Ribbeck im Havelland

WELCOME TO 

 This place Ribbeck is West from Berlin in Havelland, driving the B 5 (Bundesstrasse 5) just after Nauen. It's known because Theodor Fontane wrote a poem about a pear tree standing in Mr.von Ribbeck's garden a long time ago. Also I learned this poem about Mr. von Ribbeck's pear tree at school.

THE pear tree is no longer but a new tree has been planted in the same spot. 

 It's a very cute little place with historic buildings like the church and the castle which has been renovated and reopened. There is a Standesamt, a museum and a restaurant in the castle.

We also explored the graveyard of the Ribbecks.

Here only the first verse of the very famous German poem because it's a bit long. It's written in a dialect. Basically he is blessed with a pear tree that gives many pears which he shares. And on his death he asked to take a pear in his grave where again a pear tree grows.

Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland

Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland,
Ein Birnbaum in seinem Garten stand,
Und kam die goldene Herbsteszeit
Und die Birnen leuchteten weit und breit,
Da stopfte, wenn's Mittag vom Turme scholl,
Der von Ribbeck sich beide Taschen voll,
Und kam in Pantinen ein Junge daher,
So rief er: »Junge, wiste 'ne Beer?«
Und kam ein Mädel, so rief er: »Lütt Dirn,
Kumm man röwer, ick hebb 'ne Birn.«

Last Sunday in Lutherstadt Wittenberg

On our way back from Leipzig to Berlin we passed by Lutherstadt Wittenberg, in Sachsen-Anhalt. It's a very beautiful cute small town with a historic old town including many historic buildings. There has been a close connection with Martin Luther and the dawn of the Protestant Reformation. Some memorial sites were added to the UNESCO world heritage list. However, it was too hot for us to see all the buildings. The temperature this weekend has been 37° C.

On the doors of the Schlosskirche (All Saint's Church) built 1496 - 1506 Luther nailed his 95 theses in 1517. 

 Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928 - 2000) was an Austrian artist (later he took on the New Zealand citizenship). He became one of the best-know contemporary Austrian artists, and designed architecture later on using irregular forms and in-cooperate natural feature of the landscape. Here he designed a school, called the Hunderwasserschule, Luther-Melanchthon-Gymnasium.

Here some impressions:

Sunny Weekend in Leipzig

Here some impressions about Leipzig ...

We visited St. Thomas Church which dates back to the 12th Century. The composer Johann Sebastian Bach was the choir director at St. Thomas Church from 1723 until his death in 1750.
We were happy to hear the pipe organ during our visit to the church. A very atmospheric great impression. 

The old town of Leipzig is very beautiful and leaves us -even in the heat of this weekend- in awe.

Auerbachs Keller (Auerbach's cellar), the place Johann Wolfgang Goethe visited often while studying in Leipzig 1765-1768 was his favorite wine bar. This bar is described in Goethe's play Faust I as the first place Mephistopheles takes Faust on their travels. It's located at the shopping arcade Mädlerpassage.

In another shopping arcade Speck's Hof we found this beautiful sound bowl, a copy of a bowl from the Ming-Dynasty. I you wet your hands and rub the sides slightly it does make a beautiful soft sound.








At the end of the day, relax and enjoy ...

Fifteenth of August

On this day, the Fifteenth of August, a couple of important historic events took place.

The Independence Day of India 

On 15. August 1947 India achieved their independence from the British rule. A day to celebrate.

Here some parts of Jawahalal Nehru's speech on Indian Independence Day, 1947:

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. ... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again. "

source: Wikipedia

Birthday of Sri Aurobindo

It's not only the birth of India but also Sri Aurobindo - Indian freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru and poet - was born on 15th August, only a couple of years earlier 1872.

His message was broadcast a day before the celebration of India's Independence on All India Radio. Here just one paragraph of the much longer speech.

"...Another dream, the spiritual gift of India to the world has already begun. India's spirituality is entering Europe and America in a ever increasing measure. That movement will grow, amid the disasters of the time more and more eyes are turning towards her with hope and there is even an increasing resort not only to her teachings, but to her psychic and spiritual practice. ..."

source: Wikipedia

Liberation Day for South Korea

As my husband is from South Korea, I also need to mention that this day also holds an importance for the South Koreans. On 15th August 1945 South Korea celebrated their national liberation from Imperial Japan.

source: Wikipedia

Of course, there are many more relevant historic events in the world on this day. I wanted to share with you the ones that are relevant to me. I think today we can really celebrate. Only in Germany it's no public holiday. However, we can keep it in our mind and rejoice.

Why are Germans so damn serious?

