Digital Cosmonaut

[caption id="attachment_7646" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The abandoned Eisfabrik in Berlin[/caption]

Walking along the Spree you'll find an ever decreasing amount of crumbling factories and halls. All are destined to make way for the MediaSpree Project, for luxury Hotels and Offices in the name of Urban Renewal. Yet one of these rotting factories has managed to temporarily evade this fate. The Eisfabrik.

Since private homes had no access to electric or gas-powered refrigerators (they hadn't even existed yet at that time) people relied on giant Ice Factories to keep their goods cool.

  *Warning - Eisfabrik History and Berlin Trivia*

The Norddeutsche Eiswerke AG was founded in 1872 by Carl Bolle. Bolle had purchased several plots of land throughout the city 1893- among them a piece of land on the Köpenicker Straße along the Spree. In 1896 construction for a brand new Ice Factory had begun. The Factory was completed within the same year and started producing ice rods and blocks to supply the breweries, pubs, grocers and homes with. An additional office building and 2 residential buildings were completed in 1910.  In 1914, a new Ice Machine was installed, which greatly increased the production capabilities.

Now for those of you living in Berlin - here's a nice piece of trivia. The Districts of Berlin Mitte and Kreuzberg werent always called that, nor were they separate districts (or even part of Berlin - they belonged to Cölln). They used to be joined together under the name Luisenstadt. A Canal used to run through Luisenstadt - known as the Luisenstädtischer Kanal. It was laid dry in 1926 - and the City Gardendirector wanted to build an Indian Garden - with palm trees and all - reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. The warm water from the Eisfabrik was supposed to feed into a giant  Indian Pond.

City officials then changed their minds and wanted to build a Thermal Bath, but apparently the local catholics protested against the idea so that idea was dropped. Who would have thought that german catholics would prefer a heathen garden compared to a sanitizing bath.

Based on the original idea, the city built the beautiful garden and the Indian fountain. But not the pool.  So now when you walk through Kreuzberg, you know why there's a beautiful rose garden and an Indian fountain in a dried up canal. (I've got a separate post coming up about this part of town soon)

  [caption id="attachment_7600" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Rose Garden and the Indian Fountain in the Luisenstaedtischer Kanal[/caption]

 

Back to the Eisfabrik.

We now reach the inevitable point in German History when everything goes to shit.  A bomb destroyed the right-wing of the Residential Building and had to be torn down. The Red Army took charge of the factory and put it under forced administration until 1948 when it was handed over to a "Consumer Cooperative". Over the years the names of the owners changed, and the demand for ice dropped - yet surprisingly the Eisfabrik continued to produce Ice until October 1991. As with most factories from the DRR - after the wall came tumbling down, people soon realized they were operating at a substantial loss and were forced to close down.

The Factory was meant to be torn down in 1995 - but that never really materialized.

Shady deals were made and the land was handed over to another Trust Firm - which did nothing. It just sat on the land waiting for the property to gain in value.

The Eisfabrik became a popular party location, until a fire broke out under the roof of one of the buildings ruining the fun for everyone (SOUND FAMILIAR?). Parts of the property were sold off including the Engine House, Boiler House and the ice Production Machinery.

Despite the property being upgraded to a Listed Building - giving it a protected status - and against the will of the German Union of Architects, The Bundesstiftung Baukultur, Politicians from all Parties - the Trust Firm decided to tear down the Hochkuhlhäuser (the Cold Stores) - which at that point had been the oldest of its kind in Europe. There even had been an Investor who wanted to keep the Buildings intact, but the trust firm decided that it wanted to push through its own plans.

The Fate of Eisfabrik (or whats left of it) is still in Limbo. The trust firm which has refused the upkeep of the Listed buildings has been legally forced to do so by the City. It still plans on building something on the piece of land, but can't fully do so while the rest of the buildings still stand there.

It is no longer patrolled by guards so it's freely accessible to anyone and everyone. My suspicion is that the Trust Firm is turning a blind eye to all the illegal activity in hopes that someone will "accidentally" set another fire and burn the whole place down. Then they don't need to bother with having to cough up the money to restore the place.

  [caption id="attachment_7641" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Front part of the Residential building of the Eisfabrik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7642" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Back of the closed up Residential Wing of the Eisfabrik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7626" align="aligncenter" width="620"] It still works...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7631" align="aligncenter" width="620"] One of countless empty halls. The Building is just an empty concrete shell.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7640" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Remnants of the Water Pipe System[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7648" align="aligncenter" width="620"] View from inside the courtyard.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7643" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Ice Machine - Probably the most photographed object in the Eisfabrik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7635" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Nuts and Bolts[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7651" align="aligncenter" width="620"] view over the Ice Machine from a platform[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7633" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Took me about 10 minutes to figure out what this was called - it's an "Eye Bolt"[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7629" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An empty hall on the first floor of the Eisfabrik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7638" align="aligncenter" width="620"] more nuts and bolts[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7637" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Most of the Halls all look the same. Filled with trash and graffiti. and clothes.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7624" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Time for a Tetanus Shot?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7623" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A dance group practicing in one of the empty halls[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7644" align="aligncenter" width="620"] spray cans on a windowsill[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7649" align="aligncenter" width="620"] View of the Berlin TV Tower from the roof of the Eisfabrik[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7636" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Some large crane gears[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7630" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The small crane on the Roof[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7639" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Paul Weyermann Berlin-Tempelhof[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7645" align="aligncenter" width="398"] The Chimney of the Eisfabrik[/caption]

Heres my verdict.

