September, 2018 | Postcards From Here and There

Reichstag Building Berlin

The Reichstag building in central Berlin has had quite a history. First opened in 1894, it was significantly damaged by fire in 1933. As a result of further damage during World War 2 it fell into disuse, although there was a partial restoration in the 1960s. The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, ran very close to the Reichstag which was on the western side of the wall. Following the fall of the wall in 1989 the building was refurbished and set to be the home of the German parliament following unification. The towers and facade are all that is left of the original building. In 1995 it was even wrapped in fabric for two weeks to make it an art installation.

Part of the refurbishment saw the building of the glass dome, designed by British architect Norman Foster. Made from glass and steel it affords a superb 360 degree view of the city. It is a stunning contrast to the formal architecture of rest of the building. The parliamentary debating chamber is located directly below the dome.

There is a mirrored funnel in the centre which directs light into the chamber. It looks very futuristic! There is even a moveable screen to prevent glare.

Two spiral walkways enable you to get to the top of the dome and back down again without having to retrace your steps while giving excellent views of the city.

Visits to the dome are free of charge but must be pre-booked. I booked two weeks in advance and was only able to get a slot for our last day in the city. If you have limited time available I would suggest booking as far ahead as you possibly can. Bookings must be made through the Bundestag website. At this point you must list all the people that will accompany you on your visit and give their full names and dates of birth. You will receive a confirmation of your visit by email and you must print off the accompanying letter and take it with you for your visit along with proof of identification for each visitor.

Brandenburger Tor is the closest S-Bahn station and from here it is a short five minute walk. You are asked to arrive 15 minutes before your allocated time in order to complete security checks. There did not appear to be any toilets/restrooms and refreshments are only available from a small stall in the dome itself however this was closed at the time of our visit as we had an early morning visit. There is a rooftop restaurant to the east of the dome which is open from 9am until 4.30pm.

Free audioguides are available in a variety of languages and these provide a short commentary about the Reichstag and views that you can see. I would also recommend picking up a free ‘Outlooks’ guide which has two panoramic photographs of the view from the dome which identify and give a short explanation about some of the buildings that you can see.

It is well worth pre-booking this visit, I cannot recommend it enough. A must on any list of things to do in Berlin

Chef’s Table Chester

Music Hall Passage is a narrow alley that connects Northgate Street to St. Werburg Street in Chester and can be used as a short cut from the city centre to the Cathehdral. However if you didn’t know it was there you could easily walk past the entrance on Northgate Street. This would be a shame because Music Hall Passage is home to a very fine restaurant indeed. The Chef’s Table is only small with 30 covers and a tiny kitchen from which they produce some very acceptable food indeed.

We visited at lunchtime on a weekday and were able to get a table without a prior reservation but this might not necessarily be the cast in the evening or at weekends. The lunch menu offers 2 courses for £18 or 3 for £22 which is very good value indeed for the quality on offer. Portions were good sized and we didn’t feel that we needed any side dishes for our particular choices. The menu is comprehensive with a good range of dishes, including vegan options. Ingredients are sourced locally as far as is possible.

Slow cooked octopus with chorizo, sweetcorn summer minestrone and haricot beans

Mushroom and avocado on toasted focaccia and served with red onion chutney

Roast stonebass, smoked haddock, Cheshire saffron risotto and a soft poached egg.

The stonebass was the dish of the day, beautiful fish and rich, creamy risotto.

The wine list is short but offers adequate choice to accompany the dishes on offer. We chose a glass of Gran Cerdo Blanco. Gonzalo Grijalba. Unfortunately I forgot to record the vintage but the 2017 is currently available in stores. This is a natural, organic wine with aromas of apricot, peach and a lovely floral component that make for a very appealing wine. The palate is medium bodied with lovely balance and lingering flavours of stone fruit. It accompanied the stonebass perfectly and is great value for money.

A very nice lunch. I am sure a return visit is likely.

Baltic Triangle Street Art

The Baltic Triangle is to be found about a 20 minute walk from Liverpool city centre. It is not blessed with great public transport but a taxi from the city centre should cost less than £5. In the heyday of Liverpool as a shipping port this area was awash with warehouses, some of which remain today. Clearance and redevelopment has now resulted in the variety of architectural styles. It is very much an area of contrasts from the modern to Victorian to derelict. Its what makes it such an interesting area and a perfect backdrop for street art.

Much of the art that can be viewed today can be found on the streets around Jamaica Street including; Greenland, Newhall, Cramp, New Brick and Jordan Streets.

The old skateboard park on Jamaica Street is perhaps the most obvious example but is a large number of works in a small area. Further along Jamaica Street is Paul Curtis’s work of Liver Bird wings

The Liver Bird is the symbol of the city and can be found atop of the Liver Building at the Pier Head. The Liver Birds. The Liver Birds was a TV comedy in the 1970s set in the city and featuring the life of two local women sharing a flat together, hence the dedication!

Its interactive art as you can become the none to wear the wings. There is even a crown to rest on your head as you stand between the wings.

There area number of other pieces on the same stretch of wall.

Street Art is an opportunity to make a point and here the piece makes reference to Banksy pieces which are taken down and sold for large sums. Nearby is a piece by Irony.

The piece by Dime can be found on New. Bird Street. An octopus holding a yellow submarine!

Greenland Street and the side streets from it are awash with street art. Many of the pieces were created as part of the Liverpool Mural Festival that was held in April 2018 and featured local and International artists.

Perhaps the most striking is the large work by StineHvid

On the walls next to Constellations café/bar are pieces by Aches and Burnon.

Newhall Street has a huge mural.

At the far end of Greenland Street is Crump Street. It is easily missed as there is nothing much around here and it leads only to the busy Parliament Street. It is however a treasure trove of street art from the Mural Festival.

Turning right from the end of Crump Street onto Parliament Street will bring you to the Stephen Hawking piece by Manchester artist Akse.

As with all street art it is a developing scene and by its very nature evolving. A return visit in twelve months or so will be something to look forward to.