in the geological context of this part of Germanny, the limestone is very close to the surface. </div>
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Tunnels and channels connected with the limestone quarry were created during the mandate of the Mining minister Anton von Heinitz (whose name is given to the street where the Museumpark is located), at the beginning of the 19th century.</div>
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Aqueducts like massive constructions are magnifying the architectural landscape, whose overwhelming impression is tempered only by the expansive nature. </div>
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I've visited a couple of interesting mining locations in the last years, mostly in Europe, and there is always a feeling of desolation while facing the geological view left behind after years of intensive exploatation.</div>
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Inside the tunnels, we are having a glimpse on the various stages of the production system.<br />
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Here, at the very beginning of the 19th century, the first Rumfort kilns, a completely new type of pit furnaces were introduced. What is specific about those pits is that they have individual chambers for the limestone and the fuels, run permanently, a clear sign of the industrialization of lime processing, at a time when the demand for lime was extremely high in Berlin, given the constant expansion of the city.</div>
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There are a couple of panorama points that can offer an overview of the park area, but for me, <b>Glochenturm Panorama</b> is one of the best.</div>
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Situated on the top of a small hill, you can see the exploatation area from above. It still looks as desolate as it looks from the ground though. </div>
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After being out of intensive use for decades, the natural balance was reestablished it seems, as the huge mushrooms - typical apparitions for the Brandenburg area - are taking over the tree base.</div>
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If you visit the <b>Museumpark Rüdersdorf</b> with children, there are a couple of entertainment activities for the little ones. There is a small petting zoo where you can feed the sturdy goats, two playgrounds and a lot of climbing opportunities. For those at the teen age, you can rent go-karts, e-bikes, bikes or canoes. </div>
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And it is even more: there are event locations that can be rented. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the limestone quarries were a popular background for the German film industry. It continues to be so, as here were also filmed sceneries from the <b>Inglorious Basterds</b> or the local German productions <b>Terra X</b> and <b>Wanderhure</b>.</div>
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Remants of the former production system are left in the middle of the fields, like outdoor sculptures of modern art. Kids might be tempted to climb on while adults can be curious to touch various parts figuring out - when the detailed information files are not provided - what those machines were used for.</div>
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Even not necessarily interested about industry stories, a walk around is a pleasant way to spend a sunny day - we've been there for around four hours. If it's raining, you better don't visit as there are not too many places where you can hide, unless you go for a Land Rover tour. For those keen for walking - as I do - normalsport shoes will make the steps counting for the day pleasant.</div>
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Imagine you have no idea where you are, what those conycal structures are used for. How would you describe this view?<br />
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Temples of the industrial life, maybe, testimonies of a time when the industrial revolution gave so many hopes and offered so many chances for a better future of the humanity.<br />
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The abandonned concrete monsters are deserted now. Graffiti scribbling - nothing outstanding about the street art here - include them automatically in the category of 'quirky', without joining though many of those abandoned places that fascinated the visitors of Germany, especially of Berlin for such a long time, like <b>Teufelsberg</b> or <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/07/up-in-sky-walking-over-trees-in-beelitz.html">Beelitz</a></b>. </div>
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And there is even more to nurture your reflections on modern art and its efforts to give a special symbolism to average human - including industrial - activities.</div>
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Personally, I wish there is there a small museum at least, where I can get more insights about the production experiences and eventually a movie or live presentation of the different stages of the limestone extraction. As for now, there are audio-guides available at entrance where one can get the right context of the locations visited. Maybe I'm too nerdy and curious.</div>
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17 hectares of park later, we are leaving Rüdersdorf bei Berlin energized by the nature walking but with also some new knowledge about industrial architecture - my favorite German architect Schinkel contributed to some of the constructions as well - but also about ways in which old industries can be kept into the public memory. </div>
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This <b>Museumpark</b> was an interesting beginning to explore more similar locations in Germany and as I'm writing this, I am already doing a bit of research for my future industrially-themed travel plans.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-3136848930649131002019-09-26T08:35:00.002-07:002019-09-26T08:35:14.767-07:00How to Spend a Lovely Day in the Colourful Stade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
As a regular visitor to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/search?q=Hamburg">Hamburg</a></b>, I am always looking for the local recommendations for one-day trips. After I've been to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/salty-middle-ages-impressions-in.html">Lüneburg</a></b> a couple of years ago - and really enjoyed it - this time I finally have the chance to make the one-hour trip with S-Bahn to the colourful city of Stade.</div>
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It is a lovely sunny Indian summer day, and like in Hamburg, everyone is out enjoying, everyone's its own way. And abilities. Paddling is one of it, but if you are into romantic tours, you can even have your own gondola for a water tour. I am skipping those experiences for this time though.</div>
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I've been told a lot by my friends about the classical red-bricked buildings and Hanseatic style of Stade, but during my first minutes here I am having a look at the street art instead, done on a so-called 'legal wall' - the only urban space where the street artists are allowed to display their art skills. It looks moderately fine. </div>
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The day is busy not only on the waters, but also outdoors. It's a city festival taking place and some of the old buildings are obstructed by colourful panels offering entertainment for children.<br />
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With so many events taking place, the central area of <b>Pferdemarkt </b>is crowded with stalls offering various local treats and entertainment. However, the side streets like Poststraße are so quiet that you can hear your steps on the cobblestone. The predominant colour of the buildings is red, and the bricks were aimed to diminish the risk of fire that consumed parts of the city more than once. </div>
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The late Renaissance entry of the <b>City Hall </b>on<b> Hökerstraße </b>is a representative construction for Stade. It was built in the second half of the 17th century, on the ruins of the previous 13th century building, and rather looks like a local middle class palace than an administrative building.</div>
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As it is weekend, I cannot visit the interior, with its wooden staircases and the stained glass windows. Maybe a next time.</div>
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Meanwhile, I have plenty of time to stroll the narrow streets with the shops and small restaurants hosted at the ground level of half-timbered houses. There are plenty of local products and vintage stores and some small art galleries too. At Stader FachMarkt on <b>Große Schmiedestraße</b> I chat shortly with the owners about the selection of local products: among others, apple curry, cider and honey. Apple is a staple in the area of <b>Alte Land</b>, surrounding Stade, which are the main ingredients not only of various types of local cakes and jams, but also of brandies or even soups. On my to-eat list for a next visit. </div>
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But before I am finding a place to eat - get ready with cash, as I tried at least seven places and cards were always forbidden fruits - I am enjoying a bit more the sun blessings. Finding a free place on <b>Fishmarkt</b> is mission impossible so I prefer to keep exploring more side streets.</div>
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And I am hardly disappointed, as I have always a weakness for colourful doors.<br />
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On the other side of the old city, the clean geometry of the modern buildings guarded by elegant boats is reflected into the water.</div>
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Although I am a big lover of everything modern architecture, this time I am more into discovering the old spirit of this Hanseatic little town, with its tradesmen houses.<br />
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And some hidden symbols displayed at the entrances, whose meaning I am too much in a hurry to decipher. Looks like a good beginning of a novel in Dan Brown' style.</div>
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Personally, I am more keen to decipher the beautiful combination of seasonal vegetables in my lasagna I am treating myself at <b>Cafe im Goebenhaus</b>, considered among Germany's best eateries. My order, a choice from a handwritten menu, is taken fast, and brought even faster, the meal is well balanced and genuinely tasty and the lemonade is one of the best I've had in Germany - which means still far from my standards. </div>
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But Stade has more than nice foodie places and colourful doors. There is also a museum to see, <b>Schwedenspeiche</b>, a former warehouse used by the Swedish Army during the 30 years war in the 17th century. Swedish nostalgics can also have a Swedish meal at the <b>Saltkran</b>, a pretty eatery in the old city area.</div>
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Still, with the warm season at the very deadly end, I prefer to stay as much as possible outdoors, enjoying the views of just another pair of colourful doors...</div>
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...or some beautiful Baroque-style light orange building.<br />
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When the intensive noise of the bells announces me it is a quarter before...my train is leaving the station, I feel that I would love to spend more time here. I wanted so long to meet Stade and was happy for the encounter. From now on, I know where I can go when I am spending just another long weekend in my lovely Hamburg.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-66344848936114351712019-09-13T03:07:00.004-07:002019-09-13T03:07:57.524-07:00Family Fun at Koserow Adventure Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
What you do when on your way back from <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/09/how-to-get-best-of-surprise-trip-to.html">Ückeritz</a></b>, you have around two hours to kill until your connection to Berlin? You go a couple of stations away to Koserow Erlebnis Dorf. The fun is just about to begin!</div>
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It is build following the same concept of<b> <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/05/family-fun-in-strawberry-village-of.html">Elstal Strawberry Village</a> </b>near Berlin that I've visited twice and it offers a combination between old village-bound traditions and modern fun, with a strong strawberry scent - and taste too! The entrance is free, and you pay only for the different experiences. The prices are relatively low - starting from 2 Euro, but as there are many temptations around, expect to pay at least 20 EUR.</div>
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First, you go through a huge covered market hall, with walls plastered in shelves with teacups and teapots of different sizes and colours. One of my favorite views in Elstal.</div>
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On the ground, you are surrounded with various products made of strawberry, and marmalade is, indeed, one of the tastiest ones. The prices are moderate but it's hard to resist the temptation of purchasing more than - at least - three items. After all, the winter is coming and you need to feed the little bears a lot of tasty marmalade!</div>
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Outdoors, the yard is decorated with - not surprisingly - strawberry-related themes, but it goes beyond it: you have small water parks for the little ones and slides from the top of a wooden tower for the courageous big ones. Meanwhile, the parents can overview the activities while sipping some strawberry syrup or eating some strawberry cake...You got it!</div>
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Personally, we were happy to meet some funny musicians that we know already from Elstal.<br />
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A round tour with the tractor was also a much appreciated choice. The same for the pony tour that we enjoyed way too much to take a picture anyway.<br />
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The small indoors spaces where you can order various sweets and savory fast meals creates a warm mountain cottage ambiance. It's such a good feeling that you hardly want to leave.<br />
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But especially for city-children, such places are more than an opportunity to learn basic knowledge and skills about village life. How the milk is made, for instance, or how to make bread or how life looks like in the traditional countryside.<br />
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Adults - especially those who did not grow up in the German lands - learn something here too. Like, how big can a <b>Rumtopf</b> - <i>rum pot</i> for the English-speaking readers, where mixed fruit and alcohol are spending some time together before being served around the winter holidays' time - be. </div>
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<b><i>Erdbeerebratwust </i></b>anyone? (Which in plain English translation means<b><i> strawberry sausage</i></b>, yep)<br />
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Or just some touch of strawberry mustard - <b><i>Erdbeer Senf </i></b>- as for now?<br />
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Fortunatelly for the average visitors as we are, there are also some 'normal' choices and we are back in the market hall for some good strawberry supplies, while watching how some bonbons are made - a fascinating experience for both adults and children - or for some chocolate tasting too.</div>
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<b>Koserow Adventure Park</b> was a great choice and we had two hours well spent. As such 'Erlebnis Park' are in many places in Germany, we are looking forward to trying at least a couple of them more in the next months. It's genuine simple fun and why refuse such an opportunity!?</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-26349419128051013842019-09-07T04:22:00.000-07:002019-09-07T04:22:11.489-07:00How to Get the Best of a Surprise Trip to Ückeritz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
What could you do when you wake up very early in the morning heading to the beautiful Hamburg you have dreamed about all the week and you suddenly discover that your train have been cancelled? Solving crisis is my favorite professional assignment and in less than 10 minutes and a couple of fast Google searches, a new destination was found:<b> Ückeritz</b>, in <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/2-days-in-usedom.html">Usedom</a></b>. Cheap ticket, train coming in 30 minutes, close enough to Berlin to make it into a one-day trip. So what if instead of an adventurous day in Hamburg I will spend the next hours at the Ostsee? And how could I forget that I haven't seen the see this summer?</div>
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Problem solved.</div>
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The train was full of bikers, the landscape quiet with white-and-black cow spots everywhere. It is close to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/10/top-things-to-do-in-anklam-germany.html">Anklam</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/10/how-to-spend-one-day-trip-to-greifswald.html">Greifswald</a></b>, so I am not completely into foreign lands. We are out of the train, which almost tempted me to take it for another of stations more until Poland, but...no, need to stay focused. </div>
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Around the train station there is nothing interesting to look around, except some beer gardens which are not tempting me too much as I dream of having lunch with a view over the sea. Driven by those hungry thoughts, I am walking and walking and walking for a couple of good minutes, on the concrete bordered by trees and following the line of families carrying besides children, colourful inflatable toys - pink flamingos are there too, of course, or bikers fully dressed in the lycra suits. </div>
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When I was really becoming impatient - being patient doesn't count among my character features - I walk for another 5 minutes, follow another arrow and I can see the sand and the sea and the staple beach chairs - <b>Strandkörbe</b>, as they are locally called.</div>
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You can book your chair with wlan, if necessary. The beach is full of people - more or less dressed, but this is the cultural code, especially in the East and I am trying to get used with it, dogs and toys. The very white sand, typical to Ückeritz according to various reviews, is ligthning the mood and the landscae.</div>
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There are no big waves and the waters look clean, there are small white shells that I collect to gift them back home but will be crushed in my Mary Popping bag. </div>
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After a round of beach walking - barefoot in the sand and when it is getting too hot, in the sea - it is time to get my lunch with a view. I have to go upstairs on a cliff, at <b>Strandcafe Utkiek</b>. Pricey, with plastic white tables and waiters from another epoch - even the dress code reminds me of other historical era. The fish soup is a mix too salty and nothing else. I don't finish it in the end.</div>
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Which leaves enough place to devour the plate with zander filet, adorned with boiled potatoes and some veggies. It is overall ok, which doesn't say anything about some outstanding taste. As for the sea view, I can hardly see it on the other side of some plexiglass surrounding the precinct.</div>
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Curiously, I am trying to see what can be done and seen outside the beach area. There are some wild forest patches, some stalls selling fish sandwiches - typical for the area - some fruit stalls and souvenirs too. </div>
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The sea and its quietness is a far better option and this is where I want to spend the rest of the day - until I have to come back to the train station that's it.</div>
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Walking around the shores, barefoot in the sea is enough. I don't know to swim and not so keen to learn it, but happy enough to be at the beach - although I've seen much better beaches in my life. Living the moment is what I need for now. Who knows how much will it take until will see a sea again? (Hmmm, bigger waves and a more active sea is also something I am missing. Yeah, blame the impatient human nature I have).</div>
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The cotton candy clouds are a beautiful view, adding a welcomed dramatic touch to the still landscape.</div>
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DJ music, cocktails and some chaise longues and a much younger audience are calling for more action at <b>Havanna (sic) Beach</b> stall. Customer service-wise it takes a bit longer though to get a glass of something or a bite of local food, so I am rather going back to the promenade to refill. </div>
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The typical sweet seems to be the quark bällchen - curd filled balls - but I've tasted various variants of it in other places in Germany as well. So, in my atypical carefree way, I order at the <b>Ückeritzer Quark Bällchen</b> some pancake and waffle with icecream. Street food style, fast service and not a bad taste. Today is not about excellence and high-standards, but about spontaneity and accepting life's normality.</div>
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This is how I actually spent my spontaneous day in Ückeritz. Observing the people, taking pictures, getting soaked into the last strong rays of the summer sun, a simplicity I cannot always afford. Was not what I expected for today, but was better than nothing. Call it the crumbs of my travel life, sometimes.</div>
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As I am still intensively looking for Germany's best beach, I actually enjoyed Ückeritz' simplicity. I even got some short walk through the woods, you see?</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-73806881253720220472019-08-25T22:48:00.001-07:002019-08-25T22:48:17.148-07:00Discovering New Faces of Dresden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Let's talk cities you travel often to. After going in one place more than five times or more, and visiting some of its well known tourist and food destinations, you will get almost convinced that you know almost everything about the place. You can make your way back to your hotel on your own, using public transportation counts, isn't it? The problem though is not that you are becoming familiar with a place, but that self-sufficiency is killing all chances of discovering something new. Therefore, you are missing the full picture. And this goes easily with the place you are living too.</div>
