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The Berlin Hauptbahnhof (main train station) was opened on May 26, 2006. It is now Europe's largest and most modern crossing station. In fact it is so modern that if it wasn't for the trains you could think you were at an airport.

Labels: berlin, germany, hauptbahnhof, train station

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Apartment block mural, Oppelner Strasse - Berlin.

Labels: berlin, germany, mural, oppelner strasse

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The Palace Of The Republic was an abomination of a building that was built from 1973 to 1976 in the time of the GDR. The Palace had multiple functions, including the seat of the East German parliament, art galleries, restaurants and a bowling alley.

It was built on the site of the old Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace), which was damaged in the war, then demolished by the GDR government.

The building is now being demolished and their are plans to rebuild the Berliner Stadtschoss on the location that it originally stood.

Labels: berlin, berliner stadtschloss, gdr, germany, palace of the republic

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The muched loved Ampelmännchen (little traffic light man) can be seen at traffic lights across Berlin. Originally from East Berlin, they were removed after reunification, but have since been brought back after protest of their removal.

Labels: ampelmann, berlin, east berlin, germany, traffic light

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There is very little left of the Berlin Wall. The despised wall was torn down so quickly that now only three sections remain in all.

A clever way has been devised to remember the wall without it impeding on local residents. A line of brick has been laid into the ground following the original path of the wall.

Labels: berlin, berlin wall, germany

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The Fernsehturm (Television Tower) was built in the 1960's in East berlin by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) Government.

On sunny days a cross appears on the stainless steel sphere, which was dubbed the "Pope's Revenge". The Communist government removed and supressed religious structures, hence the name.



Further Reference:
berlinerfernsehturm.de

Labels: berlin, fernsehturm, germany, popes revenge, television tower

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Over 60 years later and you can still see some buildings scarred from the battle of Berlin. When the Soviet army entered the city in late April 1945, house-to-house and hand-to-hand combat was carried out amidst the already ruined city.

Labels: battle of berlin, berlin, germany

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Number two in a series of funky city urinals. The city pissoir, Berlin.

Labels: berlin, germany, pissoir, urinal

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Woo Hoo!! Australia is through to the last 16 after another come from behind effort. I was in Earls Court London watching the game. Earls Court used to be known as Kangaroo Court in the 60's when it was inhabited mostly by Aussies. They have long since been pushed further west from this prime inner London location, but you can still find many hostels and budget B and B's here, as well as the pubs that Aussies congregate at for major events.

No one took me up on my offer for the Kangaroo deal. Well we have another chance now populate a pocket of Germany with inflatable kangaroos when we head back to Kaiserslautern to play Italy. The blow up kangaroos rated a mention in The Independent this week, so imagine the great press thousands would create.

Labels: germany, kaiserslautern, kangaroo, world cup

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Guten Tag everyone

München

I went to Munich knowing I wouldn't see the Australia v Brazil game live, but I wanted to be there in support anyway. Apparently there were over 50,000 Aussies in Munich, with the numbers made up from those that made the trip from Australia and a large contingency of UK based Aussies. It was impossible to tell though who had the biggest support base as both Australia and Brazil have the green and gold as their colours, so the streets of Munich was mostly a sea of yellow.

Being more nomadic than tribal, I don't own any items that align me to a nation. Today was the one day I wanted to wear an Aussie shirt. Of all the shops I searched in Munich, none of them had any Australian gear. You could pick up shirts from Togo or Tunisia but the only green and gold was truckloads of Brazil T-shirts.

The Brazil T-shirt must be the third most popular shirt in the world, coming in behind the Che Guevara and Ramones T-shirt. People who wear these shirts usually have no revolutionary or leftist tendencies, or have listened to a Ramones album, and so too most people wearing the Brazil shirt weren't speaking any Portuguese. I'm all for adopting a team if your country isn't in the finals, but how obvious to choose Brazil!

Business Opportunity of the Week

Most of the Aussies, sensibly, came more prepared than I did. The most popular item of the day was the troop of inflatable kangaroos. They brought joy and merriment to non Australians everywhere they hopped. And why wouldn't they? I would have bought one if they were on sale. I reckon I could have sold a thousand that day. Imagine how good it would have looked on worldwide television to see a stadium full of blow up kangaroos when (if) Australia scores a goal.



So, here is a business proposition for you. If you can deliver to me 1000 inflatable kangaroos to Stuttgart by thursday in time for the Australia v Croatia game, help me sell them and we can go halvies in the profits. I'm sure I've seen them at $2 shops and you could sell them here easily for €15.

While we have our comical zoo of animals that make us popular around the world, Brazil's appeal most probably lies in its parades of scantily clad carnival girls.



Tschüs

James

Labels: australia, brazil, germany, kangaroo, munich, world cup

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Labels: devil's footprint, frauenkirche, germany, munich

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Albert Einstein statue in Ulm, Germany. Einstein was born here on March 14, 1879.

Labels: albert einstein, germany, statue, ulm

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Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) houses what is said to be the remains of the Magi (the three wise men).



The Shrine of the Three Kings makes Colognes Cathedral one of great pilgrimage churches of Europe.

Labels: cathedral, cologne, dom, germany, magi, three wise men

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Labels: berliners, cologne, germany

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The Smart Car, by DaimlerChrysler, are a just a bit longer than most cars are wide, ideal for pulling off sneaky parking in small European streets.

Labels: frankfurt, germany, smart car

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