The place was packed with people. from teenage girls, to film students, an advertising agency was  shooting a commercial, there was even a dance crew practicing on one of the floors. This place was far from abandoned.

Sadly there isn't much to see. Of course there's the giant Ice/Cooling Machine, some cool graffiti  - and a crane on the roof, but that's about it. The Eisfabrik is filled with trash and dear good it stinks like piss and shit. If you thought the staircase in Tacheles smells bad, that's nothing compared to this. The Eisfabrik doesn't even give your imagination the chance to come up with an explanation as to where the stench might be coming from. While im usually more focused on trying to avoid needles, or glass - or trying to avoid crashing through a rotten floor - I was rather busy dodging human excrement. There are stairs leading to the cellar - but the smell only gets worse there. I passed on the chance to explore that part.

On a more positive note, probably one of the more rewarding aspects of visiting the Eisfabrik is the view from the roof. There is access to another floor from the roof, but that is occupied by some squatting punks (that would explain the aforementioned smell) who don't look too kindly on trespassers waltzing in their occupied living room. As long as you don't bother them, they wont bother you.

The larger of the 2 Buildings is bricked up. If you do want to gain access, there is a way in - but I wouldn't recommend it (Hint - it's not the broken up entrance on the left hand side, the staircase is closed up midfloor). As most of the windows are bricked up its pitch black inside and god knows who or what is lurking inside. You wont be able to take any decent pictures inside so don't even bother trying to get in. It's not worth it.

Despite me being rather negative about the Eisfabrik I do suggest you visit it. As the Irishe Berliner/Abandoned Berlin always recommends, bring a Cool Beer and enjoy the sunset from the roof while you still can.

 

[caption id="attachment_7627" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Young Couple Enjoying the Sun - and a few Drinks[/caption]

 For more pictures of the Eisfabrik, check out the Flickr Album - Eisfabrik

 

[caption id="attachment_7494" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Good Times At The Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary[/caption]

Ever since I heard about the Sziget Festival - a good 10 years ago - I knew I had to go. The combination of it having a fantastic lineup (snoop lion aka snoop dog, The XX, the killers, beatsteaks etc.), it being on an island on the Danube in Budapest and spanning an entire week - ir rightly so earned the crown as the Best Festival in Europe. Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading are nothing compared to this. Something always got in the way of me going (I was either always broke or in some other country far away) but not this year. Seeing as my  lovely partner is from Budapest (and it has subsequently become a Second/Third home for me) we decided to drive from Berlin back "home" to Budapest for my Birthday in early August. Seeing as we had lots of things to get done in Budapest - aka going to the pool to kool off in the 41C heat and meeting old friends - we decided to spend one day - and night - at the Sziget Festival.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Sziget Festival here's a short breakdown of what it's all about:

*The Sziget Festival (Sziget is the Hungarian for "Island") is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. It is held every August in northern Budapest, Hungary, on Óbudai-sziget ("Old Buda Island"), a 108-hectare  Shipyard island in the Danube. More than 1,000 performances take place there each year.

The week-long festival has grown from a relatively low-profile student event in 1993 to become one of the largest European rock festivals, with about half of all visitors coming from outside Hungary, particularly the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany. It also has a dedicated "party train" service (with resident DJ's) that transports festivalgoers from Western Europe.The second event (1994), labeled Eurowoodstock, was headlined by performers from the original Woodstock festival. By 1997 total attendance surpassed the 250,000 mark, reaching an all-time peak year in 2009 with 390,000 visitors (the full 70,000 capacity being reached on one day).It is now being increasingly labeled as a European alternative to the Burning Man festival due to its unique features ("an electronically amplified, warped amusement park that has nothing to do with reality"). *Source: Wikipedia

The Ticket Prices are pretty steep. A Day Tickets cost €45 (valid from 6am until 8am the following day) and the week ticket (including  camping) costs €225. Quite hefty, but totally worth it. Concerts start around 3pm and the music on some stages goes on until 5am in the morning. There are 5 main stages and multiple smaller venues catering to every taste. There are even some "villages" dotted around the island where you can learn about traditional hungarian crafts, NGOs, Art Movies and of course why not - Safe Sex.

Despite my lovely partner having been to Sziget before (lucky her) - and preparing me as to what I should expect, there were several things I clearly wasnt prepared for when we got there. I'll leave that post for next week or something - but for now I'll leave you with a small glimpse of a normal Friday at the Sziget Festival 2012.

