Glaciations of the World

October 29, 2012

In Berlin

View from my room. Roof on the left is Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park. One of the couples on the tour could feel the trains running under their rooms. I braved the U-Bahn solo on my first day. ©GlaciationoftheWorld

Remains of the Wall ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Potsdamer Platz was the opposite end of the street but is the next stop up from the one visible from the room. Taken on film. The images from my film camera are all a bit 1970s Polaroid in look because when the film was processed the company ruined the film. I may blog post some of the later shots where they're even worse than this. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Fenced off area of the Wall. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

This is the site of one of Hitler's offices. The Government has removed the original building as it was being used as a shrine. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Moi, standing on either side of the wall. There were all sorts of debate on which way the writing would appear on the bronze. It was seen as favouring one side or the other whichever way it faced. To me it all sounded a bit silly but having not lived underthe regime, I cannot image what it would have been like. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Taken on film. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Holocaust Memorial from the footpath ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Holocaust Memorial from the interior. The following video is an attempt to show you the feelings of stillness and isolation you experience within. While the screaming of teenagers, and the conversations of other people can be heard, you can't always be sure where they're coming from. The blind corners also mean you stumble into other people taking photos, and also walk into people exploring the same as yourself. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Brandenburg Gate ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Pulpit within the Berlin Cathedral ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Alter in the Berlin Cathedral. Taken on film. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

As above. Digital. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

The organ. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld
Go here to see it after the bombings of WWII http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Berliner_Dom_1964_organ.jpg

In this house, the leaders of the Nazi party held a meeting to discuss the "Jewish Problem" in a similar way as you might decide on what kind of sandwiches to make for the company picnic. Horrific. The house is also down a pretty little street, completely residential, tree lined and lovely. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

The house itself. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

The card under this picture reads "flanked by a member of her film crew, a distraught Leni Riefenstahl looks on during the murder of the Jews" ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

People bring potatoes, instead of flowers, to Fredrick's grave because he brought them back to the country. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Monument near Fredrick's grave. Taken on Film. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Sanssouci Palace from the bottom of the garden. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Hello Me. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Potsdam ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Next to Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. From the outside, this building is horrendous! It is not pretty - just grey. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

But then you walk inside and you are bathed in amazing amounts of blue. I cannot put into words the way this makes you feel. Calm. Relaxed. Other adjectives of this nature. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

Berlin Zoo. A lovely story about the zoo is The Zookeepers Wife. I didn't expect to like this book but I did. Just a little aside. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

The German branch of the English Royal Family. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

The floor. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

This is the hotel we stayed in. I have a few other pics to share but these will keep for another day. ©GlaciationsoftheWorld

September 01, 2012

Review: "The Long Earth" Pratchett and Baxter

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never give 5 star reviews. You can check if you want.

Why did I give this book 5? Because I was suckered in, hook, line and sinker. I could visualize what was being described, I could see the characters. I wanted a stepper. I wanted to believe in the possibility of moving to another place with no people.

Some of the reviews, read in the last few minutes, over think the entirety of the novel. One review rights that there is no climax. I have to disagree. The ending is left wide open for further exploration and let's you write your own answers to the scenario.

I think people are raised, influenced, now, to be hyper critical of everything around them. This isn't always a bad thing but sometimes, something just is what it is. No ulterior motive, no deliberate back hands.

For those who like sci fi for its most true conceptions will love this book. Just read the book. It will give you as much as you are willing to take. And if, in the end, you don't like it, it doesn't matter. That's the way of Datum Earth.

August 14, 2012

It dominates the skyline...

27-6-12

The weather didn't improve over night so Angie and I were faced with a somewhat soggy walk, up the Royal Mile, to Edinburgh Castle.

The view of the castle, with it seats out for the Tattoo, as seen from Greyfriars Kirk.

Walking across the parade ground. © Glaciations of the World

Outside Saint Margaret's Chapel. 12th Century. The oldest building in the castle built by King David I and dedicated to his mother who died in 1093. She was created a saint in 1251 © Glaciations of the World

Inside Saint Margaret's Chapel. © Glaciations of the World

Stained glass of Saint Margaret. © Glaciations of the World

Outside the War Memorial. © Glaciations of the World

Great Hall. Built for King James IV as a majestic setting for ceremonial occasions. Converted in 1650 into a soldier's barracks by Oliver Cromwell. Restored in 1887 and used today for State and Royal functions. Only the great roof is medieval. © Glaciations of the World

The view out over Edinburgh from outside the Chapel. © Glaciations of the World

The view from the guns, set in place by the Victorians. © Glaciations of the World

Yours truly on the parade ground, wearing what is now known as the "continuity t-shirt".

Once finished at the Castle, we went in search of lunch and on the recommendation of a friend, we went to the Elephant House. Famous now, as the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote, or started, Harry Potter. Every space is covered with elephants of some kind, shape and size. I loved it.

August 13, 2012

It's different in Scotland

26-6-12

Our plan this morning had been to go to the Palace of Holyrood but when we arrived it was closed up for the pending arrival of the Queen. She wasn't arriving for another three days but they had to air the Palace out so it didn't smell like commoners (theory only). Such a disappointment!

We ended up bringing our meet with Twitter friend Camilla forward. We went through security at the Scottish Parliament and wandered into the cafe to search her out. It was to great to meet and have a real face for the name. I think we talked and gossiped for about two hours but we had to leave Camilla to get on with some work after that.

I brought some Haggis crisps while we were there. (I didn't end up eating them until we got home. And even then I didn't eat them cause the taste of them is something I think you need to have given to you from birth, as I think eating it once you're in your 30s and stuck in your ways, is too much of a challenge).

After coffee, Angie and I got the bus around to National Museum of Scotland.

This picture shows the new addition and the old section. The building is amazing!
Image Source = http://www.angrypict.co.uk/nationalmuseumofscotland.html

I really enjoyed just wandering around looking at "stuff".

I am almost positive my Grandparents had something similar to this in their house.

Cast iron drinking fountain made in the 1880s by Glasgow firm Walter Macfarlane and Co.

"The perceived duration of each minute varies from person to person. As you get older, you become more aware that time isn't on your side and every minute that passes is gone forever" Dr John C Taylor OBE © Glaciations of the World

Hallway between two exhibition halls. The stained glass at the opposite end is from Montrose Old Parish Kirk, Angus, probably by Douglas Strachan (1875-1950). Strachan was considered Scotland's leading stained glass artist. His work can also be seen in the North Window of the High Kirk of St Giles, and the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Caslte. © Glaciations of the World

Angie as a Viennese(?) or Carnivale character.

By the time we left the museum the weather was starting to get heavy. Angie and I stopped to get some food and when we got back out on the street it was even heavier. We followed one street along, which ended up taking us down to the university and graduations.

To get warm after being caught in the rain we stopped at the Black Medicine Coffee Co. and got a peppermint hot chocolate. It was the best hot chocolate I've ever had!