Berlin, Germany’s capital, dates back to the 13th century. Still lots of old architecture around and heaps of work around the city in restoration effort.  Loved the William Humboldt statue ( lots of character in that face), a Prussian philosopher, linguist, government functionary, diplomat and founder of Berlin’s Humboldt University. Reminders of the city’s turbulent 20th-century history, include its Holocaust memorial and the East Side Berlin Wall’s graffitied remains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most famous image is Dmitri Vrubel’s, “My God, Help Me Survive This Deadly Love”, which depicts Brezhnev and Germany’s Honecker in a fraternal embrace, that was captured from a moment in a 1979 photo during the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the German Democratic Republic!  Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification.

Then the boat cruise along the Spree river yielded these pics….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saw John Paul Gaultier’s revue extravaganza tonight @ Friedrichstrasse Palast.    “I have dreamed of working on a revue, ever since I was a little boy”,  Gaultier is a global superstar of the Parisian haute couture. It was he who designed the 500 daring and extravagant costumes in this revue. Roland Welke’s production was lavish and ‘Arty’ to the extreme….Cirque de Soleil meets Burlesque. In fact a few ex -CdeS performers were in this show!  The show had more than 100 artists, a production budget of more than eleven million euros; Europe’s most elaborate show. Brian Friedman, choreographer; Bazaliy sisters and Dariya Vintilova (all ex Cirque) from the Ukraine, wowed everyone with their trapeze acts. Swiss artist Brigitte Oelke and Jamaican singer Kedeisha McPherson had knock out voices!  Cyr wheel and aerial hoop daredevil Nora Zoller enthralled. It was a great night…5 encores from the audience.