  [caption id="attachment_7496" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Crowd Surfing To The Max[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7498" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Wait until you see it.....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7501" align="aligncenter" width="620"] two punks helping each other out with some body paint[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7502" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Suspicious Burger is Suspicious[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7505" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Say Cheese[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7506" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Well thats one thing you can do with your back hair[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7507" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Chillaxin[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7510" align="aligncenter" width="620"] I Prefer the Drummer[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7512" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Sziget Tourist with Traditional Hungarian Dancers[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7513" align="aligncenter" width="620"] yeah very sexy[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7514" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Hungarian Military Showing off Some Guns[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7517" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Couple Holding Hands[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7518" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Festivalgoer wearing an Indian Headdress[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7519" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Women in traditional Hungarian Dresses[/caption]

 For more Pictures of Guns, Girls, and the Regular Sziget Crowd check out the Sziget Festival Flickr Album.

Heres a little teaser of the pictures that I took while at the 2012 Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary. The Full Post and the corresponding Flickr Album will (should) be live by Friday.

Parizsi Udvar Guard - Spotted: Praizsi Udvar, Budapest, Hungary

Budapest at Night - Spotted: Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary

So the Berlin Summer isnt turning out quite as expected  and sunny days are becoming an increasingly a thing of the past. Luckily this sunday (well sunday 2 weeks ago) was an exception to the rule.  We decided to go for a bike ride along the spree as we hadn't really had the opportunity to do so all year - but lo and behold my bike tire was fucked.

[caption id="attachment_7348" align="aligncenter" width="298"] Yeah, That Bike aint going nowhere[/caption]

Not wanting to cancel out on our Bike Trip I remembered that we had a Deutsche Bahn Call a Bike Station just around the corner of our House. I had always laughed them off as a Tourist thing - much like those awful Segway tours - but not wanting to waste the Day this was probably the best opportunity to try it out.

 

What Is Call a Bike?

[caption id="attachment_7340" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Call a Bike Logo © callabike-interaktiv.de[/caption]

10 years ago the Deutsche Bahn introduced the first Call a Bike model in Munich. Under the name "Call a Bike Flex" the Deutsche Bahn deposited bicycles all across the City, which could be rented out by the general public. After someone who rented out a bicycle was finished with it, he could lock it up and leave it (almost) wherever he pleased. After this system proved successful it was introduced to several other German cities as well in the following  years. In 2007  a new "Call a Bike Fix" system was introduced. As the name implies, the system was somewhat modified - as bicycles could no longer be rented and deposited anywhere, but had fixed rental points all over the city. While at first it seemed like this would curb the mobility of the bikes, it actually made it far easier for the public to find them.

 

[caption id="attachment_7344" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A Call a Bike Fix station at Hufelandstraße, Berlin[/caption]

The Call a Bike Fix System was introduced in Berlin in the beginning of  2011. As with everything in Berlin, this plan (or so it seems) wasnt thought out very thoroughly. Fixed Bike Stations were set up, but all of them are situated in Berlin Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg.

Youll be hard pressed to find any Bikes in Kreuzberg, Neukölln or any other district in Berlin. The Deutsche Bahn has promised to set up more stations in Berlin, but almost a year later I still havent seen any new Stations in those areas.

 

How much does it Cost?

There are 2 Different Price Models - one for those who have a BahnCard (A discount Card from the Deutsche Bahn - it makes no difference if you have the 25, 50 or 100 BahnCard) and one for those who don't.

The first 30 Minutes are Free. Regardless if you have a  BahnCard or not. You only start paying 0,08 Euro cents a minute from the 31st minute on.

The following 2 pictures give you a nice price break down.

[caption id="attachment_7352" align="alignleft" width="298"] Call A Bike Prices with a BahnCard[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7353" align="alignright" width="298"] Call A Bike Prices without a BahnCard[/caption]

For both price models, you pay 8 cents a minute - that means you pay €4,8 per hour. Id say thats about average if not cheaper than most Bike Rental Places in Berlin.

If you have a BahnCard, renting the Bike out for the whole day costs 9 Euros. So after 2 hours of using the Bike you will never pay more than those 9 Euros.

If you dont have a  BahnCard the pricecap is set at 15 euros.  So youll have to use the Bike for at least 3 hours to get your moneys worth.

You also have the option of getting a yearly membership - 36 euros with and 46 without a  BahnCard.

  How does Call a Bike Work?

Now I was surprised how simple it was to rent one (actually two) of these bikes. You have 2 options of how to rent a Bike. You can either download the Call a Bike App (available both on Android and IOS) or you can use the computer directly at the bike station. I opted to try out the mobile version as it seemed the most convenient.  After downloading the app you need to register for the system, entering your email, your physical address (im not sure if you can enter non german addresses) and your credit card number. This is where I encountered the first major snag. If you don't have a credit card (believe it or not - they are not that common in germany) then you can't use the app. A quick mention on the side - you can rent out a maximum of 2 Bikes at once. If you have a BahnCard or a Monthly Ticket Subscription, both bikes are billed at the reduced rate.

After your account is confirmed and you are registered, you are presented with a map of all the stations close to you. If you click on one of the icons it will tell you how many bikes are left at the station and how many return slots are left. If you then click on the station again you are presented with a list of the Bikes. Click on any of the numbers and you will be presented with a series of rental options.

 

 

Now its important that you thoroughly check the bikes for any previous damage before you rent it, as you will most likely be made liable for any damage to the bike after you rent it (even if it wasnt your fault). If you're satisfied with the Bike, click on "private rental" and you will receive a code for your bike. Flip open the display hatch on the left side of the back wheel and enter the code on the display. Youll now be able to slide out the metal rod and place it in the holding tray. Thats all there is too it.

