The Berlin U-Bahn (underground railway) opened in 1902.

Pictured here is a train entering the Spittelmarkt station in 1908.

During the Second World War, U-Bahn travel soared as car use fell, and many of the underground stations were used as air raid shelters.

After the war, East Germans were prevented from riding on the U-Bahn into West Berlin.

Here we see Soviet soldiers storming the Berlin U-Bahn in 1945.

This is a photo of a train leaving Nollendorfplatz, one of the original stations of the Berlin U-Bahn.

In 1989, following months of unrest, the travel restrictions placed upon East Germans were lifted.

There are several stations, platforms and tunnels that were built in preparation for future U-Bahn extensions, as well as those that have been abandoned following planning changes.

Many of these abandoned tunnels and platforms are used for the storage of props and for fire fighting exercises.

This is the Subway station Innsbrucker Platz, prepared for the U10 line, which was never built.

Jarvis and Maitland

When it was a little warmer, and the sun was shining a few weeks ago, I came upon this wall of flowers on Jarvis Street.



Somehow I captured a woman's head, peeking through the flora in the above picture.

There are Sunflowers, Echinacea and some purple flowers that I do not recognize.

Apparently, these are "Heavenly Blue" Morning Glories. 
As their name implies, they open up at sunrise every morning (weather permitting).

This is the last week for the Chinese Lantern Festival

Here are a few pictures I took last night of the colourful lanterns............

This is the Emperor Qin's Chariot.

(Note: if you move your mouse over a picture and click on it - the picture will enlarge - for better viewing)

This is the Thousand Cocoon Dragon
(named simply because of the use of silk cocoons to build it).


The Dragons Chi


The Flood of the Jinshan Temple.


A dragon's head.


The Disciples of the Grand Buddha.

Closeup of a Terra Cotta Warrior.

Riding the Whirlwind -
depicts Qin Shihuang leading his army towards the battlefield.

The legendary Terra Cotta Warriors.

The Emperor Qin - Worshipping the Gods

A Dragon Boat.


A camel (on the Silk Road).

Roncie

Last weekend, my friends and I wandered over to Roncesvalles to soak up some culture at the Polish Festival.






We stopped and looked at almost every store, and every vendor on the street.

As the growling started in our tummies, we looked for a place with Pirogies.

At last we seated ourselves in a restaurant at the corner of Geoffrey and Roncesvalles.

It was named "Staropolska" or Old Poland, and it was obviously a "Mom and Pop" place.

We ordered pirogies, and Polish beer. 
Afterwards, everyone indicated that they probably would not need to eat until tomorrow sometime.

I did not bring my camera, but borrowed one of my friend's little digital camera.




This was the Brighton Cinema at one time, now it is a convenience store.
Thanks for the info - "Cowgirl".

My cousins, Patsy and Charles were off visiting South Africa last month when all the excitement was happening. They sent some shots of their travels.

The above picture is the view from their room at the Champagne Castle Hotel in the Central Drakensberg.

This, of course, is an elephant. It was taken "Digibino" - which means that it was taken with a pair of binoculars incorporating a digital camera.

And this one, as well of the two lionesses.


Now this is a "King Protea" or Protea cynaroides. It is the largest of the genus Protea, and is the national flower of South Africa.
This species is also known as "Giant Protea", "Honeypot" or "King Sugar Bush".



And lastly, a picture of Biedouw Valley.

It is situated between the Biedouw and Tra-Tra Mountains, and watered by the Biedouw River.

Some 200 million year-old fossilized shellfish deposits are found here.