Two Bratwurst with Saurkraut, Mustard, and Potatoes

Two Bratwurst with Saurkraut, Mustard, and Potatoes
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

Eating in Berlin

Eating in Berlin
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

L to R: Becky, Ryan, Ashley, Eric, Paola

Another beach bar on the Spree

Another beach bar on the Spree
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

This is a pool in the river. The lighter blue is the pool water.

Beach bar along the Spree

Beach bar along the Spree
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

There are a lot of these in Berlin. They're like squatter commercial developments - low cost spots that seem to generate enough revenue to pay the rent.

The Wall

The Wall
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

Further along on our bus tour we came to a large remaining section of the Berlin Wall. This part only cuts off access to the river, which is part of the reason it hasn't been torn down. All the graffiti along this side is post 1989 since we are in the former Soviet sector.

Your tour guide

Your tour guide
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

Old Soviet-style apartment buildings

Old Soviet apartment buildings
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

From a good vantage point you can see these sorts of massive structures all over East Berlin. The political symbolism is evident in these clusters of identical towers.

Grungy Interior

Interior space once used for club
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

This was at the first site we visited on our redevelopment tour of Berlin. According to the guide it was once a real hot spot for the club scene. The new owner wants to lease it out for special events.

Reichstag with cranes in background

Reichstag with construction in background
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

The cranes are working on the new central train station project. Seeing as the city was divided for the latter half of the 20th century, there was no true 'center.' This project has serious symbolic importance to the reunification of Berlin

Renovated transformer station

Renovated transformer station
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

The first site on our redevelopment tour of Berlin. This will become an office building for a software firm. We went to the top of the building (by a set of winding, steel stairs) and took a bunch of pictures of the city.

Close up with several landmarks

Model in the Development Office
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

Several of Berlin's major monumnets and memorable structures are visible in this view. The TV Tower to the right, the Bode Museum in the center, Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag toward are at the rear.

BERLIN: Urban Development Office

Wide shot of the official maps
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

Yes, these are big models. They are both scale models of the central districts of Berlin. The level one is more detailed.

Scott, Ryan and Eric

Grad Students
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

They had stupidly cheap pilsners at this bar and you can see our grad students taking advantage of that in this photo.

Rike, Birthe, and Kerstin

Rike, Birthe, and Kerstin
Originally uploaded by Helmers.

On our last night in Dortmund we visited this great bar. This was the German contigent of my workgroup and my hosts (middle and right).