Just yesterday I has a silly accident in the S-Bahn. In one hand I was holding a cup of coffee and with the other hand I was pulling my jacket off. Somehow, suddenly OOOOPPS one big sip of my coffee had spilled right onto the lady's white pants sitting opposite me. I immediately apologized. 

Well, ok definitely I've been clumsy and it's not a nice thing to get a coffee stain on your white pants sitting in the S-Bahn. Anyhow, this lady punished me with utterly neglect. She took one quick glance at her pants, pulled her legs a little aside and looked into the other direction. I just thought to myself: "Why are Germans so damn serious?" She could have said something.  Whatever. Some response. She could have shouted, or cried or laughed. I don't know. Ok I've messed up but why so serious about it. Shit happens sometimes.  I wonder what the reactions would have been in say a bus in India ... Any ideas?

Kunstquatier Bethanien in Kreuzberg - Part 2

In the corridors of the Kunstquatier Bethanien some street artists expressed themselves on the walls. 

Black & Yellow Wall Paint by a Danish artist. 

And the other corridor:

Kunstquatier Bethanien in Kreuzberg - Part 1

 Welcome to the Kunstquatier Bethanien (The Art Center Bethanien).

It's a place for art and culture located at the Mariannenplatz near Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg.

The institute Bethanien was constructed 1845 -47 as a central deaconess institute. The hospital was in use till 1970. The demolition was hindered by squatters, initiative groups and historic building conservationist. Then predominantly cultural, artistic and social institutions have been working in the main bulding.  

Have a look at this beautiful building.






The Kunstquatier Bethanien is a place of interdisciplinary work. 

There are spaces for art exhibitions including artist studios, project spaces for exhibitions, theatre and dance. The music school also has a place. You find a lovely cafe, restaurant as well. The Mime Centrum Berlin is an information and documentation centre as well as working spaces for dance and theatre makers. 

If you want to know more about the fantastic space, please check out their website.









http://www.kunstquartier-bethanien.de/bethanien_english.html

Meet Mickey C Power - My Friend from India

Meet my friend from India

Just yesterday I met up with my friend Ashwath from India, who is once again in Berlin. He is  a rare species; not only is he a good friend but also a clown in India!  Born in Kashmir, he's now based in Bombay and Delhi, a graduate from National School of Drama and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He founded a space in the mountains called Theatre Garage Project where the "Empty Space" is the prime concern. Ashwath has extensive theater training and experience, traveling and life experience. Basically it's fun to be with him. I was introduced through a common German theatre friend and met him few years ago in Pune, India where he was teaching. 

Talking clowns, our understanding of clowns are quite similar. I've participated in some clowning workshops and done a tiny bit - it is by no means the makeup or specially colorful dresses that compose a clown. The pants too short or the sleeves too long according to the clown's own physical characteristics, have more effect than the colors or over dressing. It's not so much about being funny but true. The smallest mask is the red nose and with it you change into a clown. It's rather about connecting to people and for that sometimes being subtle is more and touching than big stuff. Ultimately the clown liberates you.



For Indians it's still a new concept and Ashwath is persistently trying to introduce the red nose concept in India.

In Europe, Ashwath is working together with the Red Noses and some Clown Schools in Germany, giving workshops etc. Here you can see him in action as the clown "Mickey C Power" in Berlin.


Anyhow, we had a great fun day in Kreuzberg. He as a "outsider" showed me around and introduced me to the Art Center Bethanien in Kreuzberg. Ha ha ha, I'll tell you about it in the next post, enough for today.

A nice evening at a Korean Restaurant

The other day we went to Cooking Papa. It's a Korean restaurant near Wilmersdorfer Strasse in Charlottenburg.  http://www.qype.com/place/2109707-Cooking-Papa-Berlin

There are quite a few new Korean restaurants that came up in Berlin just last year, especially in Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg. Anyhow, this was the second - oh no actually third - time we ate at "Cooking Papa's" and it was quite good. I can only recommend it. 

Even my Korean husband likes it :- )

Jaeyukbokeum,제육볶음.

Dolsot Bibimbap,돌솥비빔밥

 You can see, the Bibimbap was really steaming hot.

This is how you eat Bibimbap. You have to mix everything. "Bimbim" means mixed and "Bap" means rice. So you have to mix all the ingredients: rice, vegetable and meat, mostly "dolsot" beef, then on top a fried egg is place. Then you add as much chili sauce you like according to your taste.The good thing is, if you like it less spicy, simply put less chili sauce or accordingly more. It's served in a stone bowl and  the rice below is slightly burned and it's very hot. It's yummy and one of my favorite Korean dishes.

Guten Appetit!