Müggelsee and Landwehrkanal

During the holidays my wife and I have been exploring Berlin and its waterways. Berlin is physically a very large city and only with intentional exploration can one get to know its diverse parts. I took the photo below when visiting  relatives in Friedrichshagen, which, like many parts of Berlin, was once an independent town. Friedrichshagen borders on the Müggelsee, the largest inland waterway in Berlin and popular for sailing. The following black and white photo shows some of the dock area.

Müggelsee

I have been experimenting with black and white (actually grayscale) photos, which sometimes seem to have more character than their color cousins. The day itself was gray, so the black and white fit the mood well.

It was sunny and almost warm when we walked along the Landwehrkanal that cuts through the core of Berlin. We walked the part that goes through Kreuzberg, a neighborhood that was once heavily immigrant and scruffy, but has become increasingly popular and expensive -- to the distress of many long term residents.

Feeding the swans is forbidden, but many swans apparently cannot read the German signs and the residents are, well, indulgent (some may not be able to read the signs either). This swan has fluffed its feathers to impress potential bread-givers. 

A swan in the sun

And this swan was more agressive.

Begging swan

It is not clear to me whether the object in the following photo shows a work of public art or represents the remains of some part of Kreuzberg's industrial past. I think it is art, but I could be wrong.

Kreuzberg art?

A certain scruffiness remains as part of the character of Kreuzberg, as can be seen in this photo of a rather good graffiti portrait in front of a set of pipes that span the canal.

Graffiti and pipes over the Landwehrkanal

The architecture in Kreuzberg is often interesting, like the blue tile frame to this door.

Blue framed door

Some structures also have a very temporary and unGerman look.

Kreuzberg cabin

A few building owners deliberately offer wall-art (pseudo-graffiti), including the youth hostel in this picture.

Public wall art

It is worth noting that people have added graffiti to the sides, but have respected the art itself. This is a phenomenon I have seen elsewhere, particularly in Chicago in the 1970s, when the neighborhood of Hyde Park countered the wave of graffiti with higher quality art.

India

In late November I attended the International Conference on Digital Libraries in New Delhi, India, and I am now among the few people who has every ICDL conference since they begin a decade ago. On the last visit I went on an excursion to the Taj Mahal. This time I spent more time walking around the neighborhood where I was staying near Lodhi Road.

My walk began at the Teri Centre, which is a handsome complex that does a particularly good job of managing light and shade in that tropical climate.

Teri Centre, Lodhi Road

I began my walk on Lodhi road and saw this typical version of Indian taxi, called a tuk-tuk, which is a three-wheel motorcycle type vehicle.

Tuk-tuk on Lodhi Road

Khan Market is only about a 20 minute walk. A beggar woman followed me for part of the way, but eventually went back to where she had left her children. It is hard just to walk away from a person begging for money to feed her children, but she was clearly a professional, which hardened my conscience a bit. Khan market itself presents a modern and almost western appearance.

The front face of Khan market

The back of Khan market is a bit less orderly, mainly because of the exposed air conditioning units and pipes.

Back of Khan market

And some areas are in need to work. This window, for example, seems to belong to an abandoned shop. Wires are everywhere, but it is not clear where they go or what their purpose is -- perhaps they have long since been abandoned.

Window at Khan market

Some parts of the market are undergoing much needed repairs.

Khan market rebuilding

This picture shows a man working on the building from the other side.

Worker at Khan market

One of the most interesting shops (for me) was a second-hand bookstore. This photo shows the entrance. There is a second entrance (exit) that can be seen at the far end.

Bookstore at Khan market

The jumble inside reminded me of some favorite bookstores from my student years. Space clearly is at a premium. Nonetheless there is an implicit order.

Inside the bookstore

On my way back to Teri I saw this distinguished looking vendor in a stand on the opposite side of the street.

Street Vendor

Food played an important role at the conference, and included lunch, tea, and dinner. Some of the preparations can be seen here.

Food preparation at ICDL

And people ate eagerly. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options were clearly marked. The fish was particularly excellent, as was the freshly prepared nan bread.

Eating at ICDL

As always, the conference ended with a cultural event, generally music and dance. This year it was mainly men in choreographed dance/battle scenes.

Dance at the cultural event

Some day I must see other parts of India, but more important than seeing tourist sights is the contact with colleagues from India and the west. I chaired the best paper award and served on the recommendations committee, as I have in the past. ICDL takes place roughly every two years and I look forward to the next one.