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Take, for instance, in my case, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/search?q=Dresden">Dresden</a></b>. I've been there so many times - over ten years - that when I planned my latest vacation of <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/08/a-one-day-guide-of-lovely-hiking-in.html">hiking </a>in the <b>Sächsische Schweiz</b> and mustard tasting in <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/08/bautzen-more-surprising-than-jar-of.html">Bautzen</a> </b>my intention was only to spend some time around, see a museum or two and come back early in the evening to Berlin. </div>
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However, when I was approached on the street by one of the many operators trying to see hop-on, hop-off tours and had a look at the leaflet, I realized that I was not familiar with more than half of the places that were about to be seen. Are those places in Dresden? How could I miss them? And my spontaneous change of plans occurred: we will do such a tour - which takes around 2 hours, but you can stop and see/visit the places and wait for the next bus - which comes in time every 30 minutes - which can take a bit longer - as long as a day. For the first time since going to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/01/the-perfect-one-week-winter-holidays-in.html">Portugal</a></b>, I did it and I have no regrets, although many might say that I am guilty of being a tourist. After the journey, not only I got a completely new perspective on Dresden, but I can't wait to be back to see some of the places I was shown during this tour.</div>
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Especially in the summer, Dresden is very busy. Tourists and locals are gathering in the weekend on <b>Prager street</b> for after-shopping coffee and chats or just for some people looking. This part of the central area displays a completely different architecture - post-war, modern, with a touch of socialism - than the classical center, with its blackened stones buildings.</div>
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Some even display massive DDR-style murals, aimed at the time to strengthen the community feeling of the newly post-war republic. This development is part of the city new features, with communist style blocks of buildings facing baroque castles.</div>
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Just a couple of meters away, the newly<b><a href="https://daslebendigehaus.de/"> Das lebendige Haus</a></b> displays a holistic concept of office spaces, a bit of shopping and a food court with a view over the <b>Zwinger</b>. It's weekend o'clock and cocktails time, but unfortunatelly the best places on the balcony are already taken. </div>
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It was a long time since I've seen last the <b>Zwinger</b>, one of Germany's most famous baroque palaces. It's geometrically shaped garden is always a pleasure for me, and its overwhelming details are inviting the mind to make new connections and discover histories. Since my last visit, Instagram boomed and so did social media in general, therefore, late in the afternoon, it is almost impossible to find a spot for a photo without interferring with selfies, fashion shootings and other activities.</div>
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During this trip, I had the chance to observe more than ever the similarities between Dresden and the Italian cities. I miss Italy so much, but Dresden can sooth my longing, at least for a while. As Italian architects and experts contributed to the modern planning of the city, <b>Theaterplatz </b>- among many other places - reproduces a slice of Italian cities. No wonder that this German city used to be called 'Florence of the Elbe'.</div>
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Dresden is a city for culture lovers, from the famous <b>Opera</b> that on Saturday evening was surrounded by so many people about enter the performance to its many independent theaters, it offers diverse activities for culture lovers. <b>Staatschauspiele</b>, for instance, close to the <b>Zwinger</b> is even more than that. In the communist times, it served as an important stage for the voices of change and nowadays it offers a very modern repertoire, often with a clear social engagement line.</div>
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Dresden is also a city of high-tech. <b><a href="https://www.glaesernemanufaktur.de/de/manufaktur-erleben/unser-fuehrungsangebot.html">Gläserne Manufaktur</a></b> is one of those places where the present meets the future. Volkswagen's local headquarters it was opened as a production site, focused on sustainable transportation. However, here are not only assambled 72 e-Golfs the day, but also tours and live experiments displaying the future of transportation are offered. With around 100,000 visitors the year, it displays the same interesting mixture between bold architecture - as at the <b><a href="https://www.glaesernemanufaktur.de/de/manufaktur-erleben/unser-fuehrungsangebot.html">Wolfsburg</a></b> headquarters - and a high consideration for the environment, as the area is surrounded by a generous green area.</div>
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But now I am a bit back to the past, discovering the elegant <b><a href="https://www.glaesernemanufaktur.de/de/manufaktur-erleben/unser-fuehrungsangebot.html">Lingner Castle</a></b>, built in the second half of the 19th century for the Prussian family of von Stockhausen. The manor is enormous and crossing it is an experience in itself. It has almost everything you need for a full-day experience, beautiful views, interesting histories, art collections and also a great food spot.</div>
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For those visiting only short term, it is worth to go to the terrasses and have a look over the <b>Elbe</b>. The river has not only beautiful views, but invites the dedicated cyclists to a relaxed tour which reveals nature and culture at the same time.</div>
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Far away, one can spot on the top of Wachwitzer Elbhöhen, the Dresden TV Tower, whose design was insired by a sparkling wine glass. Cheers! But let's move forward.</div>
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My next stop is in a place which is hard to describe, as it is so out of place in a way. It rather looks like a Spanish or Portuguese bodega. But it is just a delicious milk shop. Probably the most beautiful in the world, and it is already recognized officially so by the Guinness Book of Records. <b>Pfunds Molkerei</b> survived wars - escaped unharmed by the heavy WWII bombings - and was took out of service by the communists.</div>
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Surrounded by its colours and the Neorenaissance ambiance, with big groups of people coming and going, I am having a short cheese tasting treat, accompanied by a glass of milk. Which milk is fresh, heavy and as genuinely delicious as the milk we were provided by the milkman in my childhood.</div>
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The more I see and heard about Dresden history and urban development, the longer the list of the places I am planning to see next. Castles, fancy areas, museums, natural spots. I can see a lot of more Dresden trips in the future.</div>
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But as for now, I am back in the central area, enjoying the mixed ambiance of new and old, and we are unable to find a free carriage for a new city tour, in a company of nobles animals this time. </div>
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Before we leave, we make a short stop in the front of the new City Hall. It is Sunday and we cannot go up to the 68-meter high tower to have another view over the city, so we admire everything from afar. On the top, Hercules, the patron of the city represented by the sculptor Richard Guhr is overviewing the city. His right arm raised over Dresden raised some issues after the war, due to the histories associated with it, but in the end he maintained his posture. Probably he is checking if it's raining, some say. Or maybe his hand is warning the residents of that part of the city to finally pay their taxes, some others assume.</div>
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In the front of the building, we meet the <b>Trümmerfrau</b> - or the <b>Rubble Woman</b> - one of the many women who after the war helped clear the bombed German cities of the tons of rubble produced by the bombing.</div>
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And there are so many more Dresden histories waiting for me that I can't help but start planning a new trip, as soon as possible.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-87832032941522898912019-08-22T05:48:00.000-07:002019-08-23T04:40:56.974-07:00A One Day Guide of Lovely Hiking in the Sächsische Schweiz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I did my first hiking at the crude age of 5, in the Carpathian Mountains, back in the old country. Since then, the legal three months of summer vacations were most of them spent in a similar way: exploring the mountains from the area of our summer house, step-by-step, a bit longer each year. Until 14, when I started my own travel adventures, the mountains were my second home and was not only able to distinguish between edible and non-edible fruits, but also to properly set up a camping place, make the fire and have some basic self defense knowledge about fighting wild animals, like bears. </div>
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Wherever my travel and life steps lead me, hiking - and nature walking in general - continued to play a great role into my life: Was I professionally and personally happy? I was booking a hiking. I was heartbroken - a hiking will cure my pain. Was I in love? Only a walk in the nature will give me time to cool down and take the right decision. Was I looking only for a way to pleasantly spend my weekend? The simplest way to recharge my energies is by going to the mountains. Most of the time, I preferred to do it completely on my own, regardless if it was someone waiting for me waiting at the end of the hike. Me, alone with the mountains, is the highest form of personal reconnection I offer myself and it should be done in complete silence and privacy. It was not only like this, but I got easily used with that.</div>
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Since moving to Germany ten years ago, I moderately did a couple of hiking, mostly in the Harz Mountains. I become too busy with life, heartbreaking, recovery, family and other hectic events. I was always longing for nature and that feeling of tiredness when you are on the top of the mountains, but, again, I was too busy to recollect the broken pieces of the mosaique that was my life of the last years. </div>
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Until I got the most serious wake-up call of my life and figure out that my biggest problem was that my beautiful life was partly hijaked and if I want - literally - my voice back, I have to detox completely. Trying again that genuine connection with nature that was such a faithful companion during all my life changes was part of my plan to spare myself the pain of not fully expressing my inner thoughts and beliefs. </div>
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Out of time, I wanted a place close from home, relatively easy - I do a kind of random physical training but not strong enough for complex hiking - but with an impressive natural landscape. After doing a bit of research, the famous Sächsische Schweiz area - Saxon Switzerland - seemed as the most recommended destination. Which coincided at a great extent to my German travel wish list, as it was one of those places every reliable travel bloger I follow in the country and abroad already visited but me. </div>
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First and foremost, I might state it very bluntly. I deeply disapproved comparison between places. I am at odds with all those comparisons between Paris or Venice and other cities - 'Paris of the East', 'Paris of the Middle East', 'Venice of the North'. Such relationships might help travel branding but in fact it takes out the possible uniqueness out of special places that most probably would be able to survive completely based on their own special features.</div>
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I have the same feeling when it comes to Switzerland. There are several places in Germany compared to Switzerland - a country which I know, oh so well, especially the mountain area - but as for now, none really made me feel like it. The answer is not that I am such a cold person, but because those places are beautiful as they are, no comparison needed.</div>
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In the case of this part of Saxony, the comparison was made by two Swiss themselves, students at the Art Academy in Dresden, probably longing too much for their home. The reference remaines after over a century and keep being proudly repeated in touristic documents and travel logs. For this blog, I keep the name for official references only as my personal belief is that this place has its own features and unique vibe.<br />
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There are many locations from where you can start your journey through the mountains, but after in-depth documentation, I've chose to start my journey from <b>Rathen Kurort</b>, 45 minutes away by train from Dresden, round trip covered by a one-day 14 EUR. ticket which can be used for going to other destinations along the road, such as <b>Bad Schandau</b>. From the train station, we took a boat to 'spring' on the other side of the Elbe, surrounded by an early morning misty landscape.</div>
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On the other side of the river, the rain is about to start and the small groups of tourists covered in colourful raincoats are looking rather for a place to be protected by the showers than to try to feel how it is to wake up with the mountains. The place looks neat with clean cobblestone-streets bordered by 2-3 story big houses, mostly hotels. At the <b>Dofladen </b>- village's shop - we stop for a generous piece of cake, hopeful that the rain, which is becoming real and aggressive, will leave soon.</div>
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After almost one hour, it really stops and we are ready to finally fill the lungs with fresh air. Maybe there will be some quiet pathways as well, which looks less likely, as it is weekend during the school vacation time therefore, hard to avoid the shoulder-to-shoulder cramped placed.</div>
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When we are looking around, it is expansive green trees that we see, and we forget the crowded city feeling.</div>
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The after-rain mist is slowly fading away, revealing the typical abrupt stones of the mountains, a typical feature for this part of Germany.</div>
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The rough appearance of the wilderness - although nature was so beautifully 'humanized' by poets and painters, it is just pure vital energy which emanates and human words and descriptions are just attempts to make this frightening force bearable - is mildered by the artificial waterfall. Although there are so many people, the ambiance remains silent. Or at least, it was, until we arrived...</div>
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At <b>Amselsee</b>, you can rent boats for small lake tours. It is one of those times when I really regret for not being able to swim.</div>
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At least, we are saving some time for hiking and the more we walk, the wilder the surrounding is.<br />
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Which does it mean that it makes the hike more difficult. You can easily walk through the forest and after a couple of hours I still haven't felt the burden of too much physical effort.</div>
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Far away from the restaurants area, we find natural energizers, small berries, which reminds me of the times when my only deterrent to not finish all the raspberries from the trails we were following was that if a bear will come, he will get distracted by some berries therefore, need to leave some for emergency situations.</div>
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The eyes are mesmerized by the beautiful stone structures. It gives a sense of lonesomeness but in the sense that it opens the eyes about those things that really matters and, as the stone, will stay there after all the storms.<br />
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I bet there are some parts of the mountainous area where you can climb the stones. I haven't done it in a long time either, but would love to get back in shape to do it in a foreseable future.</div>
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The landscape looks like it went through many strong storms that wildly took away trees and rearranged the huge pieces of stone. The rays of warm light coming from above are taking away the thoughts that maybe will be better not to stay too much around if eventually a new storm will start.</div>
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But the settled human presence is a sign that things cannot go that much worse. Quiet horses having their lunch are a beautiful view after the relatively long hike.</div>
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And so are the field, which are a good reminder that it is not too much left until the autumn, and with it, the long dark cold days. <i>Carpe Diem</i> is our motto while we are slowly taking a different way back to Rathen (one of the lessons I've always followed during my hiking years: always take a different way back - not a superstition but a smart way to see more than one side of the mountain)</div>
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We have enough time left to continue our trip with a short trip to<b> Königstein</b> - by a steam boat operational since the end of the 19th century. Despite its venerable age, it moves energetically alongside Elbe, welcoming with high-picked sounds other younger boats along the way. A two-way trip from<b> Rathen to Königstein </b>costs 19 Euro, amount that can be also paid by card.</div>
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Not bothered by the noise and the human presence in general, the sheeps are continuing their intensive diet on the other side of the river.</div>
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Although the human presence is relatively settled around, with many houses on the shores, there are also some points where the river meets the sky and the trees which make the journey memorable. </div>
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The 'free state' of Saxony is a part of Germany with many castles, as it was made of different independent kingdoms which confirmed their presence and the limits of their power through fortified structures on the top of the mountains.</div>
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History, nature, culture, personal thoughts, there are so many things to consider during this journey which unfortunatelly comes to an end in less than one hour.</div>
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Instead of going further on to Bad Schandau, we decide to finish our trip to <b>Königstein</b> and enjoy a little walk in this town before heading back to Dresden. From here, you can take some small hiking trip or just enjoy its urban charm. We are going on with the second variant.</div>
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There are a couple of things to do here, just hanging around in the Musical Garden, where benches are shaped as musical instruments.<br />
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Or explore the narrow cobbled streets bordered by pastel houses.<br />
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Or get used with the specificities of the modern Saxon architecture - also painted in pastel colours.<br />
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We did all of this, plus offered a bonus for the hard hiking, with a layered cake at the very family-friendly <b>Café im Sachsenhof</b>. Delicious treat, indeed, and hopefully the right celebration of many more hiking trips that I want to take in the coming months and years. We all should have our little secrets to recharge our energies and eliminate daily poisonous negativity and overthinking after all.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-78909900817034337742019-08-16T03:46:00.002-07:002019-08-16T03:46:37.432-07:00Bautzen, more Surprising than a Jar of Mustard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>Bautzen</b> doesn't mean too much outside Germany and locally it is often associated with the always appreciated brand of <b>Baut'zener Senf</b> (mustard). However, when randomly mentioned in short travel notices, the capital city of Upper Lusatia, is often described as similar to Tuscany, with a certain unique charm. </div>
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As I am about to spend some holidays in Saxony (more to come in the next posts), I started my stay in this region which was frequently in the media of the last months for not so glamorous reasons, with a day trip here.</div>
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From <b>Dresden</b>, my headquarters for this long trip, I am booking my round ticket for 16 EUR. It takes 45 minutes to arrive and I have no idea what exactly to expect.</div>
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The district administrative building is the first noticeable sight upon around 15 minutes of arrival. It looks like a residence of an old court, and the generous touch of gold at the entrance make its presence even more impressive. </div>
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During the Cold War, Bautzen, like another Saxon town that I fancied a couple of years ago, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/07/5-reasons-to-visit-gorlitz.html">Görlitz</a></b>, used to belong to the former GDR. During those years, its name was often mentioned in a less auspicious context as it hosted a prison for political prisoners. </div>
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On the streets leading to the central - old - area, the buildings keep an austere, unattractive outlook, which combines the post-war scarcity of construction resources and the brutal lack of inspiration of communist city planners.</div>
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Fortunatelly, this impression lasts only for a couple of streets, as there are enough streets packed with pastel colouredd buildings, elegantly decorated and more welcoming to the eyes. <b>Goschwitz Str.</b> is a good example in this respect.</div>
