Goodbye Jen and April

Following an evening of Salsa dancing, Jen and April are off to Italy for some fun and sun for the month of August. We'll miss them. See you guys back in Guelph.

Neptune Fountain

Miranda next to the Neptune Fountain in AlexanderPlatz (Central Berlin). Neptune is god of the sea in roman mythology (analogous to Poseidon in greek mythology). The fountain was created in the 1800s, and includes Neptune sitting on a giant shell, and surrounded by 4 females, each sitting on one corner of the fountain (I'm next to one of them). These females (or Nymphs) represent the 4 big

 rivers (Rhine, Weichsel, Oder, and Elbe) that once ran through the Kingdom of Prussia (Berlin being its last capital city).

Mallnow

Today we took a field trip to a site near Mallnow, Germany with Michael (our local field botanist), Miranda, and Pedro.

It's a beautiful spot, and a hotspot for plant diversity. Notice in the background the Oder River, that separates Germany from Poland. 

Miranda and Michael discussing botany

A wild plum tree. We lost Miranda for a bit as she pulled out a brown paper bag and filled it with tasty ripe plums

Wild oregano. I may as well be in Greece. Actually this spot was loaded with mediterranean plants. 

A nice break in the much-needed shade

The Oder River. 

Bundespressestrand

Bundespressestrand - a beach bar, loaded with sand and sand toys, in the middle of the government district in Berlin. A bit weird, yes, but I give it a rating of 5 stars. Where else can you keep a 5 and 2 year old happy, while the parents relax, drink beer and socialize? 

Of course Nemy and Jamina decide that they prefer to play in the artificial wetland, as opposed to the sand. 

Thanks for the 2nd pic Matthias.

Next time won't you sing with me?

Hertha Berlin vs Liverpool

Jen, April, Anemone and I went to see a football match between Hertha Berlin and Liverpool. It was a friendly match, and it ended in a 0-0 tie. Definitely less exciting than the Euro cup matches. But it was fun to be in the Berlin Olympic stadium (of the infamous 1936 Olympics). 

It was quite the beer they served...in 1-Litre cups. The sight of thousands of males peeing in the bushes and in the open after the game was something else.

Soccer is a great game. I've really learned to appreciate it during this trip. However, during this particular game, it dawned on me that with a few minor modifications it can be much more exciting. I suggest reducing the size of the field, reducing the number of players from 11 to 6 per side, reducing the size of the net and ball, giving the players protective gear and a stick, allowing body to body contact, removing the turf and replacing it with ice, and voila! 

Get better soon, Mary!

Hi Mary, we heard about your accident. I hope the surgery on your leg went well, and that you will be up and running around really soon. Love, J, M, A and A.

Peacock Island

On the weekend we took a family trip (along with the Antunes family  - Vera, Mathias, Paula and Pedro) to Peacock Island (Pfauninsel). It's a small island (1.5 km long x 0.5 km wide), in a local river in Berlin. It was designed as a park in the late 17oos, with winding paths, a palace, and other small buildings. And of course, it is named after the 100 or so peacocks that run around freely. 

Vera, Nemy, and Artemis on the ferry to Peacock Island

Peacocks everywhere...

I mean ...Hungry peacocks everywhere, and not shy what-so-ever.

The Antunes family on their way home on the S-Bann train. Yes, it is normal to drink beer while pushing a stroller in Berlin.

Look what I can do

Jen: Hey Guys, look what I can do. Wanna try?

John: I ain't doing that!

Miranda: Let me try! hmmmmppphhh...arghhh...

Jen: Sigh! Here, let me show you again....

Nemy: Hey, look at me. it's easy!

Artemis: Guys? Guys? Hey Guys?! Look what I can do.  

Market Square, Krakow, Poland

scooter and bike

I think we can get rid of the stroller. This is the way we travel around the city now. These bikes without pedals are fantastic. They learn to balance on a 2-wheeler so much faster and easier.

Nemy teacher, Artemis student

Tiergarten

Nemy and Jamina on a statue in Tiergarten - one of europe's largest and most beautiful inner-city parks. It reminds me somewhat of central park in NY, it is comparable in size and very beautiful. It is full of sculptures, winding paths, lakes, bridges, flowerbeds.... and being in Germany, also has some excellent beergardens. It borders the Berlin Zoogarden, which is a zoo with the largest number of species in the world (including giant pandas). 

This is QUITE THE CONTRAST to what the Tiergarten and Zoogarden looked like following the war. As you can imagine, with a city completely ruined by bombing, the local people were desperate. They cut every tree down in Tiergarten for fuel, and killed all the animals in the Zoogarden for food. Apparently only the hippo survived, and that's because it hid underwater. 

2003-2008

Germany in 2003 and in 2008. Anemone and Jamina are getting older and more beautiful, whereas John and Matthias look younger and... 

La Fete Nationale

Bastille Day (French National Holiday) is being celebrated at the Brandenburg gate. An appropriate place (for the french that live in Berlin) to celebrate, I think, as the gate is also a symbol of freedom, especially in 1989 when the Berlin wall collapsed. The Brandeburg gate was part of the berlin wall.  

Excited

Miranda is excited to meet up with her communist friends Marx and Engels, and John is excited about pigs knuckles and beer

The pic below is really a video

Hi Folks, I forgot to mention that the pic below (with Nemy and her pointy chin) is really a video. Press on the play button to see it.

my computer has been hijacked

My computer disappeared, then reappeared and this is what I found on it.

at home, at work

At the apartment, the monkeys are on the loose; meanwhile at the Freie Universitaet, a scientist is deep in thought...