I did give the computer at the Bike Station a quick test and it was equally simple to use. In contrast to the app - the computer also gives you the even cheaper yearly rental option (24 euros per year) if you are a Student or have a VBB (a public transport ticket subscription) subscription. Another benefit of using the machine is that it takes both Debit and Credit Cards, that makes renting a bike a lot easier for most people.

  Putting it to the Test:

Now as I mentioned before, make sure to double-check the bike that you want to rent for any damage BEFORE you rent it. Make sure that the tires arent loosing air, that the brakes are tight enough and that none of the lights are broken.

[caption id="attachment_7436" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Read the tiny Fine Print....[/caption]

The bikes are moderately comfortable. You can change the height of the seat, though not its angle. The handlebar is unadjustable - so if you tend to be rather tall, your spine will end up curving like that of the Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The bikes weigh a ton. If you are ever forced to carry one up or down some stairs (there is a good chance of this happening) you will curse the gods and the DB for making them so damn heavy. the bikes are equipped with a Shimano 7 gear shifter. In the beginning I felt that they were somewhat lax, but I got used to them fairly quickly. While there are several different Bike models they only differ in the amount of Kickstands (some have 2) and the type of gear shifters (all of them have 7 gears).

All Bikes have what looks like a shovel head at the back - which functions as a luggage carrier. Your Bag (or whatever object you want to transport) is fixed into place by 2 elastic bands with clips that work through a tension pulley system. Its crap. We were biking for a good 5 minutes when I hit a slight bump in the road and my bag (which had my camera inside) dropped onto the road. thank god there wasnt any traffic behind me. 2 clips aren't enough to securely fasten any luggage. Whenever you drive over some of Berlins cursed Cobblestone roads - and you find a lot of that along the Spree - you'll always be double checking if your bag is still there.

[caption id="attachment_7411" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Not as secure as you might think[/caption]

It would have also been nice if the Bikes had some sort of Bottle holder attached to the frame. Especially when its hitting 30C outside, it would have been great if you could attach a bottle instead of always having to stop and undo the luggage carrier bands to grab something to drink.

If you decide to stop somewhere for a coffee or something to eat you can easily lock up your bike again. All you need to unlock it is the opening code that you received in the beginning. Oddly enough, this was the only step which worried me a bit, as I was unsure if the lock would open again. We decided to stop for some frozen yogurt and locked up our bikes. Once we wanted to leave again, the bike lock wouldn't open. I guess it's just Murphy's law. There is a number on the bike frame which you can call for assistance, or you can directly call for help from inside the app. I was immediately connected to a helpful young lady (On a Sunday afternoon!) who asked me for the 4 digit bike number. I told her that the lock wouldn't open anymore and she remotely opened it for us and gave us a new unlock code.  The whole process took approx. 3 minutes. Awesome service.

[caption id="attachment_7412" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Biking along the Spree in Berlin[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7437" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Probably one of the nicest routes to Bike in Berlin[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7438" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Schloss Bellevue - The Presidential Palace[/caption]

So we decided to cruise through the city a bit more until our legs were calling it quits for the day - so we headed back home. We could have dropped the Bikes  to any station, but there were plenty of free spaces at the Call a Bike Station by our house. To return the bike all you need to do is park it in the slot and close the lock. The system automatically recognizes when and where you have returned the Bike. If you use the app it will tell you how long you rented the bike out for and how much you are billed for. It would be a nice addition if they could somehow work into the app the route that you took and how many kilometers your cycled.

So we locked out Bikes up and  this is where I encountered my second snag. When we returned our bikes I checked to see how much was going to be booked off our credit card -  After having had the Bike unlocked by the operator after our frozen yogurt,  a second billing cycle had started. So we were being charged 9 euros per bike, plus an additional 6 euros for the new Billing Cycle. I called the Customer service hotline again and explained the situation, and she instantly fixed the balance. A truly strange experience to have such efficient and friendly customer support from the Deutsche Bahn.

  My Verdict:

If you can look past their limited availability then renting these Bikes is a pretty good deal. If you are just visiting the city I wouldn't recommend renting them out for anything less than 3 hours (the price/service ratio doesn't really work out) but if you use them for the whole day then the prices are cheaper than most Bike Rental places you can find in the city.

Do you live in Berlin (Mitte)? Do you have a BahnCard? The you might as well invest the 36 Euros for the yearly rental. Ride it for 4 days and your virtually using it for free for the rest of the year.  Even if you don't have a BahnCard shelling out 46 euros for a year isn't a bad deal.

Sure you can buy a *cough*stolen*cough* bike in Kreuzberg or at Mauerpark for the same price - but this way you will feel less guilty and don't need to spend a small fortune to get it fixed when it breaks down the first time your ride it, or when you pull it out from storage after Berlins 10 Month Winter.

If you want more info about Call A Bike, its availabilty and registration process - check out their Website and their Twitter Account.

