Brandenburg

Day in Brandenburg

After my Rüdnitz walk I decided to go on a day trip to Stadt Brandenburg with 'Oldie' Hermann. I was surprised that he had never been there before.

We both have a special 'oldie' travel pass so can travel to such places for no extra cost.

Brandenburg is both a city (Stadt) and a federal state of Germany (Mark Brandenburg).

The state surrounds Berlin.  It has an interesting history and one that has to be read by anyone wanting to learn the history of Germany.

The area was occupied by Slavic speaking groups until Germanic groups moved into the area east of the Elbe about a thousand years ago. Many place names, such as Rüdnitz, originate from the Slavic period.

Brandenburg was also a Slavic settlement where the people lived from fishing. It was built on an island in the middle of the river Havel. German settlers later added a protective wall and built a cathedral.

 This is in the Alt Stadt. Opposite is the later Neu Stadt. We saw old buildings in both areas but spent most of the time in the Alt Stadt. The photos were taken there.

At the end of the tour we went to a traditional German restaurant on the side of the river and had a pleasant late lunch of Zanderfilet, washed down with a nice dry Riesling!

Mmmm .. very different from my lunch in Rüdnitz the day before!

Rüdnitz

Walking in Rüdnitz

Last Saturday I joined six others in need of movement and fresh air. The previous evening I was in the Komische Oper and enjoyed the concert and a drink later with Angelika and some of her friends. I was ready for a change and looking forward to a walk.

We met at Rüdnitz railway station and set off. We did a zig-zag circle around Rüdnitz and wandered through typical Brandenburg landscape for about 15 klm. Here is a photo of the landscape. I think one is enough for the rest of the area looks just the same! We ended up nearly where we started.

Near the station is a horse breeding centre and riding school with a small restaurant. Solid well cooked food and I did what I always do when I don't know the quality of the restaurant. which is to order a Schnitzel. You can't do much damage to one of those. I ordered 'chips' and a salad to go with it.

Wow, but was I surprised. It was advertised as 'small' but looked anything but small when it arrived. It tasted very good. It was thin and almost melted in the mouth. I managed to eat it with the salad but left most of the chips. And so ended a very pleasant day with some interesting people.

Garden Attack

Garden Attack Weekend

I've had a good week and am on the verge of a busy weekend. It started with a bicycle ride with Hans - the first this year. Also some  teaching and meeting some more 'oldies', helping in the Computer for Seniors group and  training on Thursday.

That evening, Lars helping me to add a blu-ray to my TV system and told me about connections and getting an AV receiver for the future. I learnt a lot and even went to a store to look at what they had to offer. I wasn't impressed so will look around. I have time.

This afternoon I finished the image I started last week and here it is. I called it 'Garden Attack', for Spring has come to Berlin.

This evening I am going to the 5th Symphony Concert at the Komische Oper. After I shall have a drink with Angelika and I shall look out for Josephine from our teachers' association. At the AGM last Saturday she told me she had a ticket for the concert.

Tomorrow, I am going on a short walk in the country around Rüdnitz to the north of Berlin and on Sunday I am joining an 'oldie' group excursion to the city of Brandenburg where I am sure we shall wander around some old buildings. I shall take my camera and share the event with you soon.

eltabb AGM

Eltabb-AGM 2010

I spent last Saturday at the eltabb AGM. Okay Frances, I can hear you asking what is eltabb and what is an AGM. Eltabb is the short form for English Language Teachers Association  Berlin-Brandenburg. It is a voluntary association of teachers of English and I was a co-founder all of 15 years ago! AGM means Annual General Meeting. It is held each year to deal with the organisational aspects of the association - required by law. Hope that is clear.

We have not had the best of years under the leadership of the board of management so it was a relief to find new and younger members to replace them. I took my camera, as I do to all events, and took some photos of members. These I posted to our association e-mail group but there were two I felt were rather special.

One is of Dorothy and I really like her natural smile-laugh. Actually she stood up to give her report and I took a photo but didn't like it, so started to take another. At this point she said in a loud 'stage whisper'...."Just get on with it", then started to laugh and right at the moment I pressed the button and what a nice result. She was our Events Organiser for three years and did a superb job. Pity she stepped down but after so many years I can understand it.

The other photos is of Mo with his son Jonah. Mo was Chairman of our association for two years and did a good job. He then became a father and the result we can see here. I really like this photo for it shows the pride and protection of papa Mo and shows the belief and confidence of son Jonah that Papa Mo will love and protect him. The body language shows it all. Wonderful!

