Berlin: Guerilla Photography. The Peach is Under the Table!

[The Grand Wazoo]

Mrs Wazoo and I spent a few days in Berlin this week – somewhere we've never been before but have wanted to go to for quite some time. It was an excellent trip - really, really great. I generally loathe cities, but Berlin was fantastic for all sorts of reasons.

Now then.....my prowess with the foreign chit-chat is pretty bad – my mind just doesn't work that way at all. Despite pointing out that it would all end in tears, for a couple of years at school I was designated as 'one who must study languages'.

I battled with French, Latin and German for a bit and came away with very little to show for it. I have said in jest for years that the only bit of German I know is 'Der Pfirsich ist unter dem Tisch' or 'The peach is under the table'.

Now, I'm not sure what circumstances led to me being taught that particular phrase, and I never believed that it would ever come in handy. But......

.....how wrong I was – a day out in Berlin in March 2013. These German pfirsiches don't 'alf get about!

(Note: Due to the undercover nature of the operation, the photos are as wonky as hell!)



The Peach is Under the Table
Der Pfirsich ist unter dem Tisch
Now that's a useful phrase!

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Time to go out & score some culture!


Jump on the U-Bahn
Springen Sie auf den U-Bahn

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A Gallery of Contemporary Art
Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum für Gegenwart

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This museum is housed in a beautiful old railway station. The tent is a sculpture.



The Peach Admiring a Piece by Roy Lichtenstein.
Der Pfirsich Bewundern ein Stück von Roy Lichtenstein

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The attendant (just feet away from Peachy) was oblivious to the deeply subversive nature of our presence, though he almost certainly thought for a moment or two that I was out to vandalise or steal one of his precious charges!



Peachy Gets a Close-Up View of a Warhol.....Nice Colour!
Der Pfirsich Bekommt eine Nahaufnahme von einem Warhol ..... Schöne Farbe

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Nina Canell: “Ode to Outer Ends”
"Ode an die äußeren Enden" - (2010)

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Some Orbs - Well, what's a young peach to do when confronted with something like this?




Home from Home!
Ein Zweites Zuhause

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A Berlin Icon: The TV Tower
Berlin-Symbol: der Fernsehturm

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.....Hmmmmm, That's Got Me thinking.......Does My Bum Look Big in This?
.......das ist Hat Mich Zum Nachdenken.......Hat Mein Hintern Schauen in Diesem Groß?


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A Drink & a Snack? Time for a Bit More of a Think.
Etwas zu Essen und zu Trinken? Zeit für ein Nachdenken -

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Divine Inspiration at the Cathedral? .......Not A Chance!
Göttliche Eingebung? .....Nein!

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Got It: It's A Fruit Kebab!
Bekam die Antwort: Obst Kebab!

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The only place in Berlin where you can guarantee not to see a skyline dominated by the tower is.....
.....Up the Tower!
.....Auf den Turm!

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Up to the Top of the Tower for a Well Deserved Beer!
An die Spitze des Turms für eine Wohlverdiente Bier!

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[Firebottle]

See.... your Germans's not that bad :scratch:

Amusing photos,

:cool: Alan

[prestonchipfryer]

Der Pfirsich hatten eine wundervolle Zeit in Berlin.

John


I think the photos are really well thought through. Thanks for sharing them.

John

[Fi-Wi]

Creativity makes all the difference in photography, I like them!

Is German traditionally taught at schools in the UK? If so, it is not much you remember from your classes or your teacher did a lousy job. :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

I don't think it's common at all nowadays for kids to have German classes in the UK and certainly not at the age I did it.
My assumption that my favourite German phrase would be of no use whatsoever must be correct as I checked Google for it last night, with no luck - A Googlewack! This thread seems to be the only incidence of the complete phrase on the web, both in English and in German. A beauty salon/physiotherapist practice in Göttingen comes close though with 'Der Pfirsich unter den Orangen!'

I'm not mad, really, I'm not!

[Macca]

I thought I was off my head but I'm not even in the same league, am I? ;)

Actually there was a show on TV the other day where they went inside the flak tower in the old East Berlin, a huge fortress left over from the war. The Russians tried to demolish it but the walls are 30' thick and they gave up and half buried it with rubble instead. Fascinating place still littered with rusting equipment but I don't think they do tours unfortunately.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I thought I was off my head but I'm not even in the same league, am I? ;)

Not a chance - I'm playin' with the big boys!

[Barry]

Chris, we have known for some time now that you are a high level undercover agent for that shadowy, covert, organisation 'Mudshark'.

However I think you might be in trouble with your section chief (known only as 'Z'), by revealing the pass phrase you operatives use. Of course you haven't revealed the correct reply - but I think it might involve another fruit, or rather berry. :eyebrows:

[The Grand Wazoo]

You could be correct, Barry, but I couldn't possibly comment.
However, for the venue for a shady rendezvous, there are some interesting coffee (and muffin) vendors in Berlin.......

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[The Grand Wazoo]

On a rather more serious note, a visit to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was a numbing and sobering experience.
Almost 5 acres of order, chaos and realisation of what man is capable of.

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[The Grand Wazoo]

The Reichstag was given a new dome by Norman Foster. You can visit if you book in advance - we did it on the web from home the week before we went. It is utterly fantastic and photography can't begin to do it justice. The original stone shell of the building inspires thoughts of how small you are but then you get into the huge dome and you see the entire city unfolding around you as you work your way up the 200-odd metre spiral walkway. Just as fascinating is the structure you are inside. Brilliant!

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[The Grand Wazoo]

More humbling and thought provoking stuff - we went the the 'East Side Gallery' the longest remaining section of the Wall, which has been transformed into a collection of pieces of art, every one of which makes you stop and think.

"Escape is a mighty method to destabilise dominion....Gratitude to the killed and surviving refugees"

"Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world"

Some of the less well known paintings.

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