Baai2Berlin: church

Sunday

St Nikolai church in Berlin

I love old buildings and there are plenty of those in Berlin! So, one cold Saturday I went to the oldest church in Berlin, St Nikolai church. The church was built between 1220 and 1230. Unfortunately due to bombing in the second world war, large parts of the church had to be reconstructed in the 1980s. Yes, it took the GDR more than 30 years to even start the reconstruction! The church is not in use as a church any more but is a well organised museum. You have to pay for everything though - entry fee, audio guide and you have to pay 2euro to take pictures. And so I payed and here are some of the 100s of pics I took.

An oak statue of St Nicolas

The church is filled with tombs payed for by rich families. They are beautifully decorated .

This painting of a pious family shows the church as it was used in the background.

These windows were damaged by bombing

An example of damage done by bombing.

One can sit on the galery, put on headphones and listen to choral music.

View of the church while listening to the music. Stunning.

More ceiling and pillar detail.

People who bought space for tombs in the church also commissioned the most beautiful ornate scroll work. I've taken a few pictures of these railings.

A pillar

Window

The altar piece is spectacular

I totally loved this altar cloth

One of the little scenes on the altar cloth. This picture is taken from the computerised display.

This is a picture of the actual altar cloth.

Here is the real chasuble dating back from the late 1400s. Amazing.

You can sit and watch a a presentation on the history of the church and area. Your audio device automatically syncronises with the looping presentation.

How the church looked in previous centuries

View of this huge church from the back

Berlin to Budapest: Some night scenes

I am so happy that I could go to Budapest, Hungary for a week. The main reason was to go to an European Christian conference "Christ is All" and to join the first day of John and Karen Louis' training in parenting and marriage facilitation to refresh what I learnt when I attended the same training in Bangalore, India a year ago.

Budapest is a beautiful city - sort of shabby chic. I loved the relaxed atmosphere and also the helpfulness of people to help. Fortunately, many people speak English and could help with directions with the public transport. One day I asked an older lady if I'm on the correct tram and when she found out where I was going, she took me all the way (tram - metro - walk to my destination). This lady was an air hostess in her younger days and so speaks a reasonable fluent English and it was nice to have this long conversation with her about her life.

I arrived Thursday night and immediately went out to one of the Christmas Markets in Budapest. It was c-c-c-cold and I only stayed for an hour or so but took lots of pictures, also on the other nights I walked around in Budapest. The buildings are so beautifully old and lit in a way to enhance it's beauty. Unfortunately I often didn't even know where I was in Budapest so I can't always tell what buildings I took pictures of.

Beautifully lit building at the Christmas market at Vörösmarty tér

Big light-balls in the trees created a lovely festive atmosphere

A light show against one of the buildings

One of the stalls at the Christmas market that sold only meat...LOTS of meat!

Those cauldrons were filled with mulled wine. This is now one of the smells I associate with Christmas markets. I unfortunately found I get severe heartburn from mulled wine, so I'm not partaking in the fun.

On Saturday afternoon (yes, even though it's dark, it's still afternoon) it rained while a group of us from the conference went sightseeing. Even in the rain, Budapest looked glamorous and festive.