St. Petri Cathedral, Bremen. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
I had a nightmare that I was here in Germany and I had to go grocery shopping, but instead of regular groceries I bought big sacks of grain and barrels of stuff. I had to bring my stuff down into the apartment on a big elevator platform thing, but all these people kept trying to steal my sacks of grain. Then this swarthy looking guy dressed in black and with a camera man following him around with a camera that said “ABC Wide World of Sports” jumped up on floor above us and yelled, “I AM ROME!!!!!” and grabbed one of my sacks of grain and started to take off with it. I managed to wrest my grain from his clutches and grabbed his ankle as the platform continued to sink slowly, effectively dislocating his hip. There was also part in the dream where I was being subjected to a witch trial, but because this was the New Germany, they did it via television as an interview process and the ultimate test was your ability to properly answer the questions on an 8 page form in pen without making any mistakes. In German. If you couldn’t do this, there was some sort of vague threat of an ill demise in a mill pond.
Yeah, everything was coming up Ken Russell in my dreams last night.
Cemeteries are everywhere in Germany. Centuries of history combined with a culture built upon memorializing and remembrance give cities like Berlin some of their most beautiful greenspaces. People treat the cemeteries like public parks, so unlike the sterile flat lawns of cemeteries back home you have shady groves, beautiful statuary, and plenty of benches to sit on. It is common to see people having lunch or just hanging out with friends in the cemeteries. Cemetery photography has been a hobby of mine for years, so Berlin was the perfect place for me.
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Battle of Berlin & Others, Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Mass Grave, Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Bertoldt Brecht, Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Vines, Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Black Cat, Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter St.-Matthäus-Kirchhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Alter Garnisonsfriedhof, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Dreifaltigkeitsfriedhof II – Trinity Cemetery, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Our apartment is in the former East German Mitte neighborhood. Our closest U-Bahn (subway) stop, Rosenthaler Platz, was a “ghost station” during the Cold War. This means that the trains from West Germany would pass through it, but could not stop, so for 30 years it was filled with barbed wire and barricades. It is mostly a “hipster” area, filled with fusion restaurants and juice bars. The enormous Circus Hostel and Hotel next door makes it a very international and youth oriented neighborhood.
Ben and Elliott on Rosenthaler Platz, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Russian Food at Gorki Park Cafe, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Tulips, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Magpie, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Heinrich Heine, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus), Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Bird’s Nest in a Cherry Tree, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Russian Food at Gorki Park Cafe, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Vines, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Zionskirche, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Russian Food at Gorki Park Cafe, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Church Door, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Berlin Kitchen, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Me in Gorki Park Cafe, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Bee on Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Forsythia × intermedia, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Graffitti in Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Elliott’s First Döner, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica), Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Violets, Volkspark am Weinbergsweg, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Great Tit (Parus major), Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Russian Food at Gorki Park Cafe, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Weinbergsweg Apartment, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
VIDEO
Pankstrasse U-Bahn Station
Sign, Checkpoint Charlie U-Bahn Station, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
Oranienburger Strasse U-Bahn, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Oranienburger Strass U-Bahn, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Art, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Art, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Art, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Art, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Sign, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
U-Bahn Art, Berlin. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Elliott Waits for the U-Bahn. Photo by Scarlett Messenger
Ben and me, Kottbusser Tor, Berlin. Photo by Elliott Cribbs
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