Spiegelturm

Dear Gran,
Here's more photos from last week, when we went with Allison and Vida to an artists' mirror installation in the tower of the Franzoesischer Dom (French Cathedral). Here is Julie and Vida in the Gendarmenmarkt outside the cathedral (Vida is being carried in a Jedi style sling made of a single strip of cloth - I thought you'd want to know that)



The art installation uses only mirrors to create visual effects. The mirrors were positioned inside many of the archways of the tower and there were also two additional round mirrors at the top and bottom. Here's Julie and Allison looking up from the bottom of tower.



Although I took this next photo, you can still see me (in the distance on the bottom right) as well as Allison and not just one, but two, Julies looking over the balustrade.



And here's (just the one) Julie at the top of the tower - looking up (and down).



Well that's enough modern theological reflections for today,
huru,
Brendan

Allison and Vida Visit

Dear Gran,

Here's our next 2 visitors, Allison and Vida, at the local Jumping Castle bridge. We are very pleased to have met Vida! The photo is taken en route to our favourite local Eis Laden where the 18 flavours of ice cream are home made and served by very friendly Turkish people.



Vida and I celebrated our birthday together yesterday - we are only 32 years and 7 months apart in age.



We all went out for dinner last night at a local restaurant Freie Schwimmer on the canal. The restaurant is in a ramshackle old building that is down at water level and it has a comfy old couch and a wood stove in the corner.



It's been a real treat for us to have Allison and Vida stop over for a few days,
bye for now,
Brendan

Sean & Sandra Visit

Dear Gran,
Back in Berlin now, it is sunny weather for Sean and Sandra’s few days of sightseeing here.
Here they are on the ramp inside the new Reichstag Dome, which is a bit like a giant glass bird cage. From here you can get great views out to Berlin and (if parliament was in session) glimpses down into the pollie's chamber.

We borrowed two bicycles from friends for a couple of days and we all went sightseeing by bike.
When we were riding around the palaces of Potsdam, Sean spotted this alien object in the distance from a belvedere tower and we all detoured to this new super fast slide.

Here they are near the end of the day's ride in front of the Neues Palais edifice in Potsdam's Park Sans Souci. (As its not the newest palace there, so I suggest they give it a more accurate name the Haessliches Palais.)

To continue the theme of Sean's dental work being featured on this blog, here is an updated picture. As you can see, the people behind him had the same procedure done, only they chose to go for the fully body treatment in gold (and then have the house gold-plated to match).

After a busy week, Sean and Sandra set out yesterday by train on their next adventure to Prague. We enjoyed their visit - as well as having one of their famous Thai curries made for us at home.
bye for now
Brendan