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On the map of the European ethnic diversity, Bautzen is marked as an important center for the Sorbian culture. Descendants of two small Slavic tribes, the Sorbs are speaking a language - officially recognized as a minority language in Germany - close to Polish and Czech. On the way here, the name of the train stations from Dresden on where also mentioned in their Sorbian variant. </div>
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At the <b>Haus der Sorben </b>(mentioned as a museum, but rather a cultural point where you can gather various information about this minority and purchase traditional items pertaining to their culture) I have a stop to refresh my information about this minority, which is present in this part of Germany, bt also the area around <b>Cottbus</b>, for instance. Considered the smallest Slavonic minority, without other big groups or country to connect in the bordering area, they have unique costumes, folk traditions and customs, such as the colourful painted eggs for the Easter holidays. </div>
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As someone with a PhD and years of research in the field of ethnic minorities in Central and Eastern Europe, I will definitely be back in this part of Germany for some more research and throughout documentation.</div>
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Right now, I am wearing the hat of the curios travel writer on her way to discover the beauties of just another destination off the beaten path. And as I am heading closer to the central area, the eyes are pleased with the views of old stone towers with carved horse-back cavaliers.</div>
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The old fortification system reminds of the times when Bautzen was also important for its strategic role. The sound of war was loud here in 1813 when a Russian-Prussian army confronted Napoleon.</div>
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I am generally insensitive to most of the post-war architecture, especially in the Eastern part of Germany, but I cannot ignore the creative way in which some fragments of the old constructions were integrated into new stru</div>
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Soon, my eyes and my camera are both pleased by the view of the stylish New Baroque/Art Noveau area around the city hall. Each and every building looks like a fragment of a simple fairy tale.</div>
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Glorious entrances, good balance of the elements, perfect geometry, matched colours. My only regret is only that the central area is so busy with intensive construction works that I cannot find any decent angle for a big main square photo.</div>
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The building of the city hall is painted in vivid yellow and looks like a mixture between a religious establishment and a countryside palace. As it is Friday afternoon, people of all ages, are just hanging around in the front of it. The human element brings you back in time otherwise you might have thing you forgot your Baroque outfits at home and you cannot be allowed to take part to the Friday evening ball at the palace.</div>
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I am more on the hunt for colourful buildings, but it is becoming harder and harder to avoid having some construction marks in the picture. </div>
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A short tasty stop - and some journalistic documentation, of course, at the <b>Baut'zen museum</b> featuring the famous local mustard. The museum as such - that can be visited for free - covers a big room where various stages of the development of this tasty products are features, including the preparation and the ingredients, as well as the material culture associated to it - jars, branding etc. Once a top food brand in the GDR, the products branded under the logo of Baut'zen - mostly mustard, but also vinaigre - are an important chapter in the book of successful German brands.</div>
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At the entrance, on the other side of a 19th century counter, the vendors are encouraging the customers to try various sortiments, the first step before a serious investment into local products. I am curiously trying several of it, my favorite being the exotic fig mustard.</div>
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And there is more to discover in Bautzen, while taking slowly the empty cobblestone alleys, like this abandoned abbey, which adds a fully romantic touch to the urban landscape.</div>
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Or the hidden alleys, were remnants of the old walls are facing wooden balconies of 3-storey buildings. The modest outlook of most of the urban look in general is not surprising: during the 20th century Bautzen was a relatively poor city and after the war, the city was shortly taken over by the Red Army and afterwards not necessarily priviledged during the GDR years.</div>
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Surprisingly, at the end of such an alley one can encounter an old tower, but there is no princess to rescue there.</div>
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After so many hours of wandering, it is about time to have a taste of the local eating culture. We are heaving lunch at <b>Zum Karasek</b>, but although the service was very friendly and the ambiance outdoors very welcoming, my menu choice wasn't as satisfactory as my big hunger was. The food was a bit too salty and not too tasty. Maybe I would have better tried the<b> Senfgulasch</b>?</div>
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Hopefully, there are more foodie temptations as well as many shopping opportunities as we are going down the <b>Reichenstrasse</b>, that at this time of the week is bubbling with lazy energy and also a couple of tourists - beside us. We are here with an aim though, to reach the end of the <b>Reichenturm</b>, described as one of the steepest leaning and still passable towers in this part of Europe.</div>
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Climbing the stairs went uneventful and the view from the top, embracing the entire area is rewarding. However, after a bit of consideration, I might contradict those comparing this part of Germany with Tuscany. As usual in such circumstances, I prefer to avoid comparisons and rather unleash the uniqueness of the place. </div>
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The last stop of this trip is the <b>Stadtmuseum, </b>an excellent destination for learning about the region's cultural, natural and historical heritages. It offers enough material to keep you busy for at least two full hours and it is fully worth it, because you can learn faster than by reading thousands of pages.</div>
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From details about the geological evolutions in the region to reproduction of original Sorbian interiors with richly decorated interior, the museum displays in a very classical way fragments of local knowledge.</div>
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Noticeable for me was the arts section, where I was able to discover representatives of the apparently active art movement, with new painters, such as Carl Lohse added to my list of interesting artists.</div>
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After <b>Görlitz </b>and <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/happy-in-chemnitz.html">Chemnitz</a></b> and of course, <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/search?q=Dresden">Dresden</a>, Bautzen revealed unique stories about this part of Germany. Saxony remains still a mystery for me, therefore, I would be more than happy to discover more and more stories in the next weeks and months.</div>
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Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-41662171265149770572019-08-07T13:23:00.000-07:002019-08-07T13:23:17.036-07:00How to Spend a Full Day of Adventures at IRRLANDIA Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Trips are (almost) perfect when all its participants, especially when children are involved, are happy. Happiness is subjective, I know, but when it comes to a group of small and big people, it's important that the highest coverage is offered. Like, for instance, giving some photographic corners for the adults and a lot of outdoors active fun for the rest.</div>
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It worked very well when we visited the <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/05/family-fun-in-strawberry-village-of.html">Elstal Strawberry </a></b>Village and also in the Jurassic Park of <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/06/germendorf-jurassic-park-near-berlin.html"><b>Germendorf</b></a>. This time, we tried the IRRLANDIA Adventure park, just an adventure park one hour away from Berlin.</div>
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With this good will and armed camera on our shoulders, we stopped to Storkow, via Konigs Wusterhausen. It is a very simple train ride, and as it was weekend, we get ready for the low-age ambiance, while socializing with the many kids in the train with ages between 2 and 5. Good start, at least for some.</div>
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<b>Stork</b> means <b>stork</b> in German and I suppose the name Storkow means that we might expect many of such birds which we only encountered in the wooden format. Good news for the camera owners though.</div>
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With or without storks - we not even spotted any huge nests - Storkow looks like a lovely little village, with wild bushes of roses bordering the streets and 1-2 storey small houses silent under the summer heat. We carefully watched the directions to the adventures park, while trying to get the best of the urban landscape.</div>
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Surprisingly, the doors are beautiful to look at, with various colourful painted motifs which bring a different mood to any house.</div>
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Where the colours are absent, there are small little iron wrought shop signs, or just reminder of businesses from the old times. </div>
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Storkow seemed to be a middle-class hard working town, at least according to the signs on the facades.<br />
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The old city area, is even more full of life, with half-timbered houses hosting at the ground level small stores and café houses that we purposefully avoid because, you know, we are on a mission to make some wild children happy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_VIBUZiPggZ_WDUO0eciKHisTeP8V-SnRkoBx2gSLJMb_GoYhSrCAoI5d8NgXWVoatQ4Oko_x6cDF0aeqVuiy71OPfW_4xe6UI5p_Xbn9AHwH-HWRtMUlewxCPau1Iir_S0IDxL4Pc/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5j_VIBUZiPggZ_WDUO0eciKHisTeP8V-SnRkoBx2gSLJMb_GoYhSrCAoI5d8NgXWVoatQ4Oko_x6cDF0aeqVuiy71OPfW_4xe6UI5p_Xbn9AHwH-HWRtMUlewxCPau1Iir_S0IDxL4Pc/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Years of training the attention taught to find the interesting details, regardless how high is our walking feet speed. Click on the camera to keep a memory of this massive wooden door!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9xbHmfJtZHX-4dOk-r7fH9N1-hOzcaavaHomWJGoDTaOy-_jaEZQ78ebttj7R76Suj-kYDCcKqYaGs5zhsMEUc0HBxi5aZ58U7cEeVIBRFizMRrxPhimowb-7xcPC9UoWRUb9BA7BRY/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9xbHmfJtZHX-4dOk-r7fH9N1-hOzcaavaHomWJGoDTaOy-_jaEZQ78ebttj7R76Suj-kYDCcKqYaGs5zhsMEUc0HBxi5aZ58U7cEeVIBRFizMRrxPhimowb-7xcPC9UoWRUb9BA7BRY/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The mobile wooden bridge which is still operational nowadays is an interesting technical achievement but also offers a good platform to catch some relaxing view just a couple of meters away.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qZj2GvimKnVrORCadiqDZZ9C_yjaZZHsUt44sdMsHjVqdUKm87A2QY8VIRuEnPZJnqX70OVyOrtK-wuWPk6MmRyaL396EG-l9SxpvVDqRuAplJWQvxMKsv9K_ljRT5AInZ8A7ep_QEc/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qZj2GvimKnVrORCadiqDZZ9C_yjaZZHsUt44sdMsHjVqdUKm87A2QY8VIRuEnPZJnqX70OVyOrtK-wuWPk6MmRyaL396EG-l9SxpvVDqRuAplJWQvxMKsv9K_ljRT5AInZ8A7ep_QEc/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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After 30 minutes of walking we are about to reach the desired destination of the other half of the travelling team: the <b><a href="http://www.irrlandia.de/">IRRLANDIA</a></b> adventure park. First, as a lone view of a purple-reddish castle under a heavy curtain of maze.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcTtzy5UQqS0ofFWWN63mFeugWkaVMvB4Yj-SaEPygyXTbWmqW0-V_4TksU-7kTVwzGCXclp4RbKSSDmnM3W13sx44_ZyYGyrjQ03eNtRioJzRV73sZV9mrSMGHM_Qw3fybUjpppftlA/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcTtzy5UQqS0ofFWWN63mFeugWkaVMvB4Yj-SaEPygyXTbWmqW0-V_4TksU-7kTVwzGCXclp4RbKSSDmnM3W13sx44_ZyYGyrjQ03eNtRioJzRV73sZV9mrSMGHM_Qw3fybUjpppftlA/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Similarly with <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/at-babelsberg-film-studios.html">Babelsberg Film Studios</a></b> in <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/10/the-ultimate-list-of-top-things-to-see.html">Potsdam</a></b>, <b>IRRLANDIA</b> is open only for a limited amout of time: this year, between 18.05 and 06.10, with a daily schedule between 10 and 6pm. By purchasing the ticket, the children are able to use it for a short tour in a carrousel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AjvdVaA_QwWi96syxLkpMbiCZpDYenCxn4G7WpzHft2b2as1IkZfJpVaS4nsZHjbWv2nrc6OXuU4xqvCRs3EbmDi4gBYkkK5cnDGUgru0aJElRKS_Qk0p8aUhEGgXMhgcGTJw3dwngo/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AjvdVaA_QwWi96syxLkpMbiCZpDYenCxn4G7WpzHft2b2as1IkZfJpVaS4nsZHjbWv2nrc6OXuU4xqvCRs3EbmDi4gBYkkK5cnDGUgru0aJElRKS_Qk0p8aUhEGgXMhgcGTJw3dwngo/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside, there are so many attractions for all the possible tastes and age interests that you can easily spend a full day only testing various attractions, again and again. You need to be dressed casual and eventually take your swimming suit too, as you can play a lot with water. And which kid doesn't love to play with water? (Although maybe a more environmentally-oriented education would be necessary to avoid too much waste)</div>
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You can organise here birthday parties and any kind of parties, or to take part to regular events organised by the adventure park itself.</div>
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As an adult, you can take a seat on the chair and leave the small ones to use their energy. Refuel options are gallore, with a small fast-food outdoors area and a waffles corners too. Just be ready, especially during the weekend, for some extra waiting time. If you are more careful with your diet, you can bring your own food and have a picnic, either directly on the grass or on one of the big wooden tables.</div>
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With 12 different labyrinths and thematic areas, <b>IRRLANDIA</b> is a big source of entertainment. And everything looks so safe and done according to the highest German standards in terms of security that half of your worries are away. At least for now.</div>
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The biggest newest attraction in July was the maize maze. Not so spectacular like the ones in Cornish, rather at a very low level, but complex enough to get lost. Upon starting the journey you got a map with numbered places and you need to follow carefully the directions. When you are wild - like us - and go without a map, you risk to get claustrophobically lost. And no, what I've read long ago in J.L.Borges writings that in a labyrinth you should always keep left doesn't apply at all in this case. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCsLC4c4UFIJQ5tnTSEEjJKJCqz8ac4VQANosceIXrAxh2tH2xQR2n1xJLO8kR40U46Ib2Ho4Ba7JhyUIH-JBdqAm-bLH_CwCShD8KqmpjFDPbTxt_WpT6TBhxY-6Ya3oGHAQT-nhbes/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCsLC4c4UFIJQ5tnTSEEjJKJCqz8ac4VQANosceIXrAxh2tH2xQR2n1xJLO8kR40U46Ib2Ho4Ba7JhyUIH-JBdqAm-bLH_CwCShD8KqmpjFDPbTxt_WpT6TBhxY-6Ya3oGHAQT-nhbes/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time passed very fast in this adventure park, and we left only with the regrets that at least half of it was not accessible on age reasons. Which means that most probably will be keen to give it a try to another visit the next year too. And the year after. Maybe one day will spot those storks, who knows?</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-85264328532965005982019-07-26T16:46:00.002-07:002019-07-27T00:44:08.533-07:00How to Spend 3 Lovely Days in Bayreuth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
There is sometimes a problem with too much, intensive travel. You go places, take pictures, eventually write a blog post, the next day you go to another place and after a while you completely forget about why you are traveling in the first place. Travel is such a normal thing nowadays in my part of the world, both in terms of financial and geographic affordability that there is always the risk of taking your journeys for granted.</div>
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Especially when living in a country like Germany, so rich in terms of cultural, historical and natural stories, once in a while one might realize that you need to visit a place more than once, in order to fully understand its meanings and discover its treasure.</div>
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For me, such a recent example was Bayreuth. I've been there a couple of years ago, <i><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/the-colours-of-autumn-in-bayreuth.html">on a one-day trip </a></i>and honestly I haven't been so impressed. At the time, I felt like I was turning around and around the city center, without fully understanding its meaning.</div>
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Therefore, when I was invited some weeks ago by the very efficient and dedicated team of <b>Bayreuth Tourismus</b> to engage with their newly program <b><a href="https://maedels.bayreuth-lifestyle.de/">Bayreuth4Ladies</a></b> I didn't hesitate to give a positive answer. I wanted to be back and see this city through local eyes and figure out what I was actually missing during my previous (very) short trip. Apparently, lots of things...</div>
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Bayreuth is half-way between Berlin and Munich, 4-hour away by bus. As the train does not offer a direct line, I've prefer the direct, bus option. International visitors can use the Nuremberg Airport connection.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cultural Sightseeings</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQcmEp7OKBCzsHFqpFkXcybuB7SXYAszG6z7KOhyeL1NyKKI2L2hTNkfZ89WhD0rgCcGmPdoxwhTQpTs6n4nNiBOfYmrXBF-lbKNlcXr53lp_H8Hmpq9hBOkmCSlVW8L64hEAQk8Yhzk/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQcmEp7OKBCzsHFqpFkXcybuB7SXYAszG6z7KOhyeL1NyKKI2L2hTNkfZ89WhD0rgCcGmPdoxwhTQpTs6n4nNiBOfYmrXBF-lbKNlcXr53lp_H8Hmpq9hBOkmCSlVW8L64hEAQk8Yhzk/s320/DSC_0089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bayreuth means first and foremost the one-month music festival, the <b><a href="https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en/">Festspiele</a></b>, first organised by Richard Wagner in 1876. This year, it takes place between 25 of July and 28 of August, and if you want to meet <i>la crème de la crème</i> of Germany, here you have to be - provided your budget allows you to pay for the tickets which in some cases do have highly prohibitive prices. Like America has the Oscars, France Cannes and Germany, Bayreuth Wagner festival. German chancellor Angela Merkel, besides other political figures, it's a regular guest, and this long before she was a woman in power.</div>
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Called also 'The House of the Green Hill', the <b>Festival Hall</b> was exclusively built for the opera festival, at the time, the first of this kind ever, with specific acoustics that for some experts are still among the best in the world, while comparing it with famous opera destinations such as Met in New York or Sydney Opera House.</div>
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You can walk there in less than 30 minutes from the central train station. You only need to find the handwritten W, part of the <b>Walk of Wagner</b> itinerary. It starts from <b>House Wahnfried </b>(the museum dedicated to the composer who lived there between 1874 and 1883) and ends at the Festival Theatre, being made up of small dwarf-like figures of Wagner on the top of some rectangular columns, with information about him and his family, as well as his works. Every year, the information changes which makes it as an interesting cultural exploration.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXII4SD05YH04oeOHDwVnVE11hBX8_tawIDD_zT-r71-FVYdMNweEcimgW_pUF9SQTcWrRuTaH925wqMjxKIMQmJhStkvYGfHiC1q5MevVKmoIs2sbjR8Kf8maGEJ4SQztk5x0AeFk9w/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXII4SD05YH04oeOHDwVnVE11hBX8_tawIDD_zT-r71-FVYdMNweEcimgW_pUF9SQTcWrRuTaH925wqMjxKIMQmJhStkvYGfHiC1q5MevVKmoIs2sbjR8Kf8maGEJ4SQztk5x0AeFk9w/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But Angela Merkel is not the only woman in power whose destiny is intertwinned with Bayreuth. For most of the cultural achievements of the last three centuries, the city should be thankful to Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia. The eldest daughter of Fredderick William I of Prussia and the granddaughter of George I of Great Britain, she was born for a glamorous destiny. But her luck betrayed her and she ended up as the wife of Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. She arrived in a place too small for her dreams. A composer, painter and lover of arts, she ended up by shaping Bayreuth according to her wishes and cultural aims. People hated her at the time, and it was not always easy to obtain the proper funding for her plans, but in the end, the history made her justice. </div>
