Greetings from Sydney

Here we are on the otherside of the world after a long 24 hours up in the air.
Its winter its warm and we have even seen snow, in Sydney.
Undertaken the central Sydney experience and now have started to venture further afield to the beaches of Bondi and Cronulla.
Have been taking lots of pictures which will be uploaded anon.

Excitement Finally

Well today is my last day of work before my long hols. However, am studying at home so no driving.... that certainly knackered me out the last two days. In fact I barely crawled up the stairs yesterday and into bed. Spending the day in doing a draft paper for publication.

Have not even begun to think of packing yet. Got to sort out my suitcase of medicine first.... lol Viral Polyarthrities and severe Vit D deficiency plus other vitamin lacks and being ill from 2 and half years mean a long slow road to recovery.

I think I can begun to get excited tomorrow after my Vit B12 injection. It is supposed to be around 20 C so not too bad... hope I can catch some sun as well. This will be my first holiday in 18 months - need it badly to relax. I guess a few t-shirts and trousers will suffice and maybe something to wear out to dinner just in case I get taken out....Also maybe be a jacket and fleece just in case... as the mountains do get colder than 20C. Going to get a lift to Cockfosters so that the tube can take us right to Heathrow. The the long arduous flight... I am sure I will have to suffer and try to keep moving about every so often to avoid aches and pains.

Well I shall go back to finishing my paper.......

Been Lazy

Its a long time since I came here. There has been so much happening as I finally started going to work again after a long haul illness. Still not right but felt I must come here and write a note. I am going on holiday next week. This is a nice month long break in Australia and will be visiting Sydney and Melbourne and places in between. I will try and put in a daily blog and pics if I can. If not it will all come in when I return home. Hope the weather is fine and sunny. I know it is winter but am sure better compared to the English summer!!! Anyway we hope the summer is still in UK when we get back.

Delights of Berlin - part 2

Standing on the other side of the Brandenburg gate... Berlin is a very interesting city full of contrasts. There are old buildings with splendid architecture along with modern towering blocks in a small part of the city. There are many museums and parks. There are a few shopping malls as well... spoiling the feel of the city!!!.... There is plenty to do and a week is not enough. Had a couple meals in a restaurant called the Twelve Apostles - which is a Italian place doing really fab pizzas. It is under the railway bridge and I really jumped up from my chair when the first train went overhead. Thought it was an earthquake!!! another place we went a couple of times was a small Mexican place ... not bad...
Statue of Bertolt Brecht by the Berliner Emsemble the theatre in the above picture.
Reichstag - the photos are of different views and also showing differnt parts of the building to see the carving.









Brandenburger Tor which farmed the gateway between the East and Westalong the Wall.
Sculpture Quadriga on top of the Brandenburger Tor - a symbol of victory, the goddess recieves the staff bearing the Prussian eagle and iron cross with a laural wreath.

Carving in the pillars of the gate

Map showing the Berlin Wall as it separated the city in the past.

Checkpoint Charlie

Topographie des Terrors - Prinz Albrecht-Strasse. This runs along the Berlin wall and shows the history of geocide of the jews of Europe. There is something very sad about this place... I mean I could feel the anguish and pain here as well as paradoxically the more pleasureable emotions of the oppressors when standign at this site. I have always felt a 'place' and can sense the vibes around me but this was something much stronger. I just could not stop tears gathering in my eyes and running down my face. In fact I could not see all the exhibits are I had to leave - the emotions were overwhelming.

Part of the remining Berlin Wall
The newer part of the city centre - Potsdamer Square and the modern buildings - sony centre, office buildings, etc







Holocast Memorial near the Brandenburg Gate

Sculptures along the river Spree.


New Synagogue - a very beautiful central dome that can be seen form far. The museum inside is informative. The views from top are worth visiting.

Gedenkstatte Grosse Hamburger Strasse - memorial commemorating Berlin Jews murdered in the Holocast.
Markisches museum - we were trying to get on to a boat trip which was supposed to start from the river near this place. After all we saw this in a publicity leaflet - made sure the day of the week was correct. Got up early and walked a couple fo miles to get there for 1 30 am trip!!!!! There was no boat or trip.. there was no one there to ask. So we took a few pictures of the museum from outside - all around the building to get different views. Gave up on the trip after hanging around for an hour in the freezing cold!





The next two photos are parts of the Berlin Wall displayed outside the Markisches museum.


Post Office is more impressive than any other post office I have seen!
Ephraim Palais at the most beautiful corner of Berlin - the ornate balconies glint in the sunshine. at present it is a part of the Berlin City Museum.

Some better photos of Rotes Rathaus - townhall

Delights of Berlin - part 1

This is just a part of the visit to Berlin. We went there in February. It was still pretty cold but dry and most days the sun was shining. We walked to all the places - best way to see the architechture and enjoy teh sunshine! But really hard on the feet!!

Television tower nicknamed the 'toothpick' - telespargel - is one of the tallest structure in Europe. Also St Mary's Chruch. the original construction of this chruch had started in 1280. urrent one was rebuilt in 1380 and then further changed in the 15th century with the final dome on the tower added in 1790. There is a very nice, quiet and peaceful feeling inside this church.




Rotes Rathaus - literally the RED Town Hall - yet another beautiful building.
Neptune Fountain across the Town Hall. The bronze has gone green but the fountain still looks splendid.



Statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in a large empty square called Marx-Engels Forum




St George slaying the Dragon!

Statues across the bridge on River Spree - Unter den Linden road.
Sculpture on the Unter den Linden

View up and down Friedrichstrasse as seen from the top floor of our hotel.


Serious construction taking place in front of the hotel. The building behind the construction site is the Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse.
An advertisement spanning the building . It all lights up at night and makes the skyline interesting. The building just peeping into the photo is a medical clinic. There are very few high rise buildings in Berlin.
A theater across the river.

View of River Spree from our room with the beautiful buildings lining the side.




Reichstag on a beautiful sunny morning.

A sunset over the Reichstag - a view from our hotel room. The River Spree in the front with the rail bridge.


Berliner Dom is a cathedral built between 1894 and 1905. It has a big central dome and four smaller domes at each corner. The copper over the time has turned green. This cathedral can be seen from far and dominates the view. Below are a few pictures of what the inside looks like as well. Very ornate and impressive.