An Open Love Letter to Berlin

Paul Klee’s The Lover is obviously in the abstract and darn if all I saw was The Pink Panther.

“Berlin, remember my time with you back in the summer of 87′, then again the fall of 89′, and yet one more time on my latest visit of 2019?”

Arriving autumn 2019 late in the morning after traveling almost 24 hours, the Tegel International Airport looked frumpish and out-dated. So naturally Tegel gave me no clues to the transformation I was about to realize in Berlin. Determined not to miss anything, my eyes foraged around as I studied the environment.  No doubt, I was anxious how to fit in.

Berlin And The Hollow Tooth

Tip three:  Discuss Holiday ideas with those who live in the area.  That’s my uncle! Consider Rick Steves guidebooks for additional information .  I like his books.

Sitting in my Uncle Peter’s small, but efficient flat in the Charlottenburg borough of Berlin,  we studied very old photos. He lived within minutes of the largest surviving royal palace in Berlin actually called Charlottenburg.  Sharing these pictures brought him happiness yet also caused him such consternation.  He recalled as a boy how he and my mom ran to the castle for protection when the city was being bombed by the Russians.  While hiding and playing on the grounds, he did not comprehend WWII.

Top Fun Spots of St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine, Florida is a well preserved city.   Along the Matanza River which is the main entrance into St. Aug., my friend and I saw extensive marsh areas where habitat can live.  As one who enjoys nature, I found this body of water a must see.  What makes it so interestingly dark is that its name actually means killings!  Since St Aug. is the oldest surviving european city, many battles took place where many people were slaughtered.  Chaos was nothing new to this area in its over 450 year history.

Traveling and Blogging

Parked outside of the Casa Monica was a beautiful car of yesteryear.

Travel blogging can be full of surprises.  Readers, my recent trip to St. Augustine, Florida was a vacation spot you do not want to miss.  It was quite a special experience seeing the oldest European city in the United States.  I thought it would be fun to begin a blogging series of random photos and share of few interesting facts along the way.

Shopping In Hawaii

Where in the World has Alesiablogs gone now?

My girlfriend caught me telling her, “No more pictures please!” She laughted at this photo so I thought I better share.

So I guess you know where I am at..right???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Now to my blog post…..

Emotional Dark Picture

Friday is here and my weekend begins. It’s becoming my favorite time like I was a kid in school.  This photo was taken with a great friend by my side.  We never know who may touch us when given a chance. #friendship101 

Road Trip

Washington State weekend rode trip was full of photogenic moments. See if you can find me!

Leavenworth, WA

What a treat to live in one of the most beautiful places in America. I have called Washington State my home for almost all my adult life. Leavenworth is a small community two hours east of me. I typically drive highway two over Steven’s Pass when I take house guests to enjoy this city. As one reaches this destination, you are overwhelmed by the sheer majestic views of a once logging town and center of the railroads.

Leavenworth has since become a huge tourist’s travel spot for those wanting to experience the European  lifestyle. The town of 2000 becomes wildly alive on weekends. 

It truly is a happy place to feel alive in a town that takes you back to a more simple life. Get this. The town wax incorporated only a little over a 100 years ago.

I am not one for big driving trips, but this one is a must every time I get a chance to take a friend or family.

Where else can you find a prehistoric nutcracker!!!!

Happy travels everyone!!

Photographing History

Photographing history is not all old buildings in Europe.  I spent a day in lovely Bamberg , Germany recently.  My family lived a number of years in the area so I have visited often. 

Nuremberg : The heart of the city

 

(photo above courtesy of my collections of postcards from about 15 years ago.)

Can a building really mean so much?  The heart of a city is a big shoe to fill.  The feelings are certainly there when you walk through St. Sebald which is the oldest parish church in Nuremberg, Germany.