 

Last year after walking by the St Stephens Basilica in Budapest, I had the chance "take part" in the traditional Easter Mass.  The Catholic Easter Mass in Budapest is the most important Religious Event of the year for the Church, so everyone prominent Catholic in the City converged to the St Stephens Basilica to take part. Despite the heavy rain, the Basilica was packed with devoted Hungarians.

Bells of the St. Stephens Basilica in Budapest, Hungary by digitalcosmonaut

 (Sadly I only managed to catch the last 30 Seconds of the Bells Ringing)

                    More Photos of the Basilica, including photos from the roof can be found in the following Flickr Album - Szent István Bazilika

[caption id="attachment_7158" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Welcome to the Underground[/caption]

Germans Love Tunnels. They simply go apeshit for them. Theres simply no other explanation as to why over 7000 people queued up on a Sunday Morning after the BVG invited 5000 enthusiasts to take part in a  "Tunneltag" and walk through 500 meters an old metro tunnel.

The BVG (the Berliner Verkerhs Gesellschaft - the Berlin Transport authority) is currently extending its U5 and U55 Metro Lines (you know the one referred to as the Kanzler Bahn) in an effort to have them merge together into the "U5" line by the year 2019 (the U55 being the shortest and most expensive metro line in the world, as it currently only has 3 stations ). With this expansion The BVG is planning on creating a new Subway Station known as "Unter den Linden" (there was already a Station with that name but it had been renamed to "Brandenburger Tor" in 2009) to serve as a connection point and crossing between the U6 and the U5 metro lines. To achieve this, the Tunnel between Friedrichstraße and Französische straße needs to be torn down to make space for the new station. The U6 will be closed off between the 2 stations for the next 16 months - quite a considerable inconvenience for most commuters.

The BVG, in dire need of some good PR after a series of embarrassing mishaps, decided it would be a good move (which it was) to open up the 500 meters of Tunnel between the 2 Stations for the Tunneltag and let the Berliners get a rare glimpse of what the world under their feet looks like.

  U6 Tunneltag -  "500 Steps for the new U5"

  After hearing on the Radio that the BVG was hosting a Tunneltag on Sunday (1.7.2012)  I knew I had to take part. Apparently the free tickets were being handed out at the U-Bahnhof Friedrichstraße from 930 am onwards, truly an ungodly time to be out on a sunday morning but the chance to legally have a walk through one of Berlins Metro Tunnels was too tempting. According to the radio station, there were 5000 tickets available, and they would be handed out during 3 time slots. I thought to myself that showing up for the early time slot would probably be my best bet, as most people wont show up that early. Jesus Christ was I wrong. I arrived at the station at 930 sharp expecting maybe a handful of people - but I was totally unprepared for the masses of people rushing to get in line.

[caption id="attachment_7159" align="aligncenter" width="620"] So apparently all these people have nothing better to at 8am on a Sunday. The Tunneltag "entrance" was around the corner, behind the bridge.[/caption]

Apparently people had been arriving since 8am. I would judge that by 930 there were around a thousand people already queuing up, and more people kept on coming. I took a step back and briefly debated if I should even bother getting in line, but seeing as I had already made the effort of gettig up so early, I thought I might as well try my luck.

[caption id="attachment_7160" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Tunneltag queue only seemed to get longer. At this point it stretched along the canal and went around the block again.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7202" align="aligncenter" width="620"] This Pretzel vendor probably had the best day of the year[/caption]

I walked around the block and joined the queue behind  3 generations of a German Family. Everybody seemed to be in good spirits, taking this longest of queues in good humor. I think the last time this many germans got in a line was when they were leaving East Berlin in 1989.  Dark clouds started hovering over us, the German Family started laughing and hoping that it would rain, as it would probably chase away the less hardcore tunnel fans. (Un)Luckily it didn't rain.

Surprisingly the line moved relatively quickly and after standing around for a good hour we managed to move past the first block - at this rate it would only be another hour until we would get in. As I was standing there, the ZDF (the second german public channel) mooched on over to me and asked me if they could do a short interview and ask me a few questions about the Tunneltag. I hesitantly agreed and the lady proceeded to ask me a series of stupid questions, which I replied to with a series of even dumber answers. Not intentionally though, I just had no clue what to say to her. I prayed that they wouldn't air it on TV as I could gladly pass on those 5 minutes of fame (I scoured the german news and there was no sign of me, a lucky escape.)

 

[caption id="attachment_7161" align="aligncenter" width="398"] Apparently im famous now. Or not.[/caption]

After a good 2 hours I finally got my ticket and reached the entrance of the U-Bahn, the Tunneltag could begin!

[caption id="attachment_7165" align="aligncenter" width="338"] Mhhh I thought I was in line for the 930 slot?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7166" align="aligncenter" width="620"] So no more standing in line now?[/caption]

Or so I thought. We had reached the entrance only to be greeted by another long queue.

[caption id="attachment_7167" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Well this day seems to be made up of queuing[/caption]

A overfriendly BVG serviceman jumped out from a dark corner and greeted us. He briefly explained the rules and guidelines, that we should always watch our feet and move to the left or right of the tracks when we want to take pictures so we wouldn't hold up the crowd.