More Kunst

More Kunst last Friday

Went to my Photoshop course last Friday and it was nice to see the people again. Only Stefan was not there. He was on a well deserved holiday so Marco deputised for him. Marco told us that we should not try anything new in Stefan's absence, but practice more of what we had learnt/learned.

The topic was to take a garden background and be creative by adding things to it. The results were interesting and here is my piece of Kunst! I started another one but didn't have time to finish. Perhaps I can finish it this Friday and share with you this weekend.

Last week was strange mix of settling back into Berlin and still wanting to be back on the ski slopes of Großarl. One of the high spots of my week was to see Handel's opera 'Orlando' at the Komische Oper last Thursday evening. Wonderful production and I can only recommend it to all.

Ski Fashion

Ski Fashion and the future

On the first day, Ian told me I had brought the wrong socks. I subsequently bought the right ones! Then the plastic in my goggles broke. I would have had to wait a week for a replacement so I threw them away. I now have to buy new goggles for the next season.

 I didn't have a helmet. I was one of the few on the slopes not so equipped. Very different from my last turn out seven years ago, when almost no-one wore a helmet.

Ian and Birgit wore the latest fashion, including one piece leggings. Ian had a good laugh when he saw that I was wearing knee length shorts, so allowing free movement of the knee before the lower leg disappeared into the long ski socks. This was also permissible when I stopped skiing seven years ago.


How times and fashions have changed!  I have decided to return to the ski slopes next winter. I, therefore, have time to consider sartorial matters such as my outfit.

Suzi took a photo of me posing and sipping from my Flachmann, which I like. Here it is next to a picture I took from a newspaper about how the elegant man will appear on the piste next winter.  Ian, you may notice he is wearing shorts, as I was - but in my case under my ski trousers. I shall equip myself suitably and see you all on the piste next season! Pip-pip!!

Whiskey

Whiskey Worship

Ian and Birgit had met Trish in London before they left for Austria. She asked them to buy me a bottle of Glenfiddich, which they did at the Duty Free Shop and delivered a nice liter bottle. A BIG thanks to you Trish for I know you will read these lines sometime when you return to Datca in Turkey. Very generous of you.

We cooked together most evenings and drank local red wine with our meal, but talked about 'cracking the bottle' before we left. This did not happen so I brought the full bottle back for a special event here in Berlin.

I decided to show Trish my appreciation visually, so I came up with this shot of me worshiping at the holy whiskey shrine! Hope it makes you smile.

When not spending time together in the chalet, we spent the days in different classes and usually met for lunch in the top restaurant. On the last day, we decided to meet in the afternoon for a 'photo shoot'.

I took some photos of The Gang and asked a passing skier to take one of us all. This is the result.

I like the composition - there is a lot of movement in the picture. It is very natural.

Ski Class

My Ski Class

On Monday morning we took the ski bus into town. I bought a ski pass so I could use all the lifts to get up the mountain. I also got myself 'kitted out' with carving skis, ski boots and sticks. Unfortunately I had problems and had to change them later.

I joined a three day ski group and set off to find them at 11:30 in front of the restaurant next to the top ski lift.

They were a really pleasant group and we got on well with each other from the beginning. It helped that we were about the same level = not beginners but needing to improve skiing technique.

We had a very experienced teacher, recommended by Ian and Birgit, whose name was Herbert. He spoke in the local dialect which sometimes confused a young lady in the group who was from Belgium and only had basic German.

Even so, we all did what we were told and learned a lot from him. Here is a photo of Herbert keeping out the cold by having a 'swig' from my 'Flachmann'!

First Morning

The First Morning

After a long train journey taking me through München and Salzburg I finally arrived at St. Johann am Pongau from where I took a taxi to the chalet in Au.

It is higher on the hillside than the hotel so offered a wonderful first morning view - as you can see.


Ian, Birgit, Suzi and Rob were already there. Ian showed me around the chalet and I took the downstairs bedroom with my own toilet and shower. Nice!

We had an evening meal in the hotel then relaxed to be ready for the start of the ski course next day.

Back to Berlin

Back to Berlin

I got back to Berlin late yesterday. It was a twelve hour journey with three connections. The best was the connection from Munich to Berlin via the smooth ICE trains.

Today I have updated my more than two computers and worked on the photos I took on my skiing holiday, then it started to snow like it hadn't snowed for ages!

I was surprised for I thought the winter was over but I think it is just a case of the winter fighting against spring

I took a photo to show you, and as a taster for the next reports on my blog about my wonderful skiing holiday in Austria.