Unconditionally

Categories: a woman's strength · Berlin Through Frog Eyes · Culture Vulture · Existentialism · Family · Photography · Social Condition · Through Frog Eyes · Urban ExplorationLeave a comment

The photograph above was taken at the Hamburger Museum for Contemporary Art the other day, and I first published it on Instagram before deciding to write a few lines. I crossed paths with this senior couple (I guesstimate late 70s if not early 80s) several times throughout the museum, as we all followed a similar path of exploration. At first, I just assumed he was telling her an endless story, and my glance was more peripheral than acknowledging. It was only when I passed them a third time that I noticed that it was only him who was speaking, and…

Hits and Misses at the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum

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There may be a shortage of politeness, customer service, and hospitality in Berlin, but the sheer amount of museums and galleries in this city more than make up for everything else. When it comes to visual art, Berlin is a haven for all those who seek inspiration, entertainment, and momentary distraction from reality. I can name you 50 reasons for not moving to Berlin in five minutes, but I can also name you 50 great reasons for choosing this chaotic and mismanaged city as home, or even just a holiday destination. I am no great fan of museums per se,…

Lost Places Berlin: S-Bahn Siemensstadt

Categories: Berlin Through Frog Eyes · Culture Vulture · Hidden Treasures of Berlin · Lost Places · Photography · Social Condition · Through Frog Eyes · Urban ExplorationLeave a comment

If you are into photographing Lost Places, the blogs of others who have explored before me are an invaluable source of information. The list of Lost Places for Berlin 15-20 years ago was incredibly long and fascinating. Sadly, many of the locations on such lists have since been gobbled up by real estate conglomerates for renovation or been fenced up and access denied completely. The abandoned train station of Siemensstadt has been on my list for a while and I have passed it a couple of times, always wondering how on earth to get in and onto the tracks. Originally…

Monumental Monstrosities: The Corbusier House

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Not everything designed by a famous architect is beautiful, and the Corbusier House is a classic example. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, and what passes as art is always reason to raise my brows. Commissioned in 1958 to Le Corbusier, the style used for this apartment building is aptly called brutalism, and brutal it is. The option to visit this architectural wonder was recommended as an addition to the architecture styles of the 1930s and 40s, and although this building doesn’t really fit in the era, it is geographically convenient to swing by after completing the…

Monumental Monstrosities: The Berlin Olympic Stadium

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Monstrosity was the first word that came to mind when I first saw the Berlin Olympic Stadium, and this was from the back side (the bell tower side). When I saw it later on from the front side I was impressed by the supreme lack of beauty, the coldness, and the sheer monstrous size of it all. I promised myself that I would return to photograph this historical building when was shrouded in fog and snow, but that was not meant to be. Originally built in 1909 for the 1916 Olympic Games, the stadium was designed by Otto March. It…

Berlin Through Frog Eyes: Tegeler See (Lake Tegel)

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There are certain places that I prefer to visit during winter, not just because of the absence of people but for the presence of light. There is something very special about the crisp winter light that fights its way through the overbearing clouds and the overpowering wind. The conditions for photography were far from perfect (at least by my standards), and I could barely feel my hands while holding the camera. Yes, one could wear gloves and technically I had some with me, but wearing gloves and holding the camera is a very clumsy activity, so I ditched them. I…

Three Kings in Alt Kladow

Categories: Battling depression · Berlin Through Frog Eyes · Christmas Season · Culture Vulture · Existentialism · Family · Hidden Treasures of Berlin · Photography · prayer and photography · Religion and Faith · Social Condition · Urban ExplorationLeave a comment

There is absolutely no trace of the religious aspect of the Feast of the Three Kings in Berlin whatsoever. Had it not been for the Sunday mass in the morning, I would have overlooked the Feast of the Epiphany, which would have certainly earned me a frown from my parents. As a child in Mexico, Three Kings was a big thing to us, as this was the day all the children received their toys. My parents had no trouble adapting to the local culture back then, not just for my sake, but because it was in tune with their religious…