Mindfulness

Today I intended to stay home with my feet elevated to give my legs an opportunity to recover from the unaccustomed "overuse". Really, I did. Really. I didn't. The sun was shining and it was again in the low 50s. Need I say more?

Shortly before leaving the US, I took a class in the Zentangle art form (Google it). I thought that the Holocaust Memorial would be a good place to try sketching. I could sit in the sun on one of the stones to sketch and not do too much walking. Fickle sun. By the time I arrived at the memorial, it was overcast. It remained stubbornly overcast all afternoon.

Before making the short walk from the Brandenburg Gate to the memorial, I stopped for a warm Starbucks to take with me to help keep the chill at bay. This is the same Starbucks where I took refuge from the cold and waited during the official visit by the president of Kyrgyzstan a little over a year ago, so I knew right where to find it. If you're ever at the gate and "need a fix", turn your back on the monument and look towards your 11o'clock. It's right on the next corner.

I sat sketching for a while, which put me in a contemplative mood. Eventually, though, the chill convinced me to get up and wander along the  pathways. Between the taller stones, the breeze was blocked and it was more comfortable.

I've been to the Holocaust Memorial before, but I'd never been there alone. I heartily recommend visiting alone, or at least that your group split up after arrival.

The deep canyons between the taller stones provide a deeply private and personal space for contemplation and reflection. Sometimes it's hard to tune out those who are clueless and disrespectful. But by letting go and focusing on self and feelings, some profoundly spiritual moments can happen.

Many aspects of the simple stones became metaphors. The trees and shrubs interspersed among the stones at the eastern end seemed to represent LIFE. Associations I wasn't expecting came to mind. Most of my thoughts were to personal to share.

The simple eloquence of the memorial is hard to capture on film, and my drawing skills weren't up to the task.

As I was preparing to leave, I was approached by a pair of young women with an unusual request. They were making a video to send to their friend in London for Valentine's day, and they were asking people all over Berlin to say hi and ask "how are you". So, somewhere in London, a young man named Grant will be greeted on V-day by my smiling face. Strange, but whatever...

After leaving the memorial, I wandered back to a café I'd noticed when I got off the bus, where I had Kaffeetrinken.

The pastry selection was 100% tempting.

I'm not quite sure what this was that I ordered (front), but it was delicious. I tasted some cinnamon and, perhaps, just a touch of anise. The piece was enormous. What's left in the photo would be about 2 pieces.

I placed my pastry order for "im café" and chose a table. I gave the waiter the piece of paper I was given at the counter and ordered a hot chocolate, as well. I lingered for a while with my e-book, then I made my way to the bus stop for the trip "home".