[caption id="attachment_7168" align="aligncenter" width="398"] The Rules[/caption]

We shuffled along until we ended up above the platform where a plethora of young women staffed some tables. They informed us that we would need to sign a paper waiving our rights incase something happened to us in the tunnel. The BVG sure knew what it was doing when it decided to staff the tables with a group of 20-year-old blonde and brunette women. Signing away my rights was never more enjoyable.

 

[caption id="attachment_7169" align="aligncenter" width="620"] I never did really read what I signed....[/caption]

And there it was. 500 meters of a Subway Tunnel. Only at this point did it dawn on me that I just stood in line for 2 hours on a sunday morning to walk through an empty Tunnel.  A Tunnel with 0%  historical value. Undeterred by this sudden realization I marched on with the hordes of grandparents and children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to see more photos have a look at the Flickr Album  - U6 Tunneltag

I must say despite there not being much to see aside from some electrical cables, the tracks and some signs it was pretty interesting. every few meters there were some BVG staff ready to answer any questions. I had spotted this interesting little thing clamped to the tracks and had no clue what it was for...

 

They explained to me that it was there to "ground" the tracks, so we wouldn't get electrocuted. Good to know.

350 meters into the tunnel, the BVG had set up a stage and a video projector, where they explained the plans and construction details of the new U-Bahn Station "Unter Den Linden". It was, lets say - informative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After another 150 meters we reached the end of the tunnel and were greeted by another friendly BVG lady and handed a certificate for the successful completion of the Tunneltag. Awesome. Im going to have that framed at home.

The U-Bahn Station at Französische Straße was turned into a giant info station. A full length U-Bahn was parked on one of the tracks and fitted out with construction plans and other info material.

You truly had to be a hardcore Tunneltag / U-Bahn / Architecture freak to stare at multiple U-Bahn wagons stuffed with papers like these. Or maybe just German.

Before leaving the friendly BVG staff reminded me to head over to Dussman (probably one of the best bookstores in Berlin) to get my Tunneltag certificate stamped and pick up my goodies. Somehow I wasnt surprised that this queue was just as long at the one from the morning. It seems like the only thing Germans liked more that day than Tunnels and standing in line was free stuff.

I was pleasantly surprised when a group of cheerleaders showed up flashing their panties while performing some sort of routine.

I finally reached the table, got my certificate stamped, was served up a host of vouchers and was presented with this little guy:

Mission accomplished I would say.

If you want to see more photos have a look at the Flickr Album  - U6 Tunneltag

  Did you miss the Tunneltag? Would like to explore more of Berlins Underground? Visit "Berliner Unterwelten e.V". They are based at the U-Bahn / S-Bahn Station Gesundbrunnen and offer an amazing assortment of tours through Bunkers and old Subway Tunnels and Stations. Their site offers a nice breakdown off all the tours and times. Tickets can only be purchased  upfront (not online) but they offer Tours in English. Sadly Photograpyh is not allowed on the tours.

After out last trip to the Kaserne Krampnitz, andberlin got back in touch with me with a list some new and exciting places to explore (Check out his post here). The most promising of them was a place most commonly reffered to on the internet as Sanatorium E, on the outskirts of Potsdam. andberlin had come up with a few links to some Urban Exploring sites, but they yielded little clues as to where this place was, or how to get there. I did some intensive internet digging, and through a sattelite map and some luck I came across the website of a property investor who had listed the address of.  Of course Sanatorium E is not its real name - if you googled the real name you would immeaditley find the location, so most Urbex/bloggers choose to obscure the name and keep the location a "secret" as to stop the  ever so present vandals/scrap dealers/idiots from runining the place.

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[caption id="attachment_6825" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Logo of the Seiler Piano abandoned in the Sanatorium E[/caption]

Click on this link to see all the photos of the Urban Exploration of Sanatorium E  on Flickr

The "Sanatorium E" was constructed as a Lung Clinic between 1912 and 1914 by the Jewish Doctor Walter Freimuth and his wife. After the National Socialists came to power, the Freimuths fled Germany and their property was seized. The Clinic continued to operate as a retreat for Lung Patients until 1952, when the East German government repurposed it to treat patients with Skin and Thyroid tuberculosis (the only clinic of its kind in all of East Germany). 1967 saw the clinic change purpose again, when it was transformed into Skin Clinic. The main building was renovated in the 1980s, while the sidebuildings were designated as a housing unit for the staff and a "Wirtschaftshaus" - a stable of sorts to keep livestock. The Clinic was closed down in 1994 (quite possibly as a result of the newly introduced economic reforms of the german unification) and the property was returned to the Freimuth family who had survived the war in Exile in the United States. The building is currently protected as a cultural herritage - but the Freimuth family had set plans in motion to transform the vacant building into a Hotel.

  [caption id="attachment_6826" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Postcard of the "Sanatorium E" on the outskirts of Potsdam from circa 1920[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6827" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The Main Entrance of the Sanatorium E in 2012. Note the size of the trees from the Postcard...[/caption]

As usual we met up at the World Clock at Alexanderplatz, and took the sbahn to Potsdam, and from there the Bus. The journey was a lot quicker than our previous outing to the Kaserne Krampnitz, especialy since the Bus connection dropped us off right infront of the Sanatorioum E.  The Sanatorium was once hidden in a dense forrest, but the construction of 3 major roads right next to the clinic have cut down most of the trees, exposing the building to the more curious public.

