Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

A short walk through the center of Berlin gives you the sense of this great city and history. The Brandenburg Gate was commisioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace in 1791, now the most well-know landmark in Berlin stands as a symbol of the reunification of Germany.

Here leaders of the world came and spoke and here once was a wall, but today a place where people from all over the world come appreciate the beauty of the design of this structure and the significance of the history it witnessed.

It was snowing this day!

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Do you really know how to do that?

This winter in Europe the trend for clothing and other accessories is knitting , it is all over in display at the most popular stores in Germany. This was something we use to see when we were in our teens, the only difference then is, that it was produced by our mothers and grandmothers, today they are made most likely somewhere in a factory in Asia . In a walk downtown Frankfurt, Germany the other day my wife said, "I would like to stop to buy some knitting needles and some wool, I would like to knit a scarf" , with a surprised expression I said, "do you know how to do that?" She replied in a mild tone, "my mom did, and my grandmother as well, and they taught me when I was young" , to which I then somewhat unconvinced I said, "OK... why not!" For next couple of days I saw her knitting at a fast pace and things began quickly to take shape and form, first a base for some plates, next a couple of flowers, then a trendy...

It is not the change of season but our capacity to see beauty in the change!

Römerberg, Frankfurt - March 9, 2013 Just a few days ago the scenario of spring we found at downtown Frankfurt was marvelous, the sun was shining and blue skies were clearly on the background. We of course enjoyed the first sings of spring and savored the occasion. Just a few days latter the skies turned grey and a significant snow storm caused complete chaos in traffic and quickly the winter reins again and spring is gone, but there is beauty and life in the white landscapes as well! Kurk Park, Bad Homburg - March 12, 2013 Isn't life like this many times, when we think is spring all the sudden it turns winter again. Often is not the change of season but our capacity to see beauty in the change that makes the difference!

How old are our Christmas traditions?

Theatrical representation: "O Boi e o Burro" The four traditions listed below have been with us for as long as we remember, how old are they? and why do we still keep them? 1. The Nativity The representation of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, the humble yet sublime scene of Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus in the stable with the animals, the shepherds and the star was always a central ornament at the home of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Just after our wedding, we bought our own set of the nativity, that we still use until today. No other tradition has brought Christ to our Christmas more than this one! 2. Christmas Eve Reading the account of the nativity in the scriptures and theatrical representations of the nativity is a key part of Christmas Eve. Fish is the traditional meal of Christmas Eve. As far as I can tell this is a tradition that comes from the XVI century. The exact reasons for this tradition are unknown, in my p...

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