Before giving some comments on the election results in Berlin I just want to say the the National Democtrats have gained enough votes to enter the state assemply in Mecklenburg-Western Pmmerania, they received more than 7% of the votes. In Berlin however it isnot much better: even if they did not make the Berlin Assembly, they will enter into 5 of the district assemblies, one in the former West-Berlin, all others in the East. If one wants to be a cynic one could say that many people in the East have managed a smooth transition from State- to National Socialism Democrats.

In the West the behaviour of protest voters is different and confirms another prejudice I have: in several district assemblies you now find “Die Grauen” (The Grey Ones), a party representing the interests of the elderly. Very often I have stated that West Berlin is over-aged. In general the result in Berlin is as expected: thanks to the Mayor, Klaus Wowereit, the Social Democrats now have a choice for a coaltion.

Refreshing as very often is the result in our district,  Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg: with 33% the Greens have the strongest group, and the Chritain Democrats (party of our federal chancellor) only manage 4th place with 8.8%. The district seems to be as colourful as the boutique below, which we had seen on our way back from casting our votes.

Results in both states are discussed in the English edition of SPIEGEL ONLINE.

Below you can see logos of urban rapid transport I have used in my life so far. Quite a few I think…

 
Got at b3co.com!

On Sunday we will have state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the latter being the Northern part of the former GDR. What is frightening is that the right-wing NPD is expected to gain the minimum 5% of votes and therefore will enter parliament, as DER SPIEGEL writes in its English edition.

Main reason is that the turnout will be low for the election. One can only hope, that more voters now decide to use their rights.

If my Canadian readers look at this blog, they might be amused by this American account of a visit to TIFF.

There are many people who collect animal figures, some I got acquainted with: F. collected turtles, M. figures of penguins, E. was specialised in lions.
It is good that Hanna is not such a type of collector – well, with art deco pieces and a well-equipped purse shecertainly could not resist. But, if she collected animal figures, it would be elks. Every time when our friends from Stockholm visit, they bring an elk-motif, a towel, an apron. And others did the same, as was the case with the elk below.

And this only, because Hanna was “kissed” by an elk two years ago, a story that she always wanted to write down, but never finished.

Quite fittingly I saw a larger collection of animal figures at Berlin Hauptbahnhof today. Sponsored by UNESCO and others, 140 bears were produced, each one by a different artist from a different country, showing a motif from his country. More about this may be found under Buddy-Bear.

Translation: If you are able to read this, it has not rained yet.
Seen at Havanna-Bar, Grünberger Straße, Friedrichshain, Berlin.

Yesterday I visited my mother again, and when crossing Warschauer Strasse at the traffic lights, he hit me, the young bicyclist. He had managed to pass several other pedestrians without reducing speed, but I was too much of an obstacle and directly came towards me and hit me, I fell down. In spite of my protest he did not see the need to stop, as I was still showing signs of life. To the contrary, after briefly glancing back he chased away, it was clear to him that several people had seen him ignoring the red light. Well, I just had some abrasions and a bruise near the knee, but I was somehow shocked that he was just letting me lie there to save his own skin.

Axel really has made so wonderful reports from Prag, that I have some difficulties to add my comments. Normally I try to buy books about the history of the city I am in. This time Axel was with me and found a wonderful book published in 1999 and therefore I was able to understand why Czech people really avoid the German language. They really were the underdogs under Habsburg rule, several attempts to govern the city, in which they had an 80% majority, failed.
Today the lingua franca for trourists is English, there are masses of them and they like to perform their sightseeing tours in groups. Therefore I was not identified immediately as foreigner (I was alone) and by error got the menu for Czechs in the restaurant, with many cheaper offers. Just when I asked something in English, the menu was confiscated again. Well, the average income of the natives probably is lower than that of tourists, therefore it might be ok.

By the way, the nastiest nationalists are and were in the past the Sudeten Germans, who talked and wrote lowly about their fellow Czech citizens.

A film maker from Switzerland had the idea to name the new seven wonders of the world. Now the 21 finalist are open for voting, from Germany Neuschwanstein Castle is on the list

For those interested, I have uploaded some images from Prague City and
Prague Castle.