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One of the most famous works associated with her is the <b>Margravial Opera House</b>. It was built in Baroque style to celebrate the wedding of her only daughter, Frederike Sophie - described by the notorious Casanova as Germany's most beautiful princess - with the Duke Carl Eugen of Wurttemberg. The main head behind the interior design was the Italian Giuseppe Galli Boliena, who worked for the Imperial Court in Vienna.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytb2WOw3Zij_YSwqSO6ZLQMOo63L2QEzRhympGBAqyb3Ff8FpAc1ROa-k5pKWP3kcW4iVAMI3ADGxejoQ5lZbWU99feBe4OOYoiyBKob-xsj6asAQvzvGub6heygzZnct2ZqIljLOQZE/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytb2WOw3Zij_YSwqSO6ZLQMOo63L2QEzRhympGBAqyb3Ff8FpAc1ROa-k5pKWP3kcW4iVAMI3ADGxejoQ5lZbWU99feBe4OOYoiyBKob-xsj6asAQvzvGub6heygzZnct2ZqIljLOQZE/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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What is really fascinating about this place is that when you are entering the space for the first time, you have no idea what to expect. The main entrance looks like the door to a storage than to a cultural institution, and the halls leading to the Opera are narrowed and more than modest in appearance. Then, you enter the concert hall, entering through a small door and what you see it takes your breath away. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzQLDplzcF-UcMv3RJlMighWtvJmGAt1lavErF9i_SuGAAut-q9OfBa6Gotq-GCJz3EqWLKgEJWsQNoONBsnKW1bkdiRJpM4XdT3j5nMBWKLksJc8C_isIEj8g-DwmAZ6FW-3puuBvqQ/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzQLDplzcF-UcMv3RJlMighWtvJmGAt1lavErF9i_SuGAAut-q9OfBa6Gotq-GCJz3EqWLKgEJWsQNoONBsnKW1bkdiRJpM4XdT3j5nMBWKLksJc8C_isIEj8g-DwmAZ6FW-3puuBvqQ/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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It is the <b>Opera House</b>, since 2012 part of the UNESCO World Heritage, that consecrated Bayreuth as Wagner's brand place. Born in Leipzig, he was looking for a destination for his ambitious opera festival and was intensively considering Zurich, Weimar or Munich as possible location. Then, he was told about the fantastic acoustic of the Opera and decided to see the location for himself. Even though in the end he had to create the building, he remained in Bayreuth and now, the two of them, for the good and the bad, are hard to separate.</div>
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The architecture, the details of the decorations and the paintings are all together creating a spectacular effect where only music was missing to recreate the overwhelming experience originally assigned to this concert hall. </div>
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At first, it looks very much as an Italian lodge theater but with a magnified effect of a fairy tale. The special effects and the philosophy place the Opera as an unique example of what is called <b><i>Bayreuth rococo</i></b>. During the short guided tour offered, the historical and technical details shared only created a higher expectation for what it would look like to really listen to a concert or opera here. Something to really have in mind for a next visit.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_wry1Nq9OFZx-QCn95z6UNd28I7tVPGWH_RVl6DcxLTEeVMHo-9C3YGJzykqbp9W3R8R-Jm-7ZuvFRIO2_4UAZchBQg_dGjKMO89AuhOCO_H87sRy7pl7laCwnbuNvdLxafQ6VCwm1E/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_wry1Nq9OFZx-QCn95z6UNd28I7tVPGWH_RVl6DcxLTEeVMHo-9C3YGJzykqbp9W3R8R-Jm-7ZuvFRIO2_4UAZchBQg_dGjKMO89AuhOCO_H87sRy7pl7laCwnbuNvdLxafQ6VCwm1E/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liszt's piano</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">A couple of streets away from the Opera, a historical residence in the local yellow stones is the place where musical creations take shape. With a 190-year tradition, </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.steingraeber.de/">Steingraeber&Söhne</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> is considered one of the most important piano manufacturers in the world. For six generation, it created tailored pianos for various needs of famous composers and pianists, from Liszt to Horowitz. The piano production is limited to around 120 per year, in order to maintain the highest standards of quality, but also given the prohibitive prices that suit only high-end concerto halls and musicians.</span><br />
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By request, it created that special bell for <b>Parsifal</b> by Wagner or the <i>hamer dulcimer, </i>a rare instrument specific to so many musical areals, from the klezmer to China or Iran. </div>
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The weather is lovely and I am ready to discover another gem of culture and architecture, the <b>New Palace. </b>It is hard to chose where to spend most of the time, as both the indoors and the outdoors do have their share of local histories and beauty. But as in the case of many of the places I would discover during my 3-day stay, there is always harmony between those dimensions and the dialogue between the outside and the inside is perfectly fitting. </div>
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The powerful and intelligent Wilhelmine, whose diary was written in French and who loved to chat about life and philosophy with the great Voltaire, a frequent visitor to Bayreuth, created the design of many of the rooms of the New Palace. New, because it was built afther the old one was burned down. The residence has a number of Dutch and German paintings, many of them reflecting the family history of Wilhelmine, and unique pieces of furniture.</div>
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One of the most exquisite space is the <b>Cabinet of fragmented mirrors </b>with fragments of mirrors surrounded by pastel contourings and patches of colour placed on the ceiling, as a way to reflect constantly the inner changes into the space. Sounds like a very revolutionary thinking for an art installation, isn't it?</div>
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When the weather allows, the outdoors are as much inspiring as the indoors. Neat geometrically delineate spaces filled with season's wild flowers are surrounding the relatively modest looking building of the palace.</div>
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The gardens went through constant changes in the last centuries, with various elements added, finally settling for an English gardens style, with small islands in the middle of ponds toured by impassible ducks. It looks like the perfect place to spend a busy afternoon in the city.</div>
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Or, you can just get the taste of more nature sighseeing and head to another gem of a place that is directly connected to Wilhelmine, the mysterious <b>Hermitage</b>. You need to put aside at least half a day for this beautiful place, surrounded by a beautiful natural scenery.</div>
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Centuries old trees give to the ensemble a note of strength and weight. The Hermitage was offered to Wilhelmine by her husband, margrave Friederich, but she decided to add her personal touch to both the gardens and the construction as such. </div>
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Disparate elements such as small cottage where some of the guests were retreating for short amounts of time to live a very strict life and ruins were aimed to reflect a certain philosophy centered on the fragile human destiny and the need to take off from the material life.</div>
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An unique pumping system which operates since the late 18th century allowed to create various water games whose meaning was of cleaning the person of its material impurities and offer a life changing experience. </div>
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The initiation-like started from the very beginning, when the lavish dressed guests were introduced to a grotto with interior decorations made of shells of various sizes. Transfigurated by the spectacular water show they were not noticing that their outfits were completely wet. Who cares about such material details, actually? </div>
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The grotto walls are a minutious work of art, with the North Sea small shells creating marine characters. Bayreuth doesn't have any appeal for the sea lovers - except maybe the <b>Lohengrin Therme</b>, which is close to the Hermitage, by the way - but in the grotto, the marine feelings were part of a spiritual experience that Wilhelmine's husband reproduced also under the influence of the Freemasons to whom he belonged. </div>
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Every two hours - before it used to be every hour, but water limitations should be taken into consideration - a short water show wakes up the stoned statues. At the time they were created, the gardens were considered an exception in the history of landscape architecture in Germany, as they were not a copy of any of the consecrated European styles, such as English or French, but were offering a different, German-breed outline.</div>
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A tour of the interior, with the special cabinets and various rooms, part of a splitted space between Wilhelmine and her husband, reveals a lot of creativity, filling the spiritual journey with noteworthy historical and cultural details.</div>
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After such a culturally stuffed program, you might need to clear your mind. While stepping up on the <b>Octogonal tower </b>- or <b>Schlossturm </b>- you are offered views - through the closed windows though - that bring together the old and the new, the history and culture on one side, and the pristine landscapes of the Franconian Switzerland. Information about visiting the tower are available at the<b> Tourist-Information Office</b>, at Opernstrasse 22.</div>
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The geometry of some cobblestoned streets of the old town bordered by yellowish stone buildings - especially the <b>Friedrichstrasse</b> - remind to the connoisseurs of the neat architecture of my beloved <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/10/the-ultimate-list-of-top-things-to-see.html">Potsdam</a></b>, as Wilhelmine was first and foremost a Prussian. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time to Relax</span></b><br />
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You can hardly wander Bayreuth streets without finding cultural and historical references though. Wilhelmine - in this statue, accompanied by her favorite beloved pet Folichon which appears in many visual representations of her - is everywhere, as a reminder to both the residents and visitors about the deep roots of the European culture she associated to Bayreuth since. Besides being a multi-talented artist, she was also a frequent traveller, her journeys to France and Italy being a frequent source of inspiration for her works and designs. </div>
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A touch of Italy still can be found in a modern version, with some small channels, small scale Venetian scale, crossing the central area, where people gather during the long summer days for a chat.</div>
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Everywhere, outdoors terraces and restaurants are inviting for getting soaked under the sun. It's hard to make a short list and the choices are always personal, therefore, you have to test it by yourself to decide. When you have such a welcoming historical ambiance, you might only want to sit and watch people. You can continue with some smart shopping on many of the small boutiques selling fashion and local gourmet products - including some pralines which are highly recommended, on <b>Sophienstrasse</b>. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Children Fun</span></b><br />
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When you travel with pre-school children, all those cultural marvels are not such an appealing offer. If there is one place you can entertain there, then there is the <b>Urwelt/Unterworld Museum</b>. Let's play the local for a moment and meet in the front of the dinosaur, where many of the local dates are starting.</div>
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Around the corner, there is the interactive museum, displaying various fossils found in the region. It is a time-travel experience enjoyable by everyone, as it has the perfect combination of pedagogical information and entertainment dino-adventure. </div>
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Otherwise, you can bring your little one to the open parks, tell them a story while slowly walking surrounded by surreal creatures. <b>Tierpark Röhrensee</b>, in the Southern part of the city, was a recommended family destination, but I left this for an eventual future visit in Bayreuth.</div>
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My favorite retreat so far is the park near the Festhalle, that I enjoyed during my first visit here which fell in autumn, but this time it looked considerably better, dressed in the summer colourful flowerly costume.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Exploring Upper Franconia's Beer Traditions</span></b><br />
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Let's continue with a relaxing note on revealing a well known secret about Upper Francony: it has the highest concentration of breweries in the world. Not a beer drinker, I've been curious to taste some of the local products even since visiting <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/10/the-ultimate-list-of-top-things-to-see.html">Bamberg</a></b>, home to some very unique beers, such as the smoked one.</div>
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Although they have so many beers here, there is no Oktoberfest celebration and, if you want to know a very undiplomatic truth, Munich and Bayreuth don't share too much love, accusing each other of being lazy. Munich seems a bit too much self-centered, as they don't like Berlin either, because poor and...also lazy.</div>
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My tour also included tracing some important beer trails in Bayreuth, and started with the <b><a href="https://www.biererlebniswelt.de/">Maisel's Erlebnis Welt</a></b>, a guided tour of the most famous local brand.</div>
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For one hour - the organised tours are taking place twice the day, at 14 and 18 o'clock - you are introduced to an important episode of modern history. The ways in which the beer production and the final taste evoluated during the centuries is part of a larger industrialisation stage. Compared to other places where the breweries were produced in monasteries, in Bayreuth the introduction of big machines and the modern processing methods leaded to the creation of a beer which reflects the contemporary taste: simple, balanced, while keeping in mind the strict 500-year old <b>German Beer Purity Law/Reinheitsgebot</b> issued in the <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/07/a-lovely-discovery-of-ingolstadt.html">lovely city of Ingolstadt</a></b>. According to it, the only ingredients permitted in the German beer are: water, malt, hops and yeast. Therefore, a chocolate-flavoured beer made in Germany will obviously not include any trace of chocolate, but has a unique processed combination of the four ingredients which tastes like it. </div>
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The tour of Erlebnis Welt is well structured, and cuts the historical and technical intermezzos with olfactive and tactile experiences.</div>
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Nowadays, <b>Maisel'</b>s beer continue to be produced by the same family factory, trying to keep up with the curious tastes of the nowadays young consumers. Beer is introduced as part of a local culture and lifestyle, therefore it is branded through various cultural and beer-related events.</div>
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A couple of meters away from the 4500 sq.m Maisel's Brewery, the underground beer world is revealing another slice of beer secrets through the hidden life of the <b><a href="https://bayreuther-bier.de/brauerei-erleben/katakomben/">catacombs</a></b>. The unterground labyrinth run under Bayreuth's main streets and during the war it was used as a shelter during the bombings.</div>
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The 90 minutes tour takes place at a relatively low temperature - around 10C - so the best is to be prepared with warm clothes in order to have the full experience of this secret world. The temperature was perfect to maintain the fresh beer, of course.</div>
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During its 400-year of history, this underground area was used for other aims too. For instance as a lazaret, where people with leprosy were isolated. </div>
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During the war, a small but active community was born here, where the available city services were transferred.</div>
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The tours are taking place every day, at 16.00. Besides German, the tours are also offered, by request, in English, French, Italian and Chinese</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where to Stay</span></b><br />
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When it comes to accommodation, the period around Festspiele is by far one of the busiest of the year for the hotel industry. But although during the year various other cultural events are organised, there is not such a high demand of accommodation for the rest of the 12 months. Therefore, you will not find any luxury, high-end posh hotel in Bayreuth. </div>
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Instead, there are many small family hotels catering to tourists and business visitors. I've stayed at the <b>Goldener Hirsch </b>- courtesy of <b>Bayreuth Tourism Board </b>- which was a perfect option for busy travellers situated minutes away of walking from both the train station, bus station and the central historical area. The rooms are minimally decorated provided with Internet, small storage space and shower and clean, and the breakfast offers a good variety of products for starting a day in full force.</div>
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For those looking for a relatively higher standard, there is the 350-year old <b>Goldener Anker</b>, close to the Opera house.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What and Where to Eat</span></b><br />
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Food is one of the things that brings people together and understanding the culinary traditons is part of any of my trips. </div>
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If you are looking for a traditional Franconian meals, which includes Frankischen Sauerbraten, beef in a gingerbread (<b>Lebenkuchen</b>) sauce - which is actually addictive in its heavy moderated sweetness - a little bit of <b>Sauerkraut</b> (fermented cabbage) and some enormous potato dumplings - <b>Klößchen</b>. I had my first meeting with the local cuisine - and the light blonde beeer - <b>Bayreuther Hell</b> - at <b>Oskar</b>, a typical local with a very fast and efficient service. My only regret was that I could not come back to have a bit of their beer-soaked Tiramisu...</div>
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If you want to have see how the local products look like, you can visit the <b>Farmer's market</b> on <b>Maximilianstr.</b>, which takes place every Tuesday and Thursday.</div>
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A typical product for Bayreuth is the anis bretzel. The dough is white and has a lot of anis, a spice which is always a matter of very personal taste. No comment...</div>
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If you want a very different culinary experience, <a href="https://www.liebesbier.de/zu-tisch/"><b>Liebesbier</b> restaurant</a>, part of the Maisel's brewery is a recommended destination. The eclectic menu comes with generous beer recommendation, and the meals are served in the local Bayreuth porcelain - <b>Walküre. </b>Where possible, the products are purchased from local producers and the bread is baked on the site. What I peronally loved about it is the intelligent redesign of otherwise very common meals, like burgers. Accompanied by organic salads and created by using contrasting tastes, the result is pleasantly unexpected. </div>
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The restaurant is not only the owner of Fizzz award, but has also a very interesting design. Street art work was carefully selected, matching the casual hip mix of furniture which combines leather and wood, and feather-like pastel pillows. Either from indoors or outdoors, the view is predominated by a heavy copper alembic. Pure alchemy...</div>
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When it comes to the beers, there are over 100 waiting to be tasted at Liebesbier and if you are undecided, there are experts keen to advice. Last but not least, the local is children friendly, with a huge playground opened nearby, where the little ones burn some energy.</div>
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After the Catacombes tour, I've been offered the choice of a free bier and decided for the classical <b>AKTIEN Zwick'l</b>. It's relatively darker and heavy but has a special taste which is very different of the typical sour beer taste - which I don't fancy at all.</div>
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There are many cafés in the old city area that I did not have the chance to taste, but at least I had a hipsterish flat white at the newly opened coffee house part of the Maisel beer complex - <b>Crazy Sheep</b>.</div>
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Bayreuth-Upper Francony cuisine has a long love story with meat, any kind of it but especially pork and beef. But the meat is nothing without the addictive sweet sauce which brings quite an exotic taste to the dishes, a note that I haven't associated before with the German cuisine. </div>
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For the lovers of international cuisine, Bayreuth offers, as everywhere a fine selection, which includes Asian, Turkish or Mexican. I even found some bubble tea which was a perfect choice for the summer days. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hobby Fun</span></b><br />
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I am personally very limited when it comes to creativity, but however I enjoy to clean my busy mind trying to get a different grasp of a world most of the time closed to me. I don't have special artistic talents, but playing with colours makes me good. At the newly open <b><a href="http://www.paintme-bayreuth.com/">Paint Me</a></b> workshop on Kirschplatz I had the chance to create something nice, trying to decorate a cupcake in colours of my own choice. The ambiace is very friendly, with guidance offered in English and Hungarian, in addition to German. With bookings to be made preferably one month in advance, it offers an opportunity to try, at least once in a while something different. </div>
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And this is how strong women are building their stories, buy daring to go out of their comfort zone, isn't it?</div>
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<i>Disclaimer: The trip was gifted by Bayreuth Tourism Board but the opinions are, as usual, my own</i>Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-3756564664889584932019-07-24T06:47:00.001-07:002019-07-24T06:47:40.617-07:00Elegant Summer at Regent Berlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
