Zürich in The Snow

A little taste of Zürich --- It's a beautiful city as well as being friendly and ultra clean .
There is one frame in this video which is so apt for Valentines Day . Can you spot it ?

Manchester Day 2. Architecture

All I can say is 'enjoy ' . Sure enough it's my home city but as like as not number one for friendliness. It is amazing !

Manchester.'The Greatest.'

Let the video speak for itself . Manchester is a fabulous city which is amazing for it's listed buildings and now, many truly spectacular architectural works . This first video takes in my journey , arriving in snow. Later out in the  rain for a fabulous night out up in Cloud23. I can recommend and say , make this a must for any trip to Manchester. Savour both views and drinks .

Paris In The Winter

The songwriters never took into account the fact that Paris is not used to snow and thus as soon as a cm falls the city goes into shock .Streets are not swept , no services for clearing runways exist  on a Sunday. Astonishing. However after an age I did arrive. The weather was wet, chilly but fun and maybe this odd mix gave more 'mood' , to photographs. I met many fascinating people, not all shown in this film. Enjoyed the French cinema, Japanese cinema and a classical concert . Miles were walked hence  at Terminal 2F CDG to relax prior to return trip was a must. Flights were functioning, yes it had been a great break but an even bigger pleasure to return to Berlin .

Is Berlin a Berliner ?

Today I was greeted by bright sunshine streaming through the window. This made springing from bed easy. After all the Funkturm beckoned and what was even more wonderful was the sprinkling of snow over the city. As if some giant had come along shaking powdered sugar over the city making it a real 'Berliner' .

The viewing platform was closed but where there's a will , there's a way and this proved excellent .'The Funkturm Restaurant'.  A visit to Berlin is incomplete without investigating this amazing structure with it's links to early broadcasting and fine cuisine..

Guten Rutsch

         
Helena Mikas Wants To Say 

'A Very Happy NewYear To All '

Seasons Greetings 2012

A Very Happy Christmas To All 

A Very Good Hair Day In Berlin

Every year Berlin Sassoon salon ensures that all have a taste of Christmas fun on the last Saturday pre Christmas .
It never ceases to amaze me how creative these people are and it's a pleasure to go down and join in plus being allowed to film .
So it wasn't too difficult getting up at 7 am, then going out in bitterly cold weather to be there at 8-30am. En route it felt like Christmas , once there even more so and upon  Ieaving, the snow was falling . It still is and what can I say other than :-
"A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS" to all who read this blog or chance upon it. 

A Day Return to Milan .

City hopping once a month with Air Berlin is proving more fun than expected .
It's my reward system for overcoming sweet stuff and where others take mini  breaks , I view my monthly journey  as a 'bite size healthy diet'. Cheaper too .
I get to cities never visited , indulge my passion for photography and undertake lots of exercise packing in as much as one can prior to the return flight .Perhaps the greatest plus is that constant reminder as to how friendly and helpful ordinary people are . Forget the media ... there is a lot of hope for our world .

GNYBERLIN Visits Manchester .

This film by 'Luci West' has made my day.
A superb YouTube film maker, she too lives in Berlin and I subscribe to her channel.
Since embedding was enabled on the video I opted to share on my blog .
Luci's hallmark is the ability to produce sensational movies each one minute long .This is no easy task .
Manchester is my home city and it's a truth that  :-
"You can take the girl out of Manchester but you can't take Manchester out of the girl "
Her work here  is as good as any Christmas present in my eyes.
I hope you enjoy viewing what is a superb city and then why not view more of Luci's work at GNYBerlin on YouTube . You will enjoy the experience.
Thank you Luci for taking me home in just one minute.

Thought For Today

It's that time of year again. Frantic shopping and what to do next. It needn't be . Don't wait for New Year try this rule of thumb. There's no better time.

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

Og Mandino

An Advent Greeting From Berlin

This is from Otto Hamborg and the Viertakter to all viewers and isteners . The most famous German Christmas Carol in blues form . Enjoy and may your advent be full of happiness .Look forward with hope to what is our world and make sure each and every one of us in what ever small fashion makes sure it stays so .For it is not the property of the powerful, or the rich it is everyone's. It is 'ours' minus nationality or politics .

An International Start To Advent 2012

 

 

This weekend coming is the start of Advent and you can celebrate it in truly international style should you wish .Forget cooking ,stress etc . :-) Above you see details from the Swedish Church who are having a two day fete. It promises to be lively. The Anglican Church will treat you to 'A Very British Christmas' with much on offer. After both these events on Saturday I'll be off at night to the Gendarmenmarkt where as well as more goods,food and drink there's entertainment. Saturday 19:30 Acki Hoffmann will be playing. A weekend of fun where you may well be able to get some of your presents not to mention good food. No pushing a shopping trolley around the supermarket. Let's hear it for Sweden, Britain and Germany and most of all for Christmas.

Stuttgart For The Day

This day trip special treat surpassed my expectations. Stuttgart is a fascinating city. Here are but a few images linked using Picasa editor . An iMovie of the amazing Glocken Museum will follow. Already I wish to return to see so much more. For example :- Friedrich Hundertwasser architecture , Theodor Heuss Museum , The Otto Dix Exhibition to name but three. A tip. Good walking shoes are a must in Stuttgart . The transport is excellent but the roads steep , oh so steep . 

Christmas in The Air .

On a delightful cold and misty day, to be well wrapped up was a must
Down in the city Ka De We was busy creating a winter wonderland for Advent which is almost here . Their decorations are always exquisite and it was with joy that I discovered this snowdome. Having paid and about to leave, there before me, was yet another snowglobe, different but rather lovely. Something tells me this is a Christmas to look forward to .
For any Berlin readers why not visit  St George's Church, Preussen Allee ?
1st December at 15-18H . A Very British Christmas Fete will be in  full swing with lots to eat,drink,  buy and win. I'm already in the party mood .

How To Break An Addiction

The video says it all .Many of us battle with 'addictions'. There are some who would say eating lots of sweet things is not dangerous or detrimental to health. It can be and was very much so for me . Now I've got it taped. The simple method can be applied to any addiction. It has to be stressed that the foundation for success is a) a desire to stop and b) a technique which is simple and visual. This helps one stay focused. Good luck to any viewers who try this . I'm finding it great fun .

The rescue of Teufelsberg

Jazz Brunch In Berlin

Yes the weather's a lot cooler, days shorter but, a plus is the weekend Jazz Brunch scene has arrived. Die Eins was Sunday's venue and it's fair to say this terrific Charlie Parker number, a favourite of mine had feet a tapping. A great time was had by all.

Almost Midnight - Halloween 2012

 

A beautiful moon,clear sky, Halloween ,waiting for midnight and who knows,remarkable happenings. Some things never lose their magic.

Schlegel ... A Man Of Vision and Truth

Where there is politics or economics, there is no morality.
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel 1772---1829

A very appropriate quotation especially as Berlin has just had a visitation from the very untruthful former premier of Britain. His warmongering activities with George Bush gave him such an appetite for presidential status. So much so he is now touring and advocating an elected president of Europe. No prizes for guessing who he is putting forward. HIMSELF. 
Something tells me that Schlegel must have nodded and turned in his grave as Berlin was tainted by a Blair visitation.