Monthly Archives: May 2011

Germany From Side To Side In One Day

It’s been a BEAR of a day, folks — seriously!

We left our apartment outside Dresden this morning, tried to get on the motorway to start heading southeast, couldn’t get on because the entry ramps were closed for construction, and we started our long day of driving by backtracking until we found an ramp that allowed us onto the motorway.

What should have taken us 7 hours to drive over to Strasbourg, just across the border in France, took almost ten solid hours of driving with two short stops for meals that took less than 20 minutes each time. Know why it took so long? Road construction from East to West all the way across Germany. AARRGGHH!!!

We are beyond tired right now, so don’t expect to see a steady stream of new posts until we get settled into our next 2 week stop in the Pyrenees. I am rather backed up on posts and sending photos to my agencies — so I’ll try to plow through some of the backlog then.

Until then, enjoy this shot of one of the many versions of Berlin’s ‘Buddy Bears’ that you see all over that wonderful city. This particular one was over 2 metres tall, had a rather happy face, and was spectacularly colourful!

Bright red Berlin Bear -- one example of many variations around the city

Photo Of The Day – Rather Retro Advertising in Eastern Germany

“Goodness! That’s a bit of old fashioned cheesecake style advertising, isn’t it?” Mark looked over at what I was pointing to and smiled as he nodded yes and added, “It certainly is!”

This sign is mounted on the side of the bike shop in the village of Kroppen in Eastern Germany. We were eating lunch in the beer garden of the tavern across the street when I spotted it.

Hope it makes you smile, too!

Retro style 'cheesecake' advertising on bike shop in Kroppen, Germany

Jingle-Jingle! An Essential European Travel Tip

Can you hear that sound? Jingle-jingle!

Whether you are a woman or a man, this is an essential tip for travelling in Europe. Always, always have some change in your pocket or purse or you’ll be ‘caught out’ when you need to use the toilet. Unless you are in a museum, there is almost always a fee to pay to use the toilet in every location from restaurants to train stations, departments stores, malls, and roadside rest stops on the highway.

Pay toilet in Berlin, Germany

I have to admit, I was rather annoyed when I first encountered these pay toilets in the department stores in the Netherlands and then discovered that all of the rest stops on the motorway and autobahn in Germany also required you to pay for the ‘privilege’ of using them. This peevish attitude continued for the first part of our visit to Berlin until it suddenly dawned on me that I was actually using the cleanest and most spotless toilets I had ever seen.

Almost without fail, they have an attendant who goes in after each person exits the cubicle (especially the ones in the malls and department stores) and they spray down the seat with cleaner and sort out the entire area before you enter. And there are no wet or messy sink areas since those are always kept wiped down, cleaned, and dried.

All of that cleanliness does put your mind at ease when you might already be edgy or out of your comfort zone in a new city or country.

Can you hear that sound? Jingle-jingle! I now carry coins at all times and so does Mark — and we do so happily.

Berlin – Photo Of The Day – Vintage Vespa and Retro-Inspired Poster

Keeping today’s entry short and sweet. This was a lovely old mustard-coloured Vespa that we saw parked in front of the Historical Museum in Berlin. The window behind had a very attractive Retro-Inspired poster hanging in it.

We’ve been surprised by just how many Vespas we have seen in Germany. They certainly are an economical form of transport for urban living and can be parked just about anywhere.

Enjoy!

Vintage Vespa in front of Berlin Historical Museum

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No Update Until Tomorrow

Sorry — didn’t mean to lead you on with the promise of Part 2 of the Luftwaffe Museum. But we got back from rambling around Berlin at 11 PM tonight and I am way too tired to post an article!

Back tomorrow if at all possible. Bye for now!

Vroom-vroom! Berlin’s Luftwaffe Museum

In times long gone — a cough, a sputter, and then a an astonishing lift would see the bird-like creation of varnished canvas and wood and tensioned wires rise from its rubber wheels into the air. How brave those aviators must have been to venture aloft in vehicles such as these. They may not have been sleek and metallic, but they had a delicate beauty. Even the propellers from that era are works of art fashioned of beautifully polished wood.

Fragile early wings at Luftwaffe Museum in Berlin

Close-up of early airplane propeller at Luftwaffe Museum in Berlin, Germany

Alongside the later aircraft made of sturdy steel, a few such fragile creations are on display in Berlin in the large Hanger 3 of the Luftwaffe Museum/Luftwaffenmuseum.

Walking towards Hanger 3 at the Luftwaffe Museum in Berlin

Located in the southwestern Berlin suburb of Gatow — the museum covers the history of aviation in Germany from the earliest airplanes, gliders, and zeppelins to the World War II era and the Cold War and beyond.

The museum covers a variety of decades, includes period clothing from each era, has no entry charge and is certainly a thrilling day out for aeronautical and/or history fans. I happen to be both, so I happily spent quite a few hours here and still didn’t get out to look at all of the airplanes that are parked along the once-bustling runways.

Below is a selection of images from that splendid day out. Enjoy!

And make sure you come back for Part 2 tomorrow when we move into the World War II era.

Cluster of planes at the Luftwaffe Museum in Berlin, Germany

3 Wing Fokker -- the type that the Red Baron flew in WW I

World War I plane with machine gunner

COPYRIGHT Means EXACTLY That!!!

How unfortunate it is that I have to place a post like this on my site, but it seems that there are people who do not bother to read the disclaimer that is placed on each and every page of this website!

I embed each of my photos with a tracking program — so yes, I do know when someone has used one of my images without permission or payment.

You know who you are since I have just sent you a REMOVE notice. And I will not fail to report any further offenses by anyone else who tries that little stunt to your individual website hosts for copyright violation.

Deborah — the artist/photographer who DOES own these images!