[caption id="attachment_6879" align="aligncenter" width="398"] The abandoned Piano in the foyer of the Sanatorium E in Potsdam[/caption]

Unlike other Abandoned Buildings, getting into the Sanatorium E is dead easy. There is no real fence which stops you from walking straight into the property, and there are quite a few open windows and doors. We found an open door in the main building which led into a room where half the ceiling was collapsed. Through the room we cam into the foyer of the Clinic, where we found one of the more interesting (and probably the most photographed) items - a Piano and a chair. I have seen several photos of the abandoned Piano in different positions and with different chairs, so I assume its current position wasnt the original one. Scrap dealers and Vandals had already found their way into the building, the most telling sign being that all the original brass doorknobs and fixings had been stolen. In case you were wondering why you always find pianos in these abandoned buildings, and why this one was still standing there,  its because Pianos normally weigh (at least) 200 kilos, making them rather difficult to steal.

  [caption id="attachment_6894" align="aligncenter" width="398"] In case you were wondering, the Piano is out of tune...[/caption]

  Click on this link to see all the photos of the Urban Exploration of Sanatorium E  on Flickr

Most of the rooms in the Sanatorium E didnt really yield anything of great interest. Most of the light fixtures and sinks had been removed (more or less professionaly), and all that remained were the curtains swaying in the breeze. Moving from room to room we were greeted by the same broken sinks and swaying curtains.

  [caption id="attachment_6882" align="aligncenter" width="399"] An empty patient or office room in the Sanatorium E[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6883" align="aligncenter" width="398"] An overgrown window with yellow curtains in the Sanatorium E[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6885" align="aligncenter" width="396"] Another abandoned room with red curtains[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6867" align="aligncenter" width="396"] the old tea kitchen[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6866" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Entrance to Station I[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6838" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Orange Flower Curtains[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6840" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The "Orange" Room[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6841" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Quite possibly a dressing room[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6842" align="aligncenter" width="600"] an empty office[/caption]

Click on this link to see all the photos of the Urban Exploration of Sanatorium E  on Flickr

Quit a few of the rooms still had  their "original" (in this case 70s and 80s) lamps dangling from the ceiling. Id say a few of them could fit quite nicely in some peoples appartments.

  [caption id="attachment_6888" align="alignright" width="199"] this wouldnt look to bad in someones hallway[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6887" align="alignnone" width="199"] one of many rusting light fixtures left behind[/caption]

      [caption id="attachment_6890" align="alignright" width="199"] ....and even yellow[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6889" align="alignleft" width="199"] you can find them in plain white...[/caption]

                        As we moved through the building , I slowly realized how large it truly was. It wouldnt be too difficult to get slightly lost in the maze of rooms and floors. We managed to find our way to the attic  where we encountered a folding bed, a bedpan, and what seemed like a rusted through pan.  im 100% sure that these items had been collected form throughout the buidling and consteucted unter skylight to make for a nice motive. Didnt stop us from taking pictures of it though.

  [caption id="attachment_6850" align="aligncenter" width="600"] it doesnt look too comfortable[/caption]

We moved into the next room which presented us with a scene which seemed less constructed. It looked like there might be some homeless people squatting in the room from time to time.

[caption id="attachment_6851" align="aligncenter" width="600"] at least they made the bed[/caption]

Here and there portions of what seemed like some of the original wallpaper shone through the walls, but other than that the building  radiated a cool sterilty that you only find in a hospital. There are no real architectural highlights, nor are there any "great treasures" to be found (aside from the piano), but the Sanatorium E provides some nice photo opportunities.

[caption id="attachment_6854" align="alignright" width="199"] some of the older wall decorations[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6853" align="alignleft" width="199"] possibly some of the more tastefull wallpaper[/caption]

                          [caption id="attachment_6873" align="aligncenter" width="398"] Loved this little burst of colour on the chain[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6858" align="aligncenter" width="600"] an old vacuum cleaner bag[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6860" align="aligncenter" width="600"] a pair of moth eaten pants[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6862" align="aligncenter" width="600"] one of the many fuseboxes[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6861" align="aligncenter" width="600"] an office room key[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6869" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Some rooms can only be accessed with a door Handle. Head to the "front door" outside and look for the fusebox, then youll be able to get into the other rooms.[/caption]

  [caption id="attachment_6870" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Front View of the Sanatorium E[/caption]

I was a lot less paranoid than on our previous trip to Krampnitz, probably because  I hadnt heard any rumors of Junkies or Nazis, which made exploring the building a lot more relaxing. Considering that the Sanatorium E has "only" been vacant for 18 years,  its in an appauling state. Looking at it you would have assumed that its been empty for a good 40 years. Hopefully the future might have better in store for the building.

Click on this link to see all the photos of the Urban Exploration of Sanatorium E  on Flickr

[caption id="attachment_6802" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Russian Orthodox Cross and Moon ontop of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche in Berlin[/caption]

No, that 112 is not a mistake. While I love the 111 Places in Berlin Book, I think it misses out on some true hidden gems, so I decided to add on to the list and share some wonderful hidden spots in (and around Berlin) which I think are worth exploring. After my (and several subsequent) visit(s) to the Tadschikische Teestube,  I decided to continue on my quest to visit all the 111 Places in Berlin**. I used to live up north in Reinickendorf - an area which at best most people would have only know of or seen through the window of the TXL bus on the way to the airport - when by accident I cam across this little gem of Berlin History - the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche.

