My brother and his wife came to see us today. They showed us pictures from the family meeting near Stuttgart. One of our cousins turned 70. For the birthday celebrations 48 family members had turned up. I had to guess who the older family members were. Some actually looked familiar to me even though I hadn’t seen them for a long time. The younger generation of course looked totally unfamiliar to me.
We went for lunch to the close by Italian restaurant at Hansaplatz. Later we had coffee at cafe Buchwald where we had some lovely cake called ‘Baumkuchen’ because the inside of the cake looks like the inside of a tree trunk. Our guests talked about a movie they had seen only yesterday. The movie is called ‘The Wall’ with MARTINA GEDECK. This is the movie we had recently seen also. I believe overall my brother kind of liked the movie too, however he would have preferred a bit more realism. His wife thought the surrealism was borderline for her. A bit more of it and she would have felt like walking out. However they both granted that it was wonderful photography and great acting by Martina Gedeck.
At church this morning the theme was: Thanksgiving. I was surprised that ‘Thanksgiving’ is celebrated already in October. There was an organ player playing songs which I didn’t know at all. The whole order of the Mass was different from what I am used to in Australia. Well, it was Catholic, wasn’t it? How come it didn’t feel the same as in Australia. I really don’t know what the difference is.
I love listening to the church bells ringing.
As I said before, Berlin has many, many very well kept park areas. What is also very noticeable are the many spots where some kind of building is going on. Just in the area where we are staying plenty of public work near the streets and foot paths is going on of which I took some pictures.
- They look like this when the job is finished
These rocks are being used near footpaths
Last week we saw an interesting play in the Jewish Theater. I’m going to write about this some other time.
AuntyUta 
I really enjoyed your photos. The cobblestone streets, or maybe they’re just pieces of cement, are really lovely. Good use of materials! So glad you’re continuing to have such a wonderful time. Debra
Hi Debra, thanks for your comment. The stones are of natural material and are only being used for the edges of footpaths.
Hello Aunty Uta. Great to hear from you and your travels. Was wondering what you’ve been up to.
Hello Mary-An, after more than five weeks in Berlin I’m kind of looking forward to be in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern soon where we’re going to spend the last days of our holidays. Back in Australia on the 18th of next month!
Hi Uta. I look forward to your travel posts. One day I’m going to Germany. I, too, love hearing church bells. I live about five minutes from my church (Methodist), and I get to hear the bells chime three times a day. It’s a lovely, reassuring sound. Are you heading home soon? If so, safe travels.
Well, Pat, time flies. We’ve made a bit over half time already. Back in Australia in less then five weeks. Where we live here there are a Protestant and a Catholic Church close by. Every day at 12 o’clock they chime in unison for about two minutes. Peter always loves to hear this too.
Enjoyed your story Auntyuta and your pics, you are certainly seeing the sights and having a great experiences, especially with the reunion.I am interested in hearing about the Jewish theatre and the play you will see.
Cheers
Aussie Ian
Hi Ian
we liked the play at the Jewish Theater. It’s a play about the ‘Romanisches Cafe’, a meeting place in Berlin of German intellectuals, mainly Jews, who had to flee the Nazis during the 1930s. Of course it depicts a lot of sadness but also humor and high spirits and lovely songs from that area.
Cheerio, Uta