Hanging tough

The East Side Gallery down near Ostbahnhof has been back in full swing now for a while. It's renovation was part of the city's "20 years since the Berlin Wall" celebrations. I drove past there yesterday and couldn't help but notice - while photographing it at 50km/h - that the murals on the wall are almost devoid of graffiti.

Six months into it's new life, and no vandalism? That's almost unberlinian. Is this a new demonstration of respect from the Berlin street art community? Has the city run out of spray cans and marker pens? Normally something like this would be destroyed within weeks. Tags, stencils, stickers - you name it, they'll beat it.

Anyway, I'm impressed people - resist the urge.

Hot in the city!

It's the same story every year. We all whine about how cold it is in Spring and then suddenly: Berlin turns on the warm weather, and everyone starts complaining about how warm it is. Well, I'm not saying a word. Bring it on I reckon. Tomorrow it's going to get even hotter - 30 degrees! ACHTUNG: Close the schools, attend to the elderly!

But seriously - if you can, it's time to hit the water right now in Berlin. Either in Kreuzberg's favourite Prinzenbad, in a paddling pool at a Strandbar beside the Spree River or even by heading out to the Tegel Lake for a spot of dive bombing, like this crazy local above.