With the 'heat wave' - for me, between brackets because, seriously, 30C is nothing more than a very normal temperature - coming back to Berlin for a while, one may notice how easy is to find a simple place for a drink or two. Things are a bit complicated if you are looking to pay not only for the hydration, but for the ambiance. Where you want to feel good and be served with a good offer, while being surrounded by people like you.</div>
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You need to rely on local knowledge for that. Discretely located in the busy area of Gendarmenmarkt, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/regent-hotel-unexpected-oasis-of-luxury.html">Regent Berlin</a></b> is that oasis of elegance where you would perfectly spend a couple of long hot summer days and evenings. You go there to see and to be seen but without too much hussle, get a 5-star plus service and menu. Sounds fair?</div>
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First and foremost, the summer terrace, open daily between 10am and 10 pm, has a <b><i>Veuve Clicquot</i></b> bar. Simple, elegant, yellow and ready to treat your wishes. For the healthy conscious, you can have tasty smoothies and ice tea and beverages recommended by their famous Master Tea Gold Roland Pröh. The menu includes salads and snacks to balance the booze, but also various local (drinking, again) products, such as Belsazar Vermouth, Adler Gin or Rollberg Beer.</div>
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For the first time this year, if you are visiting the terrace between 12 noon and 12 pm, and 6pm and 10 pm, you can order there lunch and dinner from the gourmet restaurant <b>Charlotte&Fritz</b>. Previously <b>Fischer Fritz</b>, it was renamed based on the guests' suggestions and recently re-open to the public after an intense renovation process. Nowadays, in a Belle Epoque ambiance, you can taste regional dishes with eclectic influences from all over the world, with a weekly changing menu, created by chef de cuisine Jörg Lawerenz. </div>
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There is another great chance to have a taste of the restaurant exquisite dishes: recently, together with <b>Babor Institute</b> by Christiane Lingner, Regent invites you to lunch, after a beauty treatment offered around the corner. The one hour of wellness is offered Tuesdays and Saturdays and is suited for both men and women.</div>
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<b>Regent Berlin</b> is more than a posh hotel where to spend your night. It offers histories and stories. And, what is not so easy to find in Berlin, an exquisite <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/elegant-afternoon-tea-at-regent-hotel.html">afternoon tea</a></b> that I was lucky to try a couple of years ago. Master Tea Gold Roland Pröh highered the stakes even more, by a completely innovative package for the non-English realm: Victorian afternoon tea. On flowery painted China, you will be served at the same time sweet and savory pastries, and tea with hot water and milk on the side. The afternoon tea is bookable for minimum of three persons on the weekend, between 2pm and 6pm.</div>
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With a long list of local and international personalities on their guest lists, among which Tom Cruise and the team of FC Bayern, Regent Berlin is happy to share local stories with their guests. As this year the innovative German architectural Bauhaus movement celebrates 100 years, the hotel offers special 8-hour packages, with private guide and chauffeur, during which you will discover the most representative buildings in Berlin and their unique stories. </div>
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<b>Regent Hotel</b> is part of the Berlin story, which invites you to become a local, while maintaining your usual standards. A story which already goes on and on successfully for many years.</div>
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<b><i>Disclaimer: I was a guest of the summer terrace of Regent Berlin, but the opinions are, as usual, my own</i></b></div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-80240787911659651892019-07-14T07:12:00.000-07:002019-07-14T07:12:10.512-07:00Up in the Sky Walking Over the Trees in Beelitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/beelitz-beyond-spargel-plate.html">Beelitz</a></b> is usually associated with the famous German veggie 'delicacy' asparagus, not the kind of sidedish I crave about - I religiously have it only once the year, just because I want to be a trend follower sometimes. When I visited the place a couple of years ago, I've spent a good amount of time wandering among the ruins of the former tuberculosis sanatorium - <b>Beelitzer Heilstätten</b>. </div>
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At the time, the fate of the complex which comprises over 60 separate buildings was in balance, following the plans of real estate companies to turn the area into a fancy luxury compound. Some local protest movement joined forces with creative people from Berlin that succeeded in the end to save the area. According to the final designs, the area of the sanatorium was maintained, and gained an additional value with the creation of a complex which relies on the natural environment.</div>
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Thus, relatively fast - as usually when it comes to the German building processes - in 2015 the <b>Baumkronenpfad</b> - Treetop Path a wooden path relying on 15 steel pillars was inaugurated and it is only the beginning of a constantly expanding recreational park, the first of this kind in Brandenburg.</div>
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Now, I am on my way to Beelitz to see what it is all about...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZkAAkFrDEGllZRXu75W7HFUlfThfIGJYBsc1urNx4RmcwDtmjMd8J4Wx16eu0PzBJqR3X4kDTDzs5SqjUAzSE7-rfWvrpiWEgXvTm203p7N3Qvx-_Nr5OKG_5pPXaaXogGiKNyDKbFo/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZkAAkFrDEGllZRXu75W7HFUlfThfIGJYBsc1urNx4RmcwDtmjMd8J4Wx16eu0PzBJqR3X4kDTDzs5SqjUAzSE7-rfWvrpiWEgXvTm203p7N3Qvx-_Nr5OKG_5pPXaaXogGiKNyDKbFo/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reaching it is very easy. We are in a train from Berlin packed with families and bikers heading apparently to the same place. Some have picnic baskets and bikes, we only have a camera and some bottles of water. As usual, travel light and enjoy - eventually support - the local restaurants (just another excuse for being lazy enough for preparing those stacks of sandwiches and roadtrip supplies).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQgvJBEgORJXEkhH9OyP_3ud6SY7aP2MVP-8K9HM3MATBva7VKLHoE44iqtWrXmro_qBqutVUS5vVMh6NiIXGiCGYQhNwwuiqbppRMvYuE58qs1qd3fiaEOJOrQciGDpmDj-XpGzDfCA/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQgvJBEgORJXEkhH9OyP_3ud6SY7aP2MVP-8K9HM3MATBva7VKLHoE44iqtWrXmro_qBqutVUS5vVMh6NiIXGiCGYQhNwwuiqbppRMvYuE58qs1qd3fiaEOJOrQciGDpmDj-XpGzDfCA/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The feeling of being in a place abandoned, used only for various film or photography settings is in the air, despite the big groups of people that are heading to the recreational area. Some thematic parks can be hosted in abandoned places too. So what if this abandoned place is a former tuberculosis hospital?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSnCqaWtS4dg3hSyqRJwon17r8dPSg7vXaq_U7WD5nau_0Dn2a4Azw2te8a_-Wl74ONMOveWTHKkqr7YFzIkdg1Q7Q8mhDkXzQDrvuE6A9nCfy68Z4IbtxOx3rDjQFFYlNDW7oZOIsS8/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSnCqaWtS4dg3hSyqRJwon17r8dPSg7vXaq_U7WD5nau_0Dn2a4Azw2te8a_-Wl74ONMOveWTHKkqr7YFzIkdg1Q7Q8mhDkXzQDrvuE6A9nCfy68Z4IbtxOx3rDjQFFYlNDW7oZOIsS8/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am passing near an area that was used for the setting of movies like <b>Schindler's List</b> or <b>Operation Valkyrie</b>, which is partly used currently for various medical facilities. </div>
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The biggest attraction remain <b>Beelitzer Heilstätten</b>. Intrepid guides in German and English are surrounded by curious visitors keen to find out more about the local history. Some buildings can be partially visited, and I did it during my first visit, but besides some mountains of rubbish, graffiti and rests of human excrements, I didn't find anything terribly exciting to repeat the experience. </div>
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A look at the location, without a proper look inside, is enough, especially if you just want to give a visual form to the amount of historical and architectural information you can easily gather online or from various bibliographical sources.</div>
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Once you pay for the 10 euro ticket (good news, you can pay with card too), you can enter the area of the recreational park, that was set up as a garden with eating places, and some outdoors relaxing areas, in the shadow of the Sanatorium ruins.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbXNNRp4iMYrH67osFG800rpC-y44RpevOwQWshndshPlquQ8vwNvKjw0MzhREPA6-BNRrIjtiO58KqUcBW1THPkmMoV2MBkAI26FOWipBgwoVv81j4_jrJQEt4GyInyP33E3KljSX54/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbXNNRp4iMYrH67osFG800rpC-y44RpevOwQWshndshPlquQ8vwNvKjw0MzhREPA6-BNRrIjtiO58KqUcBW1THPkmMoV2MBkAI26FOWipBgwoVv81j4_jrJQEt4GyInyP33E3KljSX54/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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There are some lounge areas with paste colours and a country vibe and a vintage touch, where you can relax while munching on a pancake or other local sweets or some 'pommes' - the local equivalent of French fries. Affordable but not cheap prices, and modest quality, but who is here for the food, anyway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd3_CEFMDGB8zJPawQ-3vfeNFPchyphenhyphenFWGr19O10GX0BSowi7y7wOhzg4Ll4POzL63W9lzaobzpjSYnsLy9atESZ3LtKTSD3KYVDtG2iJXV_ISSfrFOn655ngDg-OYpPwjFnOHLu_93m4I/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd3_CEFMDGB8zJPawQ-3vfeNFPchyphenhyphenFWGr19O10GX0BSowi7y7wOhzg4Ll4POzL63W9lzaobzpjSYnsLy9atESZ3LtKTSD3KYVDtG2iJXV_ISSfrFOn655ngDg-OYpPwjFnOHLu_93m4I/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Some old remanants from the Sanatorium years were refined and back in use. Built in stages from the beginning of the 20th century until in the 1930s, the medical facility was considered a forerunner in terms of both architecture and functionality. Beelitz was the location of choice given the good connection to both Potsdam and Berlin, from where most of the tuberculosis - a malady relatively widespread at the time - patients originated. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnTHwpVj_MKkr-2T9bsaKEcTS3hxr5dV2ugxHtBzlZunfKvsXj_ZJRTn2SiNVden0_cSVryWsEolUFzlrYwfkR1YZv4FpSBrNE8SNV5sqHjIlppV-YyMXUab3-fVITvyYKI675nu66EY/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnTHwpVj_MKkr-2T9bsaKEcTS3hxr5dV2ugxHtBzlZunfKvsXj_ZJRTn2SiNVden0_cSVryWsEolUFzlrYwfkR1YZv4FpSBrNE8SNV5sqHjIlppV-YyMXUab3-fVITvyYKI675nu66EY/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The steel pillars surrounding the area look from certain angles as huge scifi constructions, huge myriapods spreading their multiple legs through the ruins.</div>
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You can reach the top either by taking the stairs or by using the elevator. Therefore, the Baumkrone is open also to families with small children or people with disabilities.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnymaNQ3haPHJZjaL3FFubkUnya7fQYAUkxwdn5gl0ocgYAskSD-jX3dmNvhTiqFmQ-Y_ALq_OXgsYr-DqgLfdhs-XUDOsfNbIO0SLvE4PaKrqYjtqggvqlWkvXM_zrfxa5H2P-R7gcYs/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnymaNQ3haPHJZjaL3FFubkUnya7fQYAUkxwdn5gl0ocgYAskSD-jX3dmNvhTiqFmQ-Y_ALq_OXgsYr-DqgLfdhs-XUDOsfNbIO0SLvE4PaKrqYjtqggvqlWkvXM_zrfxa5H2P-R7gcYs/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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From the soaring heights, one can have a look over the many facilities that were created as part of the Sanatorium. Among others, here it used to be a bakery, a butcher, a church and a nursery, with completely gender separated blocks of buildings. One of the architects who set the plans, Heino Schmielden was a close friend of Martin Gropius and was inspired by his focus on creating functional yet minimally aesthetic architectural structures.</div>
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Used as a hospital for the German troops wounded during WWI, the Soviet Army took it over and some of the scribbling in Cyrillic can still be seen on the walls. Not sure, but it seems that the Soviet man was one of the first promoter of the graffiti style, if I am to take into consideration the various handwritten traces left by the military men coming from this country either in the building of the Reichstag or in the <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/11/exploring-secrets-of-bunkerstadt.html">Bunkerstadt Wünsdorf-Waldstadt</a></b>. </div>
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History and thoughts about the past are becoming irrelevant once you admire the views from the top of the <b>Baumkronenpfad</b>. You can embrace with your eyes the entire area of Fläming and it is a beautiful view of it. I only can dream about how this part looks like when the trees are showing off their beautiful autumn colours.</div>
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In the last years, around 40 different tree species were planted here, which make it a very good example of sustainable tourism. Meeting the end of the horizon, all you have is a green sea of deep breathing lungs.</div>
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Back on the ground, I notice that some of the buildings are getting some beauty intervention and I am only curious what can be done here. As far as I know, tuberculosis virus can stay in the walls for an impressive amount of time, which make it less likely to create a living space in a former hospital of this kind, but let's wait and see.</div>
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The next stop of the day is a walk in the Barfoot park - <b>Barfußpark</b> - the second part of the recreational area created. There are no ruins here, only the chance of walking without shoes - like everyone does - on the forest paths. It does good to the feet, for sure, but the body needs a bit of time to get used with what used to be a natural feet function - to face the natural structures without any intermediate material and objects - like shoes - in-between. </div>
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You can leave your shoes and backpack in the lockers at the entrance, in order to get more freedom of movement and fully enjoy the natural experience. </div>
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There are different experienced that can be tried in the park: walking through the mud, try your balancing skills, short walks etc. There are three different trails marked by three colours - blue, yellow and green - and you just need to read the explanations and follow your path. </div>
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Don't take everything too serious so you maybe can have some spontaneous barefoot dancing party. You might even find a disco globe glowing in the middle of the forest.</div>
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This park offers a lot of fun for everyone, from small children learning to walk, to their parents. Get rid of the stress, enjoy life and recharge your batteries with some nature - including natural dirt, mud and some stitches eventually.</div>
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Brave enough to walk on pine cones? Been there, done only half of it, because I know how it feels - tried against my will with small pieces of Lego hidden in various corners of the room anyway.</div>
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It was interesting to be back in Beelitz and the experience from over the top of the trees was one of a kind. From the point of view of the concept it shows how some ruins with a certain history can be reintegrated into the travel cycle while adding up some sustainable details. Germany is a good example in this respect and would be curious to visit other similar projects. As long as they involve a lot of nature it makes them even more attractive for me.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-73594704189572081612019-07-14T04:39:00.000-07:002019-07-14T04:39:46.034-07:00A Musical Sunday Summer at Chorin Abbey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Less than one hour away from Berlin, there is a place that resonates a lot with classical music lovers in the capital city and Brandenburg: Chorin Abbey. This former Cistercian monastery that underwent secularisation in the 16th century is a noteworthy meeting point for all those in love with a good classical concert. </div>
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Between 22nd of June and 25 of August, here are taking place every Sunday, in the afternoon, around 2 hours of quality music. Some are listening from a comfy place inside the monastery concert hall, some prefer it outdoors, on their blanket while having a family picnic. </div>
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A tradition for over 50 years, I made it there only the last week. As usual, my one-day trip involved more than music, and only opened the eyes and the appetite for at least another adventure to come in the next weeks.</div>
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Reaching Chorin is relatively easy and all you need is a 13 Euro ticket, plus a short commuting from <b>Bernau (b.Berlin)</b>. For the first time in a long time, I was welcomed by a train station which looked a bit different than the usual derelict buildings I've been used to in the last trips. Nearby, a bike parking place, as the area is a favorite destination for cyclists from around the area. </div>
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Outdoor activities are encouraged by the pristine nature surrounding Chorin. I was relatively familiar with it when I went to visit the <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/when-animal-world-disappoints-you.html">Schorfheide natural reserve </a></b>a couple of years ago. The abundance of green adds on to the sense of calm that breathes the streets. Pretty houses hiding behind colourful flowers with hardly a car on the road, the perfect rural retreat not too far away from the urban life.</div>
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For the guests of the classical concerts, there are buses taking them for free from the train station, with return hour after the concerts are over. Otherwise, one can slowly walk the little bit over 2 km. walk to the Abbey. It is an easy ride, and all you need is comfy shoes and the moderate preparation.</div>
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We arrived at the abbey from the backyard, meandering mysterious doors and hiding places. As it is less than 30 minutes before the concert start, there are plenty of people taking the chance of some fresh breathes of air, but there are still enough remote areas where you can hardly meet anyone.</div>
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The ruins are taken over by the nature and the human intervention was only for allowing the visitors an easier ride, by setting up stone stairs and bridges.</div>
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Before of after the concert, a round walk around the<b> Amtssee</b> is a mind-soothing experience. It takes around 2 hours of slow walking and it is worth the experience of pure enjoyment of moderate wilderness.</div>
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The red-brick building, a trademark of the Cistercian Gothic architecture, the monastic order the abbey belonged to, are making an appearance behind the lush vegetation, and now I know that it is time to head back to the concert area.</div>
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There are so many temptations around, including a very old restaurant and some beer gardens, but I promise myself to be back in a couple of weeks for a full tasting of Chorin, plus an overview of the many art galleries open in the area.</div>
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But people are hurrying up for the music event and I am following the crowds. The tickets for the summer concerts can be purchased other online, or on the spot. The number of places indoors is limited, but for outdoors - our choice, which costed 8 euro - you can have it any time. </div>
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The sound is as good as inside, and unless there is some threat of rain, you can fully enjoy the experience. At the entrance, there are many food stalls with various treats - a bit overpriced, but this is the price you pay for some good bio goodness, it seems - so even if you did not bring a heavy basket with you, you can have some small guilty pleasures during the concerts.</div>
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I often asked myself how in Germany it is possible that even though there is a massive amount of people everyone is so quiet. Like a mass of voiceless bodies are moving slowly in a perfect pace, but without the need to utter any sound.</div>
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Indoors, everyone took its place and are waiting for the performance. The guest orchestra this time is from the neighbouring Polish <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/rediscovering-szczecin.html">Szczecin</a></b>, and it plays a classical mix which includes also Mozart. Since its creation, the abbey was an important player in the relationship with the neighbouring Slavic territories and nowadays, several German-Polish projects are developped in the area, many of them focused on cultural dialogue.</div>
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Although it was abandonned for centuries - following the conversion to Protestantism of the rulers of Brandenburg, in the first half of the 16th century - the massive Gothic architecture, one of the most important in Brandenburg, is still impressive visually and architecturally.<br />
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The efforts to save the old monastery, which among others, was used also as a livestock farm, were initiated by the famous architect Schinkel, in the 19th century, who convinced the Prussian kings that those ruins are worth the preservation not only for cultural, but also for nascent national reasons. </div>
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The Cistercian order was created in 1088, originating from Cîteaux, near Dijon, preaches values such as austerity and self-sufficiency, elements that were at a large extent resonating with the nascent national identity the Prussians themselves were trying to build. Therefore, the appeal of Schinkel for an investment in saving the ruins after a visit here, called home more than he probably imagined.</div>
