Berlin-Kreuzberg - our new home. After having finished arranging and rearranging everything in our apartment, I finally get to catch some images and impressions of our surrounding. One really good thing, after moving here from the US, is the new sensation and feeling of getting around. Predominantly by bike, often by foot and public transport but seldom by car. It lets one experience the immediate surrounding in a much more direct manner, it´s more communicative, more and faster contact with other people a realistic possibility. Berliners and the well adapted New-Berliners have a reputation of being a rude bunch. Approaching locals will (mostly) be rewarded with friendly helpfulness, if you catch their peculiar humor it can even be a funny experience.

Another great thing is the big contrast of everything, ranging from people and their different concepts of life to architecture in all its grandeur and ugliness. Walking about without a destination or en route to something or somewhere, there is always a good image to capture. The good thing from a photographers point of view: Just shoot everything and it will eventually turn out great.

The nightmare architecture of the 70s is part of some of Kreuzberg. I wonder if it would be realistic to drag

the responsible urban planners to court, to have them sentenced to live in their own dream dwelling.

The mosque to the right has been the object of arson some weeks back. Of all the islamic institutions

it had to be the most moderate and peaceful wing - the Mevlana branch of Islam. (Check out my article

of the head Mosque in Konya, Turkey). Investigatores have yet to determine the who and why behind the crime.

Kreuzberg centre, a thoroughfare below the monstrosity. Yet, a hostel with a first floor beach club is very

popular with backpackers.

Being the hub of demonstration-culture in Germany, there is always something to demonstrate for or against.

Former Federal President Christian Wulff coined the phrase:"Islam is part of Germany."

Not all Germans agree, but in Kreuzberg it´s a fact of life.

Impressive wall art (mural?).

The famous overhead subway line U1.

Check out more pics of Kreuzberg.