East Side Gallery just before restoration- 2009

Not far from me is the East side gallery.

“The Berlin Wall East Side Gallery is a 1.3km-long section of the wall near the center of Berlin. Approximately 106 paintings by artists from all over the world cover this memorial for freedom and make it the largest open air gallery in the world.”
It is currently in very poor condition, the remaining of the wall itself is crumbling away too. There is interest in repairing the remainder of the wall and the artwork, more about that here.

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Painting again!

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I have been painting again.

I bought myself a table easel from a store that was suggested to me by my friend Leo Plaw. – Boesner’s – a supermarket of artists supplies. I was going to wait to see if I could find an easel at the market on Sunday but I got impatient, I needed to paint.

So I have three paintings on the go at the moment – being here is very inspiring.

Apart from the occasional sulks about missing friends, I am having a good time getting some work done and getting some perspective in life. I really enjoy what I do and I really enjoy being out of uni!

I think I love you Berlin.

Our apartment in Berlin!

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We moved into our apartment yesterday – we have 99 stairs to climb!

It has a very nice kitchen that is painted red. The ‘lounge’ room area is large so I will be able to draw while I look for a studio to paint in. I have only been to one art exhibition this whole week, it was in an amazing old building in Wedding. The exhibition was by two girls who went to other exhibitions and stole the beer bottles. (Here in Germany, you can return your glass/plastic/cans to most supermarkets -there’s a recycle machine- in exchange for money.) With that money they bought the beer for their opening. The beer was the art as were the flyers of the shows they went to and took the beer bottles from.

We have visited some amazing places, such as the Berliner Dom and Mauer Park. Mauer ( wall ) Park is a large flea market on Sundays, which runs along the wall walk, there is a lot of junk to see/ buy, food to eat and music to hear.

The public transport system here is amazing, it is reliable and the longest I have had to wait for a train is 10 minutes. It costs roughly around the same amount as Melbourne (maybe a few dollars cheaper).

Everyone seems to own a dog, a bike, a baby!

I think we’re settling in ok – I really need some German lessons, the course I did in Melbourne was too long ago and I have unfortunately forgotten most of it. I am looking to enroll somewhere soon.

I miss my mum terribly.

 

First few days in Berlin

Gene and I have arrived in Berlin!!

As soon as we got off the plane we put our things in the guest house and began exploring – and haven’t stopped. We have already gotten approved for two apartments and have chosen one – so we shall be moving soon. It’s in a very old building that is cute and quiet.

I haven’t seen much art yet.

We have seen many palaces, cathedrals, etc.

It’s surreal being in a place that you have heard about all of your life – this is the first time I have left Australia!

Oh, the food, it’s amazing!

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