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The first part of the concert is filling the air with an exquisite energy. The music takes over everything, and once listening, you hardly notice anything, but the united sound of the fast instruments. It is an exemple how music and culture in general, can embelish and enoble souls, wild nature and even weather. The rain forecast for the afternoon are apparently on hold for now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl92nno2TzK5QA1UhoLaPMJLNxwVUEkJa-qL-Rpyroc13EpI_zYVVAB3kH8dHeni9tXs05nt1cZRv_Nrm_JPyS6ocEIj3RQafHT8hyphenhyphenA8S7fkY25uNV8uTBNABRSc_liAFHFPmQXwdv7I/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl92nno2TzK5QA1UhoLaPMJLNxwVUEkJa-qL-Rpyroc13EpI_zYVVAB3kH8dHeni9tXs05nt1cZRv_Nrm_JPyS6ocEIj3RQafHT8hyphenhyphenA8S7fkY25uNV8uTBNABRSc_liAFHFPmQXwdv7I/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the short break, it is about time to visit the rest of the abbey and have a look at the various exhibitions tracing the long history of the building and the monastic order in general. The details of the architecture are fascinating though and are telling their own history with a loud voice which does not need too much cultural or historical background.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON8IU_YJAkAFzGs_9_ocsMON1hE3N4xfw92cLU9lkQrAi7sXf0_GzFegw0MAeRIf80XSggsbT2dNJPq1TwYxYthYfbT-LJYkLCS65Khg7cvlr514naSPxGsoeMxjJhu9xWtdNzDZRGr0/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON8IU_YJAkAFzGs_9_ocsMON1hE3N4xfw92cLU9lkQrAi7sXf0_GzFegw0MAeRIf80XSggsbT2dNJPq1TwYxYthYfbT-LJYkLCS65Khg7cvlr514naSPxGsoeMxjJhu9xWtdNzDZRGr0/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is a certain ambiance that was probably part of a larger mentality continuum at the time, aimed at a specific representation and projection of the religious feeling. Indeed, the order was austere and less interested in an extrovert manifestation of the belief, but the small details of the construction and the permanent dialogue between light and darkness was there for more than an aesthetic reason. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZh4sCUOEGeBb07WLHlmQFwNqVduHg_ltrkRmHlXLiTWDxGIsDq_I2vj5xD-J8EZ8moubeXHv_LGzNSeYR0DNEw0du038XgddZrD4u-s5LQJZ-QaI1xLgVW8EOtT4ePXd9zdB3OxzVfE/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZh4sCUOEGeBb07WLHlmQFwNqVduHg_ltrkRmHlXLiTWDxGIsDq_I2vj5xD-J8EZ8moubeXHv_LGzNSeYR0DNEw0du038XgddZrD4u-s5LQJZ-QaI1xLgVW8EOtT4ePXd9zdB3OxzVfE/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The small details are part of the history and I am enjoying to take picture of those little elements that beautify the place.<br />
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For the Romantic mindset of the 19th century, ruins were an important element of a way of being and seeing the world as a place of loss and permanent reminder of human fragility and short stay on this earth. Some places like castles were left as a ruin on purpose, as in the case of the<b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/discovering-heidelberg-what-you-can-do.html"> Heidelberg castle</a></b>. Surrounded by the untainted green grass, it looks for me as a huge cemetery, where history is burried.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dKb2oKGYRTstNcVYLKqpMaQo-3NKrYhkbE24myAw0dt_ioL9qtW6bogvCo_SlrDv5lR6ofbeN9JnkpaI38TFlagnOQtF5V6PtzCgJ7VgczldMDTd9f5pj-lz43PDwP-83LjP2qWkzIo/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dKb2oKGYRTstNcVYLKqpMaQo-3NKrYhkbE24myAw0dt_ioL9qtW6bogvCo_SlrDv5lR6ofbeN9JnkpaI38TFlagnOQtF5V6PtzCgJ7VgczldMDTd9f5pj-lz43PDwP-83LjP2qWkzIo/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cistercian monks were hard workers and they had relevant contributions not only to the field of architecture, but also in diverse domains such as agriculture and metallurgy. In the Middle Ages everything was connected to religious activity, therefore, the monasteries were both centers of learning with access to knowledge which further allowed the development of technique and science that at least for a couple of centuries mored it remained wrapped in the covers of religion, until secularisation reclaimed its own mental space.</div>
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Once the concert is over, I take over the hiking path for bringing the cultural insights into the nature. What can be better than a wondering through the nature with a mind full of intellectual ideas and cultural concepts? It's the perfect environment for a discussion in two or just for solitary random thoughts. The surroundings are not disappointing.</div>
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Like in life, the path takes to ups and downs, easier and less easier turns, where you need more focus and self-restrain.</div>
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The houses are looking are hiding in a very discrete way, with their presence noticed only if you want to direct your eyes at an upper level.</div>
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Everything looks remote and I am enjoying the post-concert hike more than I thought. I was expecting just a relaxing walk through the forest without too many intellectual challenges. It seems that the historical overview of the place plus the architectural impressions and the classical concert brought enough food for thought that will stay with me for more than a couple of hours. Maybe for days. Maybe for weeks.</div>
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The only question is now: when I will return to Chorin to reveal even more interesting corners both for the curious mind and the nature lover soul?</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-26719895157599270682019-07-14T02:07:00.001-07:002019-07-14T02:07:32.631-07:00A Short Hiking Adventure in Kleinmachnow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We are already half-July and it seems that summer is running fast, faster than my travel plans at least. Regardless if I am enjoying the summer in Berlin - which is always a lovely experience - or taking random trips around the city for the weekend - more about this in the next two posts - I still some more German travel plans in my pocket. </div>
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One will be in a couple of days an exploration of the iconic Sächsische Schweiz, near Dresden - and not only because it has the same 'Switzerland'/'Schweiz' in it. I am a big lover of hiking in the mountains as since a very early age - somewhere near 5 - I was took to long trips in the mountains with my family. </div>
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Spending a couple of long hours the day on my chair does not help me being prepared for such an adventure and although I am trying to keep myself a regular gym program I need to get ready for long and eventually challanging walking and hiking journeys.</div>
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When the forest areas around Berlin - like Schlachtensee, Krumme Lanke, Nikolassee or Grünewald . are no more attractive enough for my wandering spirit - a short adventure to places like, for instance, Kleinmachnow, are worth a try.</div>
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I've been to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/cold-war-memories-in-klein-machnow.html">Kleinmachnow</a></b> four years ago, when I was rather interested in the recent history. Caught between Potsdam - which belonged to the GDR - and Steglitz-Zehlendorf - formerly part the American sector - it used to be a relatively isolated locality on the Cold War map of the area. After the fall of the WWII, Kleinmachnow was frequently mentioned in the media of the 1990s for the drama following the property restitution cases. When the locality was assigned to the communist Germany, many residents fled and abandonned their houses that were took over by locals or representatives of the Communist Party. Once the Berlin Wall was down - during the Cold War here it was a massive border crossing checkpoint, similar in importance with the checkpoint Bravo situated on the A115 motorway - those original owners or their inheritors wanted to recover their properties and often it was not possible without struggling which turned also violent once in a while.</div>
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From Berlin, you can arrive there either from Krumme Lanke, by bus, or from Grunewald, also by bus. My stop was at <b>Rathausmarkt</b>, where you can find all the shopping and eating facilities in Kleinmachnow. The offer is modest but enough if you just want to spend the day in the area, without leaving for Berlin. The Italian restaurants are just fine and there is even a bookstore selling the latest popular titles.</div>
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After a relativel short refuel shop for a short lunch meal, we are slowly walking alongside the <b>Förster Funke Allee</b>, with its identical one story blue houses, with discrete decorations on the window seals and small gardens embelisshed by blowing bushes of white and pink hortensias.</div>
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The more we walk, turning on <b>Karl Mark Street</b>, for instance, I have the confirmation why Kleinmachnow is considered such a paradise for real estate. Despite the persistence of a relatively confuse property rights situation, people keep buying and selling here, including expats, and during our short stay in Rathausmarkt we already heard three English-speaking locals. The houses are really beautiful, with generous garden space and covering a variety of architectural styles.</div>
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I wanted this trip to be nothing but of pleasure, but it rarelly happens in my case, as I cannot avoid historical and political references. I am in the front of the entrance to <b>Hakeburg</b>, a castle built at the beginning of the 20th century in neo-Gothic style by the family von Hake who owned it. Used by the Reichpost during WWII, and after took over by the German Communist Party - SED - it was later used as a guest house where special guests of the Communist Germany, such as Nikita Khrushchev, Yasser Arafat, Fidel Castro or Mikhail Gorbachev were hosted.</div>
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I make a mental note to come back again in autumn to check the situation of this building - but that's all for now. I need to focus on my actual hiking priorities.</div>
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Which hiking opportunity is opening generously on the opposite side of the street. There is a protected nature area, where I am supposed to encounter many special birds, and almost empty. For over an hour, I am wandering through the trees, many of them falling down on the grown, with no other human in sight. It is a relatively easy hike, and my simple sport shoes are enough. It's all I need for now, a fresh air, a little walking accompanied by the birds chirping. </div>
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Suddenly, I am entering a sandy area. A sea of white sand without sea, surrounded by high trees. I've seen another one in Grunewald area and visually at least, it creates an interesting diversion, especially if you use hiking as an opportunity to keep thinking on and off without necessarily a direct connection to the environment. It is a pleasant surprise after all, and it makes the walking experience even more challenging.</div>
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There are many possibilities of hiking in Kleinmachnow for long hours. You cross the street and you are in the middle of another small forest. Some do it by walking, as me, others prefer to bike. For all, there is the offer of comfortably easy tracks, that do not require a special preparation. But it can start as a preparation for even longer and more difficult tracks.<br />
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Without noticing and not necessarily looking for, we are back in the urban area. We noticed that in the front of many houses, there are small banners where protests against the property situations are scribbled. One complains that he/she is homeless now although it is the right owner of a house here, another one is just writing down a protest against real estate sharks. Some just set up a magnified picture of the property as it once stood.</div>
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But for the rest of the residents - more or less local by birth -, it is life as usual, the the layers of various urban styles and interventions can be read at once, on the same street page. This visit to Kleinmachnow made me even more interested to delve a little bit more into the recent history of the place, but first and foremost, it offered me a well-deserved hiking opportunity that I promise to use it at least one more time in the very near future.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-14128702791743650772019-07-02T04:00:00.002-07:002019-07-02T04:00:38.779-07:00What To Do on a One-Day Trip to Dessau<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is no secret that Bauhaus is my favorite modern architectural movement and I intensively covered some relatively unknown examples of works belonging to it on the blog <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/search?q=bauhaus">from Berlin and abroad</a>. This year celebrates 100 years since the creation of this school by Walter Gropius, in Weimar, and several activities are <a href="https://www.bauhaus100.com/programme/">taking place around the country</a>, offering interesting overview about an architectural style that left traces as far as Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Russia or Israel. </div>
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Shortly after moving to Germany I visited Dessau, where the creative center of the movement was relocated between 1925 and 1932. I was in awe for being able for the first time to have a direct contact with the roots of the architectural heritage I was theoretically familiar with through the discussions and works of the architects in my family. Since then, I kept tracing the history and works of Bauhaus through my travels, which goes beyond the narrow architectural limits, following Gropius' motto: <b><i>'Thinking the World Anew'</i></b>. It meant that the technical, scientific and human evolution required a completely new vision, out of which habitat was only a small part of it. The members of the Bauhaus school were learning not only about measures and drawings, but also about music, painting and theatre, building the basis of an architect with a complex, Renaissance-que Humanistic formation (building).</div>
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Curious to revisit some of the places of that 10-years old trip, I visited Dessau again, refreshing my memories and my photo archives about this place too and eventually searching for new things worth to see on a one-day trip.</div>
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Dessau is two hours away by train from Berlin. With the Brandenburg ticket a two-way ride costs 31 Euro. Once arrived at the train station, it is hard to miss any important milestone of the usual Bauhaus tours, as directions to the most important attractions are clearly offered to the visitors, both in English and German. </div>
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I simply follow the - how predictable - <b>Bauhausstraße</b> - where since my last trip identical detached cubic structures following the style of the architecture are now bordering the main street.</div>
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The massive yet simple cubes used as living spaces or meeting rooms are maintaining the same height with the older buildings and although probably covering the same surface, their heavy presence is more noticeable and at a certain extent intrusive. It looks like the private space of the housing is nonchalantly invading the public area of the street, and there is no need of a fence to delineate those two dimensions.</div>
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The first important stop is<b> Stiftung Bauhaus. </b>Inside and outside the building, the space is cramped by individual visitors - as me - or groups following their multi-lingual guides.<br />
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Here, you can have a complete overview of the scholarly activity of the movement, as well as of the specific works of its members. It is a valuable source of information therefore it requires a couple of good hours put aside in order to overview the numerous details.</div>
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Another part of the Bauhaus tour is the <b>Masters' Houses</b>. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage since 1996, it refers to three pairs of identical semi-detached houses of interlocking cubic structures made of prefabricated components. Each house has its own wall painting shades which beautifully interferes with the light embracing the interior through the vertical strip windows on the side. Indoors, one can learn even more about the movement, through the works of some of the famous residents that developed their work while living here for short periods of time. Among them Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Moholy-Nagy, Lyonel Feininger, Oskar Schlemmer or Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. </div>
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Once the intensive Bauhaus tour finished, I am curious to discover other interesting parts of Dessau. For instance, <b>Georgium Park</b>, which is full of families of locals enjoying the hot summer days in the shadow of classical ruins. </div>
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Considered one of the largest landscape parks in Germany created in the 18th century, it offers to the visitor a classical version of a walking tour with historical motives. Practically, through the wandering in the natural environment one might be focused also on the human element represented by the buildings reproducing classical Greek-style ruins. The eternal power of nature meeting the short-lived human experience.</div>
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I have no idea how the contemporary visitors related to the classical statues and their meanings, but they looked as a happy bunch of people looking to entertain themselves, regarding the heavy symbolism surrounding them. For the children is even more entertainment at the <b>Tierpark</b> nearby.</div>
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The city is breathing hard under the massive heatwave. The more I am out of the Bauhaus comfort zone the least references about this movement seem to be left. As in many cases of cities that went through various historical transformations, and reading through different layers is an interesting experience. </div>
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During the Cold War, Dessau was part of the communist Germany and the heritage of those times - not necessarily connected with the Bauhaus past - are easily read on the facades of the houses aimed to show a clear propagandistic message to the emerging working class. </div>
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Popular motives typical for the Anhalt region were also added to the outdoor looks of the buildings.<br />
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For the housing construction plans though, it looks like a cheap variant of Bauhaus style was maintained, as it actually answered the needs of an increased population and family housing requirements.</div>
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Tucked in the shadow of the uniformity, some stone display of intimacy is a message that real people are living behind those pre-fabricated doors.</div>
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Another interesting example of architecture is the old city hall, a classical construction built in 1910, in a style which reminds, among others, the structure of the <b>Otto-Suhr Allee City Hall in Charlottenburg, Berlin</b>. So bad I visited Dessau during the weekend therefore it was not possible to have a look inside the building. The 73-meter tower is considered the highest in the city and from the top of it one can have panoramic view over the entire area.</div>
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At the end of a relatively busy day in Dessau, it is time to ask if there is more to see here besides the Bauhaus heritage? After the unification, it seems that the city rebranded itself exclusively around this concept and most of the attractions are listed under this key-word (there is a <b>Dönerkebab am Bauhaus</b>, and most of the art and stationery stores do have stylish Bauhaus-style letterings). </div>
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Which is not a bad thing, as you can easily browse here the professionally organised archives of the movement. Most probably would be curious to come back again one day searching for a different cultural overview - and maybe to find some decent restaurant options as well, as after a couple of good hours of wandering it was almost impossible to find a place serving some edible food, except an icecream place that served more than 3-year old cakes - but as for now a visit to Dessau for Bauhaus fans and curious is more than recommended. </div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-49117896227176172352019-06-14T15:55:00.000-07:002019-06-14T15:55:17.265-07:00A Lovely Guide of a Busy Day in Wismar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I planned my trip to Wismar for ever. At least 3 times the last year I was 24 hours before the scheduled adventure and something out of my control happened and had to put it on hold until the next time. And then the winter arrived and the idea of spending one full day outdoors at many degrees below minus was not a real temptation, even for a traveller like me.</div>
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This until two weeks ago, when I just ignored any other work and personal calls, bought a 36.70 Euro Ostsee ticket and arrived after a 3-hour trip from Berlin to Wismar. From the train station, I only had to follow the tourist directions and made my way slowly to the center of the city, direction <b>Altstadt</b> - old city.</div>
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Wismar was part of the Hanseatic league, an organisation covering Northern Europe made of merchant community that decided to protect together their mutual trade interests. Founded in the Middle Ages (between 13th and 15th century), the member cities developped independently from the economic point of view. The traces of their wealth and free spirit are still visible nowadays. </div>
My first acquintance with the city starts on <b>Poehlstraße</b>, where a mixture of red bricked houses and curvaceous roofs reminds me of <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/salty-middle-ages-impressions-in.html">Lüneburg</a></b>.<br />
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Summer adds its personal note of charm as heavy roses bushes are decorating the entrances into relatively more modern buildings.</div>
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A couple of meters away, a big group of French-speaking tourists are gathering to take pictures at the <b>Schweinsbrücke</b> - Pig's bridge - a 19th century bridge over the river <b>Grube</b>.</div>
