The food of Berlin....

Eating my way through Berlin was fairly easy.  I did not think so when I first arrived and wanted to try a favorite - currywurst.  I have to admit I did not care for it at all.  It was a sausage that was put in the deep fryer for 30 seconds...then cut into small pieces and covered with ketchup and sprinkled with a lot of curry powder.  I will leave all of that to your imagination....since I did not feel a picture would do the "dog" justice.

That was the only mistake in food choice....the rest was all up hill.  This was in a restaurant close to the Brandenburg Gate.  We stopped for dinner while on the Festival of Lights....the beer was good...whether it be light or dark....

I took the light....then the next was easy...pork loin is always one of my favorites....and this with mashed potatoes and kraut....yummy....but wait....the whole loin of pork!!!

The name of that restaurant....remains a mystery....sorry.

Now this next restaurant was "Sissi" it was very quaint...small....and candle light intimate....with FANTASTIC food....a great salad....always delicious breads with a butter spread...and then goulash served with potato dumplings....oh, and a delicious German red wine suggested by our Iranian server...it went very well with the goulash.....

The next night we dined at Leibniz-Klause...a business 38 years on this site....it was highly recommended and we were not disappointed.....of course another German wine suggested by our server (I had originally selected a Washington State wine....he told me..."...no, no...you are in Germany...you need to experience the German wine...")....

My food choice this cold evening....a potato soup to start....

Then a hearty....German meatball and boiled potatos with a beet salad...ummmm gooddddd...

The beet salad contained small bits of onions....

 Finally....and the only night I had dessert....a German apple strudel....served with whipped cream and a dip of ice cream....way over the limit for food this day....but then I only eat breakfast and dinner...so I try and rationalize.....

The final recommendation we had was for a restaurant in the Eastern section of Berlin.  It is called "White Trash"....I did not have my camera that evening...but I will provide the link.  The food is mostly of the fried variety....onion rings, chicken, french fries....etc....the ambiance....hard rock - with a band that we did not hear...only saw them setting up for an evening of music....BUTTT..  back to the food  I thought it was great.  I had a Cheeseburger that rivaled any I have ever had...huge burger....HUGE portion of condiments (lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onions...etc....)...and very crowded...you need a reservation....here is the website link....

http://www.whitetrashfastfood.com/

Okay....now on to Amsterdam......

Potsdam....a road trip from Berlin...

One day we decided to take a road trip from Berlin...a short 30 minutes by "S-Baun" to Potsdam.  Leaving from the main train station in Potsdam we began touring the city..

 The city used as a residence for Prussian kings and royal families from the 17th to 20th century.    The tour bus provided a drive-by tour of the famous palaces and buildings of the city...such as....the Church of St. Nicholas in the distance...

The Potsdam film museum....

...and a great sculpture adorning the entrance...

...the Brandenburg Tor (Gate) of Potsdam....

One may remember that after WWII - Stalin, Churchill and Truman met....not in Berlin which was heavily damaged by the war...but in Potsdam.  The picture of the three sitting together is famous worldwide.  

This bridge provided access to Berlin...East Germany!

And then the other direction to Potsdam...

A walk thru the Historic Inner City of Potsdam began thru the Brandenburg Gate and headed toward the Church of St. Peter and Paul...

Along the way the shops and avenue provided some interesting contrasts....

Finally...the Church.....

Here are some of my selected views from the Architecture of Potsdam.....

The art works....

The Palace gardens...

...a historic windmill...

Finally....a zoo....we need more zoos...I vote for one for every city!!

As for the picture of the day...not one but two...of decorations for fall/halloween....

Now back to Berlin....

Berlin - Festival of Lights....

I was very fortunate to be in Berlin during the annual Festival of Lights.  Many buildings (historic as well as conventional office structures) participate in this event with thousands of people each night going out to view the incredible results.

The Brandenburg gate transformed into a sea of color and unique color.....

The views in the Breitrscheid-platz of the Mercedes-Benz building and a nearby office tower with beacons shining into the night.  The the Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedahtnis-Kirche was radiant in a sea of blue color.....

The US Embassy also got into the Festival....depicting the Declaration of Independence on its walls with a background of red-white-blue lighting....

This building had a bouncing ball that circulated around the building - however it is difficult to see with only one photograph....but as can be seen the ball of light in the first picture moves to the left hand side in the second

This is by far the most unusual display and one that provided a sea of different images.   Take a look at these photographs projected on the building...and the clarity of the images....

...they almost come to life...right before you....they were really cool....

...and not limited to just a human face....but abstract faces as well....

I tilted my camera a little and this came out almost like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.....NOT!!

This building was almost un-noticed from the plaza by the imposing faces....almost..

Finally...this little beauty off the beaten path....

The lights went off on Sunday night for another year......

Next up....a few pictures from eating my way thru Berlin....