Nestled in between an Industrial estate and a busy autobahn you find the Russian Orthodox Cemetery church of St. Konstantin und Helena.

Most people wouldn't have heard of it. And even if they had, they sure wouldn't venture out to an Industrial Estate In Tegel to see it.

[caption id="attachment_6795" align="aligncenter" width="600"] St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche in Berlin hidden behind the trees[/caption]

Have a look at the rest of the Pictures in the Flickr Album St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche

Quite a few would be surprised to find out that the Russians in Berlin have a long history that goes back far beyond their  (and the allied) occupation of Germany . The 2m2 cemetery of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche was founded in 1893 by the Brotherhood of the Holy Prince (Fürst) Wladimir Bratstwo to offer the the many exile Russians in Berlin a suitable Church and cemetery to be buried (as they had been previously been laid to rest in the protestant cemeteries). Tsar Alexander III shipped over 4000 tons of Russian soil  so that according to orthodox tradition, the dead may laid to rest in home soil.

The founding stone of  the Church (which was designed by the German architect Albert Bohm) was laid on the 3rd of June, 1893 and the construction of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche was completed a year later.

  [caption id="attachment_6796" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Though this is the front view, the entrance to the Chruch is located in the back[/caption]

After the October Revolution (the one in 1917 in Russia which brought the Communist Party to power) , Berlin saw a large influx of Russian immigrants which consisted mostly out of Nobility, High Ranking Military Officials, Artists and Intellectuals , and while strolling past the graves of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche you ll see such (un)familiar names as Kropotkin, Golizyn, Eisenstein and Daschkow. While strolling past the graves one should take note of the memorial dedicated to  Michail Glinka, the famous composer who had lived and died in Berlin, but is actually buried in St. Petersburg now.

  [caption id="attachment_6798" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The memorial of the great russian composer M.Glinka in the Cemetery of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche. Constructed by the military commandant of Soviet sector in Berlin in 1947[/caption]

Its also worth taking a closer look at the entrance gate of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche, which houses 9 bells (the oldest dating back to 1898) which were stolen by the Wehrmacht from the Soviet Union. At the end of the war the Russians secured them, and now they hang atop of the gate as a silent memorial.

  [caption id="attachment_6797" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The 9 Bells of the St. Konstantin und Helena Church Gate[/caption]

Sadly I must say, despite it having the status of a protected cultural heritage, (Denkmalschutz) the cemetery of the St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche is in quite a  state of disrepair. Many of the original graves lay crumbling, overgrown by weeds - and even newer ones dating back only a few years seem to by eyeing the same fate.

  [caption id="attachment_6799" align="aligncenter" width="450"] A resting headstone at the Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Berlin, Germany[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6801" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Broken chain of a memorial at the Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Berlin[/caption]

The St. Konstantin und Helena Kirche itself is very small. There is about enough space to house 20 or so people inside and the smell of the traditional Beeswax candles is slightly overpowering. There are 2 portraits of the Virgin Mary inside which are worth noting, and a rather large samovar (traditional tea/water kettle) in the corner. Ive visited the Church twice - the first time I had left my Camera at home, and the second time the Church was closed (and I only had a small point and shoot camera with me. Seems like I'm destined to venture out there again for a third time and get some photos from the inside of the church (and possibly taking up A Year in Berlin's offer on that slice of cake).

  [caption id="attachment_6803" align="alignleft" width="225"] German Plaque of the St. Konstantin und Helena Church in Berlin[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6804" align="alignright" width="225"] Russian Plaque of the St. Konstantin und Helena Church in Berlin[/caption]

                        The St.Konstantin und Helena Kirche, thanks to some wealthy donors, was renovated in 2005 - making the 40 minute ubahn ride well worth the trip.

Heres a Link to the current flickr album with some more picturesof the St.Konstantin und Helena Kirche

St.Konstantin und Helena Kirche

Russisch-Orthodoxer Friedhof Tegel

Wittestraße 37

13509  Berlin

U6 -  Holzhauser Str 

(The Church should be open everyday between 8 and 16? - with an active service held on Sundays)

**A few weeks ago I bought the wonderful book “111 Orte in Berlin Die Man Gesehen Haben Muss” (*Achtung Deutsch!) by Lucia Jay von Seldeneck, Carolin Huder, and Verena Eidel in the hopes that it would offer me some new curious places to visit in Berlin. The Tittle of this post (and subsequent post) stems from the tittle of the aforementioned book. Over time I will hopefully visit all 111 (and more) of these places in Berlin.

A Floral Pattern transferred onto an Arm

Spotted - Lyon France

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Pastiglie Leone -  Some of the finest Sweets in the world, Founded in 1857 in Turin, Italy.

Spotted - Lyon, France

Spotted - Lyon, France

Spotted – Schinkel Museum / Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, Berlin, Germany

Spotted - Schinkel Museum / Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, Berlin, Germany