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The architecture of the houses, at a relatively non-eventful time of the day and the week, reveals in its full charm and beauty. On <b>ABC Straße</b>, for instance, many of those houses host at the ground level local art galleries - like the<b> Baltic Soul Gallery</b> - and antiques stores<br />
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There is more to admire on <b>Lübsche Straße</b>, where the houses are requesting for more space, as probably the inhabitants themselves, perhaps local merchants, were a social level upper. </div>
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Lacking proper knowledge about the history of the local architecture, I am just using my eyes to work on patterns and styles. </div>
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<b>Amtsgericht</b> building - the district court - displays a relatively controlled geometry, and has a generous backyard that can be visited for free.</div>
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The front entrance though, offers a joyous - and sensual too - aproach to life, with probably some beginning of the times Biblical references, when people cared way too much about a fully dressed dress code. </div>
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<b>Rathaus </b>- the city hall - looks relatively modest size-wise, compared to the usual size of such institutions in Germany, a kind of small palace surrounded by same-size 2-storey buildings with restaurants of all sorts. </div>
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Near the entrance to the city hall, a small patch on the walking area reminds that in Wismar was turned one of the first horror movies of all times - Nosferatu, by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, in 1922. On the other side of the square, a noisy group of youngsters, are screaming from the top of their lungs while taking selfies surrounded by some freshly discharged garbage. Maybe there is some dark side of Wismar after all...</div>
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The rest of the square keeps the same architectural pace, with the well-coordinated geometry as the main visual feature. Almost every single colourful or bricked-house has an inviting restaurant or cafe or icecream parlour. As Wismar is not a highly touristic place, the prices are moderate and at the first sight, the service looks friendly. You only need to have some extra time to taste each and every one of it, which I am obviously - as usual - out of.</div>
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For a couple of minutes, I am mixing up with the local, accompanied by dogs or children or just on their own, crossing the big park. Jogging and cycling is also possible, and it looks like one of the city's biggest natural attractions.</div>
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The architecture calls me back on the beaten paths, with more house-admiration on <b>Krämerstraße</b>.<br />
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The side-streets, even emptier, are also an attractive view, and I am meeting again the river Grube, this time from the <b>Frische </b>bridge.</div>
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At the first sight, the architecture of the <b>Fire Station</b> reminds me of some patterns I've encountered in Hamburg. No wonder, as the architect Arthur Euler was a follower of the red-brick architecture that created in Hamburg the <b>Chile Haus</b>.<br />
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Houses with painted facades, giving short insights about their initial destination, remind me of the stories written on the walls of Bavarian cities like <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/09/why-visit-fussen.html">Füssen</a></b> or some Swiss pretty towns.</div>
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If until now, the city was almost asleep for the first half of the day, I am about to meet a completely different vibe once I am entering the port area. There is even a <b>New Orleans restaurant</b>, although if thinking about the live music and energy of the Bourbon street, the comparison is very unrealistic. </div>
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The restaurants are even more inviting, with the predominant meals being fish-based, Italian style.<br />
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From the shores, there are several boat round-trips that can be booked. Most of them last around 1h30 and during the summer, are taking place every hour. Besides the relaxing sea view, one can also enjoy different treats.</div>
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For instance, the boat trip I booked, was called <b>Pfannkuchen</b> - Pancakes - tour. For the price of the ticket - 20 euro - you got non-stop pancakes feeding, with apple sauce, plus a drink. Could it be more enjoyable - maybe an icecream tour, for the very hot days.</div>
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Once in the waters, there is the maritime industry of Wismar which offers a different perspective on the city and confirms its status as an active merchant Hanseatic city. </div>
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The sun is burning hot, and many of the local residents are enjoying the beginning of the summer from their boats.</div>
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Nothing is more quiet than the view of the enormous quietness of the sea. I might love to make an ocean cruise one day as well. </div>
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In the middle of the waters, on both sides of the shore, some funky heads on a pole are smiling to me. They are Swedish personalities, representative from the time when Wismar, like <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/09/why-visit-fussen.html">Stralsund</a></b> and other Northern cities, were under the Swedish occupation in the first half of the 17th century. Apparently, this occupation left non-conflictual traces in the local memory, as the Swedish flag can be seen once in a while waved on the windows of the city's buildings.</div>
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Stuffed with pancakes and apple sauce, I am returning to the shores, where a local fair is offering various affordable distractions to both children and their parents. For the adventurous at heart, a pirates boat is open to the public, for selfies and some short histories.</div>
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But I will stay on the ground for less than 20 minutes, as I decided to make another boat trip to <b>Island Poel</b>, considered Germany's 7th biggest island, the meeting point between the Bay of Wismar and the Bay of Mecklenburg.</div>
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With a population of around 3,000 people, living in several small villages, this 40-sqm. island is made of sandy beaches and salt marshes. It's neighbouring Island Walfish, which is well praised for its ornitological richness.</div>
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Although the parking spots in the port look busy, there is a certain stillness that breathes on Poel.<br />
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As my time is very limited, I am aware that all I can do during this small encounter is to take note of the possible attractions that might make it into a full stay on the island in the near future. </div>
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As for now, I am just happy to breath deep the holiday spirit and dream about a full week of travel one day...That's the role of travel sometimes, to just call your name for even more and more adventures, which is exactly what I am looking for right now.</div>
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The architectural style I encounter is relatively simple, more suited for warehouses than for living spaces, but at least there is a hope of natural freshness indoors, as the red stones might keep the hotness at bay for longer than other construction materials. </div>
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For museum lovers there is also a small <b>Inselmuseum</b> - with some miniature land of buildings and historical moments in the backyard, the remains of a Roman wall as well as a lighthouse which is completely out of reach for my short stay. I am not fully convinced that I have to come back, but definitely more research might change my mind one day.</div>
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Back on the firm ground and famished, I offered myself the chance of having one of those fish sandwiches - salmon, not hering - that are one of the typical foods for this part of Germany, generously served on the many old-style counters. </div>
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At the end of the trip, I kept asking myself: was it worth to wait for so long to visit Wismar? After all, it was a quite simple trip, without a big overload on the to-do-list, but relatively interesting from the historical and architectural point of view. Every trip is different, and my full day in Wismar is one of the many travel stories in Germany added on my bucket list. </div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-51070761817136505482019-06-12T23:32:00.006-07:002019-06-12T23:32:56.613-07:00Hiking Tips in North Berlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
No matter how much I tried to explore the Nothern part of Berlin, there is apparently a lot left to still discover. There are small little towns where you can walk on small cobblestone streets with a view of the former communist blocks of houses all surrounded by lakes and thick forests like in <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/08/tips-for-exploring-strausberg-bei-berlin.html">Strausberg</a></b>, but most of it is at a great extent left out of the usual travel lists. Unless you are a biker and you know your best routes in the middle of nature. </div>
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As I am not a biker, but I love hiking and in summer and late autumn I am trying to plan as much time as possible outdoors, preferably in the middle of natural, green surroundings.</div>
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This time, I wanted to explore a small part of the <b>Naturpark Barnim</b>, which starts close to the Pankow area of Berlin.</div>
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Our SBahn ride stops in <b>Buch</b>, and from there, only a couple of minutes away from the train station, there is a little wild oasis of wilderness waiting for us.</div>
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A wilderness with an intensive human presence, as there is a Kindergarten operated from here, which, at least for the summer time, might be a delightful experience for the little children learning life skills in such a surrounding.</div>
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The more we walk the one-person pathways, bordered by unspoiled weeds and trees, the quietness is queen and only the view of the concrete buildings form afar and of the trains coming and going to the station remind that we are still close to the city. </div>
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After one hour of very slow and easy walking - regular sport shoes can easily help to do it - there is not other human in sight. High-note screams of seaguls lost on their way to the big seas followed by more modest chirpings are the only remarkable sounds breaking the magic of our little urban reveries.</div>
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A big lake, well hidden adds more mystery to the entire landscape. It is surrounded by so much mud and wild vegetation that it can be seen only a bit later, from an observation point set up near one of the exits. From you can also eventually notice birds like herons or ducks that, according to the many presentations that we see during our hike, are the regular inhabitants of this area.</div>
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There is no way to get lost, and one can take the liberty of running up and down, back and forth through the green carpet of grass. </div>
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The outwordly stillness of the moores a little spooky note to the hike, just when we were about to leave the area for continuing our exploration.</div>
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Out from the pristine landscape to the urban jungle, the wild summer flowers blooming from the concrete are a reminder that summer wraps in beauty even the ugliest city corners.</div>
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But we have just another small thing that we want to eff during this trip. We continue our SBahn trip to <b>Röntgental</b>, a small residential area bubbling with life, where people are either enjoying an open air family picknick in the <b>Goethe Park</b> - with a close-by <b>Schiller Park</b> - or trying the latest icecream flavours at the many parlours opened around.</div>
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Slowly walking surrounded by the bustle of motorbikers we are finally arriving Panketal, which looks like an old farming village, with its bricked houses. </div>
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A couple of meters away, there is our final destination of this short trip: Zepernick Riding Center. Horses of all ages and breeds are either enjoying their lunch break or training in many of the arenas around. There are so many people around yet there are only the horses in motion that can be heard. I can keep watching those noble animals for hours and still not having enough of it.</div>
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The entire location suits the needs of the many 4-leg residents, with food supplies and personnel careful to cater to the everyday requirements of the horses.</div>
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As we are heading back to our connection back to the heart of Berlin, we feel refreshed by spending so much time in natural surroundings. Hopefully, would be able to come back in this area soon to explore more.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-34912922906022484382019-06-01T04:33:00.000-07:002019-06-05T03:26:43.518-07:00Germany Off the Beaten Path: Eisenhüttenstadt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The fact that many springs ago I had the best of my childhood time in a city that used to be called the city of Stalin doesn't weight that much in my decision to visit <b>Eisenhüttenstadt</b> that was given this name in 1953, after the death of the Soviet dictator. In fact, it was planned to name it Karl Marx Stadt, but somehow, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/happy-in-chemnitz.html">Chemnitz </a></b>was luckier to be awarded the name of the German ideologist of communism - not necessarily a must-read and whose works were not too much understood at all by the Soviet comrades. More than this miscellanous fact was that <b>Eisenhüttestadt</b> is a remnant of former GDR, with its faded glory of the metallurgical plant. I wanted to see with my own eyes how this city survived the end of the communist Germany and the reunification and although I've chose a banking holiday for this exploration - therefore not too many chances to see the city fully at work - I took it as a beginning of a study in the making of the former Eastern Germany human and social landscape. </div>
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First, a short stop to <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2018/06/a-short-trip-guide-to-frankfurtoder.html">Frankfurt/Oder</a></b> that I've visited the last year and even wrote an extensive travel guide about it.</div>
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The streets were almost empty which allowed me to see all those small fine layers of cultural and architectural memories from the last decades. But the time has come to finally go to switch trains and reach my destination...</div>
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<b>Eisenhüttenstadt </b>is situated 40 minutes away by train from Frankfurt/Oder. There is also a bus connection with an irregular schedule during the weekend and banking holidays. The first encounter with the city was exactly what you might expect while visiting an Eastern German town and a former communist part of the world in general: empty derelict, with an air of sad emptiness.</div>
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But we are in Germany after all, regardless if former communist and not. A clean sense of order cannot miss from the encounter with the urban setting in this part of the world. The clean one-story houses with elegant gardens set in line for an almost beauty contest on Bahnofstrasse didn't dissapoint. They exhaled that sense of quiet countryside with middle class inhabitants enjoying their bourgeous priviledges. No traces of Stalinist ideology here, hopefully. </div>
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As usual in such places, history left gentle reminders. A monument dedicated to the fallen Soviet soldiers with the typical Red Star on the top is an example.</div>
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We are crossing a very empty historical area, despite the advanced hours of the day. No shops, restaurants and soul in sight. Is it a real city or just a <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village">Potemkin village</a></b> for charming the one foreign visitor in this unknown and for sure forgotten part of Germany?</div>
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Besides the small bright painted houses bordering cobblestone streets, thre are also bigger, discrete stylish buildings that once used to be institutional buildings. Surrounded as well by empty streets. This building used to be the city hall - Rathaus - with the old market - Markt - where local farmers were selling their products, long before the city went through a massive industrialisation requested by the communist ideals.</div>
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Maybe behind those colourful, typical German doors for this part of the country, there is more action and life?<br />
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After almost one hour of wandering completely on my own, I am just getting pleasantly used with the fact that I might have this Eisenhüttenstadt only for myself.<br />
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Which comes with the bonus of the perfect view of the Oder displaying all its greatness in the front of my eyes. The spring is almost at the beginning and naked trees are sadly reflecting their emptiness in the blue waters.<br />
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Right now, it seems that all the local life is concentrated at <b>Zum Kiez</b>, a local restaurant with a view over the Oder, buzzing with life and enjoyed by all the town's generations. From small children to seniors, everyone is out enjoying the weather in the company of a meal. I decide to have here my yearly <b><i>Spargel </i></b>- asparagus - plate. It's a kind of personal tradition that in the previous years brought me as far as <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/12/beelitz-beyond-spargel-plate.html">Beelitz</a></b> - a traditional place for the lovers of this German specialty. It comes with a pair of well boiled potatoes, and the typical Hollandaise sauce and <b><i>Kraut -</i></b> cabbage salad. All are fine except the Spargel itself which is a bit unfinished and taste-wise unattractive. The raspberry lemonade I ordered is one of those syrupy things that do taste more artificial than fresh fruits and the ice coffee is not a great achievement either, but I overall the pleasure of enjoying a meal outside compensated for the taste issues.</div>
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Now, also after a bit of chatting with my table neighbours, I am convinced there is even more to see from Eisenhüttenstadt - after all, I haven't seen any of the communist-style buildings I was expecting to see. And back on the cobblestone streets I am...</div>
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After a heavy meal, a bit of nature hiking is always welcomed and just had some glimpse of tempting invitation to walking alongside the <b>Oder Spree Channel</b>.</div>
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First, I am crossing the Neue Brückenstraße...<br />
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..which offers a pretty view of what I shall expect in terms of hiking trail.<br />
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Once starting to check by myself the opportunities, it seems there is a lot to be done: from biking to dog walking, jogging or just easy slow walking with a view that mixes nature and crane profiles.</div>
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Close by, there is a small colony of houses, where people are barbecuing and listening to music, everything well hidden behind a thick curtain of trees.</div>
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The hiking is going relatively easy - if you beware the fast running bicycles. You need some easy shoes and moderate energy. The pleasure of keeping walking will come by itself...</div>
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On one side of the train, you have fully nature trails.</div>
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On the other side, boat repair workshops and the traces of the communist past I was looking for from the very beginning of my trip here.<br />
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Sooner, my stereotypical curiosity will be fully rewarded. After filling my lungs with fresh air and rewarding my eyes with greens and blues, I am folowing a 2.5 km. pathway to the central area. Which is made exclusively of grey communist buildings. </div>
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Some of them got a colourful remake and are looking like a normal housing project aimed at big urban concentrations, in the style of <a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/01/exploring-gropiusstadt.html"><b>Gropiusstadt</b></a>. </div>
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Some or just empty, abandoned compounds that only the beautiful sprung of the pink spring flowers redeem their ugliness.</div>
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On the other side of Oder, the silhouette of the metallurgical plant (nowadays Arcelor Mittal) are hiding well behind the trees. Good they are not at work, otherwise this clear view will be hidden by the typical pollution clouds. </div>
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And there are more and more abandoned buildings on <b>Straße der Republik</b>, near <b>Karl Marx Allee</b>. Once they were the glory of communism, nowadays there are here to mention a failure. </div>
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I am almost close to my trail to the central area, and there is a different architecture to what I've encountered in the old part of the city. The typical Stalinist structures, eventually disposed in a carré. I imagine that here used to work the middle party bureaucrats and maybe their Soviet supervisors too. Everything is well arranged to offer the best visual and local control over the inhabitants. (I used to read too much Foucault once, I know).</div>
