A Day of Contrasts



I went by "Tacheles" again Tuesday afternoon since no one knows how much longer it will last. The squatter art house that developed for free-thinking souls after the fall of the Wall is always on the edge of existence. During the eight years I've visited Berlin, I've seen its gradual decline. Gone are many of the artists shacks and freestanding musical venues/bars. Now there's one lone iron sculptor out back and a handful of artists inside. The building and lot await future development as Berlin continues its transformation following reunification in 1989.

Tuesday night we had an uber friendly waiter for our grand finale celebration dinner, as shown in this mixed flash/slow exposure photo. In contrast to grimy "Tacheles," the TV Tower Sphere Bistro is a classy place. At 680 feet above Berlin, everyone enjoyed 360-degree panoramic views of the city and good conversation over a tasty meal. Total tab for our group of 13: $850, pretty much on budget.