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The new city hall, currently operational, is reproducing the same housing style. Unfortunatelly, it is closed now so I cannot see the famous wall mosaic made by W. Womacka, aimed to outline the qualities of the socialist lifestyle. </div>
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Built in the mid 1950s, the city hall was also a meeting place for various communist party meetings and other organised events. Despite the official unanimity used to describe life in the communist Germany, there were also moments of dissent and even strikes. One of those events took place in the summer of 1953, when the workers at the metallurgical plants went on strike and threatened to refuse working until the whole country is following their example. Unfortunatelly, the secret police was faster in cutting short their revolutionary plans.</div>
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On <b>Lindenallee</b>, the main walking avenue in the modern part of <b>Eisenhüttenstadt</b>, I am rewarded with a work of Womacka, titled 'Production in peace' - although some of the works of socialism were not peaceful at all. Such huge billboards were relatively efficient in keeping the 'dream' alive, at least at the beginning.</div>
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Like in the case of <b>Frankfurt/Oder</b>, this commercial avenue, which is lively with plenty of youngster enjoying their day off outdoors, there are many works of art freely displayed. Such an urban insertion makes life in urban cities a bit less rough.</div>
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In addition, the culture lovers in this town can enjoy the cultural program of Friedrich Wolf Theater, one of the few such venues I've seen during my journey. There is also a Technical Museum and the Fire Brigade Museum, as well as an art gallery displaying art from the DDR. Maybe I will come back one day to check those cultural attractions...</div>
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As the trip is coming to an end, I might confess that I am not disappointed by my unusual choice of a trip. There were some interesting things to see and think about, some of them reminding me of my communist experiences from the old country. Eisenhütenstadt was once labelled 'Germany's first socialist town' but right now is rather a typical city in what once used to be Eastern Germany. </div>
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And if there is a reason to come back, it would be to understand the meaning of this bizarre statue on the top of a pole. Just because I am a very curious person that never has enough of strange and unusual encounters. </div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-3915368370866622492019-05-30T03:12:00.003-07:002019-05-30T03:12:19.438-07:00Biesdorf, Berlin's Hidden Gem of a Castle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Marzahn is not necessarily a place on the map of Berlin travels. Usually associated with high unemployment and communist-style blocks of houses, it is one of those areas that you rather avoid during your short or long stay in Berlin. Among my expat friends, I can hardly find one single enlightened person that ever went to this part of the city, unless I dragged them with me to visit <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/05/why-visit-iga2017.html">IGA 2017</a> </b>Flower Exhibition.</div>
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However, there are a couple of things that are worth seeing in this part of the city too, among which the natural diversity with a multicultural touch of the<a href="https://gruen-berlin.de/en/gaerten-der-welt"> <b>Gardens of the World</b></a> to which IGA Show is nowadays part thereof.</div>
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I am not someone to give up that easy a travel adventure, no matter where though, and although a visit to this part of Berlin might take over an hour from my Western side of the world, I know from my extensive travel experience in the most remote and off-the-map locations that there is always something worth seeing everywhere, even it might be only some samples of Soviet-style architecture. But there is more to Marzahn than the stereotypes we - not necessarily expats - label with. </div>
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For instance, the pink beautiful castle of Biesdorf.</div>
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Before the intensive expansion of the city of Berlin that took place at an aggressive pace starting with the end of the 19th century, Biesdorf used to be a small village area. There are only a couple of traces of that anti-urban life left now, especially around the <b>S-Bahn Biesdorf</b> area, where you can still find small houses and partly cobblestone streets. Around the S-Bahn, there are also some small fast food points, just to get some supplies before a long ride through the 4-hectare park of the castle.</div>
Directly from the train station, you only have to follow the <b>Albert-Brodersen Allee</b> to make your entry into a world which is completely out of time. The rows of trees bordering the long alley are your key to a different kind of urban kingdom.<br />
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Oh thou, searchers of solitude, you have a garden where you can find your peace with a book on your lap. This time, it was a disruption into the daily peace and happiness program, as a group of teenagers were looking in the garden for their peace while listening to loud Goth music rhymes. Maybe the next visitors will have more luck at this chapter.<br />
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Not bothered by the musical background, which was fading away more and more as I was moving forward on the alleys anyway, I took a big breath of fresh air and admired the natural surrounding, with the discrete traces of human creativity. The meditative pose of this massive stone statue is in complete sync with the mood you are turning on while walking and walking around the park.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsTeDUp12uYHzBH7rwNg8TtK2zb4m9g-jFqdqUShTirwdCUOqiZ6qZNKD85Ss9cllDiD0maGA5kgUE0OQbXrkBjvomUMR3PD6VCPbcqRiwdI1eTdYEd_zmfHEBMiqLKCv0WP_7bZKzmQ/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsTeDUp12uYHzBH7rwNg8TtK2zb4m9g-jFqdqUShTirwdCUOqiZ6qZNKD85Ss9cllDiD0maGA5kgUE0OQbXrkBjvomUMR3PD6VCPbcqRiwdI1eTdYEd_zmfHEBMiqLKCv0WP_7bZKzmQ/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then suddenly, while overwhelmed way too much by the nature - after all, we are just visitors in the Kingdom of Nature and although we may proclaim our love of it, we are rarely able to fully understand what this beautified and mystified natural life is all about - the pink castle of Biesdorf, with its careful planned Italian architecture angles interrupted the revery. </div>
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Biesdorf Castle is one of the 25 castles, manors and villas left to the city of Berlin after all the tragedies of the last century. Compared to other massive German castles, it rather look like a villa. It's history started at the end of the 19th centry, when it was first built for the Baron Hans Hermann von Rüxleben. Later, it was acquired by Werner von Siemens and stayed in the family until the beginning of the 20th century. In 1919, the villa was hosting various apartments. The owners changed little from the outdoor look, with most interventions being rather aimed at the gardens. </div>
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The city of Berlin purchased the castle in 1927, and when it was re-opened to the public, in 1933, it was fast taken over by the National Socialist party.</div>
Destroyed completely in 1945, it was rebuilt and opened during the communist Germany time in the late 1950s as a leisure center.<br />
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The ambiance around is typical for the early spring: many people - especially those accompanied of children of all ages - prefer to run around the gardens and enjoy the chill. Some are enjoying the view while sipping a coffee from the elegant large terrace. As usual, I prefer to have the best of both worlds and intensively exploring the gardens with a long stop indoors.</div>
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The octogonal tower is a landmark of this castle - besides the colour - and I am dreaming of being able to have a look over this part of the city from the top, but unfortunatelly such a chance is not being given to this demanding writer. The chance to admire every angle and corner of the building are lessons good enough in terms of architecture and for such an architecture lover as me, it is enough for now.</div>
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The indoors area brings to this journey to the unknown part of Berlin a human touch I was longing for. The free-of-charge exhibitions hosted here offer the chance to explore the works of local artists, some of them featuring visual life stories about the inhabitants of Marzahn. And it is much more to it than <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_aus_Marzahn">Cindy of Marzahn</a>, as the photo exhibition where random people living in this area are sharing their interesting stories.</div>
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In other hall, a piano is taking a well-deserved break before a new concert will be offered to the visitors.</div>
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After changing hands so often in less than 100 years, after the reunification of Germany, Biesdorf Castle went through massive renovation works and in 2016 was finally reintroduced in the public circuit. Nowadays, it is managed by a foundation running various local projects and its exbitions are aimed to raise awareness about local problems and identity.</div>
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As usual, my successful trips are ending on a sweet-tasty note. After more than an hour journey to this part of Berlin, followed by a long historical and nature exploration of the castle itself, I reward myself with a delicious hot-chocolate and poppyseeds cake - <b>Mohnkuchen</b> - from the castle eatery. It might not be real castle food, but it has a local touch and a very friendly customer service so it is a happy ending of a trip that would love to repeat again in the near future. </div>
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Against all odds, it seems that Marzahn has a lot to offer to the curious eyes and mind.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-85940305813835130112019-03-09T05:57:00.001-08:002019-03-09T05:57:20.713-08:00A Walk Through Hansaviertel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Hansaviertel is considered Berlin's smallest district, caught between the River Spree and the Tiergarten. Dramatically damaged after the WWII bombings, it was slowly redesigned and reshaped at the end of the 1950s, beginning of the 60s, thanks to the active involvement of architects belonging to the Bauhaus movement, such as Alvar Aalto, Egor Ereimann, Walter Gropius or Oscar Niemeyer.</div>
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The name - Hansaviertel - was as its main streets are named after the big independent trade cities in Northern Europe, a network created from the beginning of the 12th century, such as <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/search?q=Hamburg">Hamburg</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/10/top-things-to-do-in-anklam-germany.html">Anklam</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/10/how-to-spend-one-day-trip-to-greifswald.html">Greifswald</a></b> or <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2016/11/salty-middle-ages-impressions-in.html">Lüneburg</a></b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhRxSqjyJ73ZN1sAZ-NLSMrbSEvsLRK8bBGteJcAlTwPdtOPIRQehTIvgseqWdfQJbohdNIrhL3OntFWMCciXsm2mCpOHqpFVK-uCan8RJ9JwG7EUsE-NZ30-FBgBFw5w3zyez08PPIo/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhRxSqjyJ73ZN1sAZ-NLSMrbSEvsLRK8bBGteJcAlTwPdtOPIRQehTIvgseqWdfQJbohdNIrhL3OntFWMCciXsm2mCpOHqpFVK-uCan8RJ9JwG7EUsE-NZ30-FBgBFw5w3zyez08PPIo/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I started my walk from the U9 Hansaviertel train station, that was open only in 1961 - when the reconstruction of the area was almost finished. From outside, it is shaped as a rectangular long box, looking like painted in a haste during some creative hobby art workshop. </div>
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Opposite, there is the Hansabibliothek, one of the first open access libraries in Berlin. It is also rectangularly shaped, and has an interior garden - closed as for now for reconstruction works - where during the summer the visitors can read outside. </div>
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On the other side of the road, on <b>Altonaerstr.</b>, <b>GRIPS Theater</b> displays another playful visual outlook. The choice of the graphic representation is not random, as it is a theatre mostly focused on a young and adolescent audience. Most of the plays are exploring the ways in which the public shall be directly involved in the creation of art. Sounds like a place I should come back soon for understanding better this aesthetic perspective.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSJpV6whnqvNNKUEoS-mmxR_fZhQMF9ffPbg8EER2_A0FaYiDpUGlM4YCf9scpVsyEjluhbieViLxvppSQUFhWE1EOPaDHNRbB9m1TQIriVcfbyfVSwZM_UsFs8qwLNsM9XBDMWLTPIs/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSJpV6whnqvNNKUEoS-mmxR_fZhQMF9ffPbg8EER2_A0FaYiDpUGlM4YCf9scpVsyEjluhbieViLxvppSQUFhWE1EOPaDHNRbB9m1TQIriVcfbyfVSwZM_UsFs8qwLNsM9XBDMWLTPIs/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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For the next minutes am mostly surrounded by anonymous over 10-storey high blocks of apartments, until I arriving on <b>Flensburgerstr.</b>, with its freshly painted classical building, hosting at their ground level small art galleries or children-friendly caffés.<br />
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But wandering through this small island of classical old flair doesn't last longer, as I am again kept company by Tetris-like structures, made of relatively affordable materials, aimed at hosting as many families as possible in comfortable yet space-limited apartments.</div>
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The splashes of colours create a little diversity in a mass of grey buildings. After the war, West Germany needed to offer affordable accommodation to its middle class, and such real estate projects were the solution. Similarly, in the extreme West side of the city, <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/01/exploring-gropiusstadt.html">Gropiusstadt</a></b> was a offering a much larger alternative, aimed especially at the working class and low-income families.</div>
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Happily, there are also couple of human-scale - 2-storey small constructions, that remind me of some part of <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2017/01/exploring-gropiusstadt.html">Siemensstadt </a></b>that I recently explored.<br />
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The brutalist - read ugly - style of the Akademie der Künste might be discouraging a visit, but the concerts and literary events held there - especially on the occasion of the Literature Festival - are high class. I've been here a couple of years ago at a concert by the very talented <b><a href="https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sanda+weigl&view=detail&mid=2551AF53EFD73C72CBA52551AF53EFD73C72CBA5&FORM=VIRE">Sanda Weigl</a></b> and was impressed by the high technical quality of the sound.</div>
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Works of art are spread around the building, adding a creative note to the sober, unfriendly outlook.<br />
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When feeling overwhelmed by so many constructions and grey colours, a walk to the small park nearby saves the day, especially when you are too lazy to walk as far as Tiergarten.</div>
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Walking the empty alleys give a peaceful, almost poetic feeling.<br />
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After a short but welcomed meditative break, I am back in the concrete jungle, trying - unsuccessfully to understand the meaning - technical mostly - of the right side concrete giant tetraeder. Cannot be an elevator or an emergency exit and if it was supposed to be an aesthetical adornment, it went completely wrong. Made a not to self to try to go inside the building one day.</div>
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The enormous green spaces surrounding the buildings are well planned, therefore when the concrete is too mentally overwhelming, you have the blue sky to spend your summer days. I can only imagine how everything looks beautified when the trees are getting back their green leaves.<br />
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With its welcoming monotony, Hansaviertel taught me some interesting lessons about urban living and Bauhaus architecture and although without the mesmerizing effect the view of beauty instantly produces, it shares the feeling of a silent wisdom and sometimes it might be just enough. </div>
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As I am exploring more and more aspects of the Bauhaus movement, I can't wait to see what intellectual discoveries the next discovery will bring to me.</div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606038200685037622.post-27396638656004419812019-02-23T08:46:00.001-08:002019-02-25T23:25:10.792-08:00The Bauhaus Dutch Architecture from the English Quarter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
After I've discovered this week <b><a href="https://www.ilanatravels.com/2019/02/discovering-bauhaus-heritage-in.html">Onkel Toms Hütte in Zehlendorf, the urban project of Bruno Taut</a></b>, I was curious to see, photograph and understand another project of him, in the other side of the city: Schillerpark in Wedding. </div>
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Included since 2008 in the UNESCO World Heritage, it was considered one of the biggest city project of the Weimar Republic, aimed to offer proper accommodation to workers, functionaries and middle-class civil servants.</div>
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I started the journey at <b>U6 Rehberge train station</b>. Followed Müllerstraße and the blue direction shields leading to the <b>Schillerstraße Siedlung</b> (housing development project). The streets around are bearing English-sounding names, although not all of them necessarily belonging politically to the UK: Dubliner-, Glasgower-, Liverpool-, Oxford-, Bristolstraße. Hence the area was also called: English Quarter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWCGTH_sw66QssBAhvwUABd0A49CIk_WmYg-WRVuT2xDbiDWRgZRN_2zl6yWl5FclwOyIXs9S7HqlWtWoRiVPCDKKrp4xUMzCTQMd5wYsisL1UBJ2wHOb7-6WQoBKrUD7R07smUgwNWM/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWCGTH_sw66QssBAhvwUABd0A49CIk_WmYg-WRVuT2xDbiDWRgZRN_2zl6yWl5FclwOyIXs9S7HqlWtWoRiVPCDKKrp4xUMzCTQMd5wYsisL1UBJ2wHOb7-6WQoBKrUD7R07smUgwNWM/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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However, the style rather reminds of the Dutch architecture, with an exclusive focus on red bricks. Some entrances, that I've also seen in some areas in Moabit, look like tunnel entrances, in a 3D creative display of small bricks that give depth to the entrance.</div>
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Although the style is predominantly Bauhaus, decorative elements pertaining to the Jugendstil are frequent, which confers to some buildings a specific personality and unique style. The red bricks are used not only for the blocks of apartments, but also for other buildings included in the area, including the local 1-story church. </div>
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The materials are cheap, plaster and bricks, displayed on the 2-4 storeys buildings. According to the plans, each apartments was assigned 40 sqm., apparently enough for the needs of the bottom middle class. The area was also called 'red' for a reason other than the colour of the buildings: here there were living many opposants to the Nazi regime, most of them communists.</div>
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After the war, the project was further extended, and the different style - predominantly plaster as the construction materials at the end of 1950s, when the works were done, were relatively hard to find - is distinguishable. </div>
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The architecture is mostly monotonous, the kind of outlook specific to high concentration of people, but it breathes a certain sence of quietness and comfort. I rarely see children on the street or bikes, and the place seems like almost lost in time.</div>
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Given the UNESCO World Heritage status, Schillerpark Siedlung theoretically has a dedicated information point. Hosted in a curvaceous shaped public convenience - simply put, public restroom - one of the few designed in 1915 by the architect Heinrich Schweizer still preserved, it is out of service as for the time of my visit. Disappointing, especially given the 100 Years Bauhaus celebrated this year.</div>
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On the other end of the park, the cubic geometry is amplified by the diversion between red bricks and the outdoors axis of the balconies. The buildings define a square, with a big green space in their middle. No shops or commercial points, as you need to go to the main street for some purchases. </div>
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In the middle of all the orderly buildings, there is Schillerpark - or Chillpark, as it is nicknamed. A small forest, with hills and heaps, from where you can fill your lungs with fresh healthy air. If not the airplanes landing to Tegel every couple of minutes, I would have mention the majestic quietness too, but there is in fact any. There are no playgrounds, but children can easily and freely create their own games in the green areas. </div>
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Meanwhile, there is enough space to do your morning jogging, walk your dog or when the weather allows to spend some quality time outdoors in the company of a good book.</div>
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Although my visit in the Englisch Quarter was relatively short, and besides the park and the red-bricked houses there were not too many attractions to discover, I am happy I had the chance to see a completely different Bauhaus project. Plus, I've been for the first time in an area where you rarely - if ever - go unless you live or know someone who's living there. </div>
Ilana WDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08666780646138254801noreply@blogger.com0