GOOD HARD WORKING PEOPLE

Tierpark Zoo - In A Berlin Minute (Week 163)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:33:00 +0000

Hauptstadt Zoo Tierpark is the zoo in the former East Berlin, not to be mixed up with Berlin Zoologischer Garten, the zoo in former West Berlin, or Tiergarten, the large park in the center of Berlin, which is not a zoo at all.

This past week travel and Berlin blogger Nicole Blake (aka nicoleisthenewblack, her new baby girl Arianna and I went to the Tierpark, because we had been told that it was a prettier and more natural park than the more famous Zoologischer Garten. We were not disappointed in the greenery and animals we got to see, but I will admit that I was sad to neither find the sloths nor for the red pandas to show their faces (my favorite animal ever since discovering it in the small zoo in Prospect Park, Brooklyn).

The song is "Clown's Lament" by Jason Mathern of Goonygoogoo Productions.

Kissing at Hautpstadt Zoo Tierpark, Berlin

Photos from Prenzlauer Berg - Berlin's Prettiest Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:28:00 +0000

These are all photos from the neighborhood that I took while shooting the one-minute video
"Prenzlauer Berg – In A Berlin Minute (Week 162)".

You can read more about the neighborhood and watch the video HERE.


Water Tower Park - Park am Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

TV Tower and Water Tower - Fernsehturm und Wasserturm
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Dragon Water Pump - Drachenwasserpumpe
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Part of the Wrinkles of the City series by JR
Teil der Wrinkles of the City Serie von JR

Pirate Ship at Helmholtzplatz - Piratenschiff auf dem Helmholtzplatz
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Prater Beer Garden - Prater Bier Garten
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Longing desire for Paris by El Bocho
Sehnsucht nach Paris von El Bocho
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Flower Pot Boot - Blumentopfstiefel
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

A lot of Flower Pot Boots - Viele Blumentopfstiefel
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Book Tree - Bücherbaum
Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Yo La Tengo - "I'll Be Around" (Music Monday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:35:00 +0000

"I'll Be Around" is a beautiful and to me personally meaningful newish song by Yo La Tengo, whom I've been fond of for longer than I can remember. So lovely to hear that voice again.

The video, directed by Phil Morrison, is charming and amusing at the same time. I always appreciate videos (and photos) with superimposed text. This video takes it to an interesting level by showing the lyrics to the song briefly at the beginning and then using different poetic lines and a recipe instead. Also you get to see Yo La Tengo cook and there's a rather unexpected ending.

Yo La Tengo - I'll Be Around

I'll Be Around - Yo La Tengo - Lyrics

Prenzlauer Berg - In A Berlin Minute (Week 162)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:55:00 +0000

Prenzlauer Berg (Prenzlau Hill - or Prenzlau Slope as I like to call it in reference to the very similar Park Slope in Brooklyn that we've been calling home since 2000) is a neighborhood in the former East of Berlin. We got an apartment here in May 2011. At that point it wasn't our favorite neighborhood, despite it having been the neighborhood we imagined living in when we first thought about moving to Berlin.

By now I cherish the entire neighborhood, but especially the area around our apartment. You can read more about my view of Prenzlauer Berg in the Berlin Portrait series on the überlin blog, which published a portrait of me and my thoughts about my Kiez.

Prenzlauer Berg has a lot more to offer than what I'm showing in this video. But you know, one minute is short. Here you'll see the water tower, the tree-lined streets, balconies on Oderberger Strasse, Gethsemanekirche, the book tree, Helmholtzplatz, the pirate ship, a dragon water pump, Kulturbrauerei (culture brewery), planetarium, Schwarz Sauer and Kastanienallee, Eberswalder Strasse subway station, Konnopke's Currywurst Imbiss (city's oldest currywurst stand), Pratergarten (Berlin's oldest beer garden), street art by El Bocho and by JR (Wrinkles Of The City), Pappelrocks and golden hour at Mauerpark.

Some things in Prenzlauer Berg that are not in the video, but I have made other videos about, you can check out right now: Mauerpark Flea Market, Volkspark Friedrichshain, Fairy Tale Fountain, and Street Art Berlin (East)

The song is "Whatever Gets In Her Way" by Jason Matherne. You can download the song for free via Soundcloud.

Photos from the Zoo Aquarium Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:45:00 +0000

A few pictures from the shoot of the 1-minute video "Zoo Aquarium – In A Berlin Minute (Week 161)" - which you can watch (and read more about the aquarium) HERE.

Queens of the Stone Age - "... Like Clockwork" Animated Video Series (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:56:00 +0000

This week the new Queens of the Stone Age album ... Like Clockwork is getting released. It's their 6th studio album.

Over the last few weeks, the band has published five impressive animated music videos for shortened versions of four of the album's songs and the full version of the first single: "My God Is The Sun".

All five videos were created by Boneface (artwork) and Liam Brazier (illustration + animation) and tie together as one short film, which you can watch right here, right now (if you don't suffer from GEMA blockage).

I Appear Missing ("Calling All Comas")

Kalopsia ("A Condition Wherein Things Appear More Beautiful Than They Are")

Keep Your Eyes Peeled ("A Man Walks Into A Bar...")

If I Had a Tail ("Burn It ALL Down")

My God Is the Sun ("The Crack Of Doom")

Zoo Aquarium - In A Berlin Minute (Week 161)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Fri, 31 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000

Zoo Aquarium - In A Berlin Minute (Week 161) [HD] from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

The Berlin Zoo Aquarium opened in 1913 as part of the world-renowned Berlin Zoological Garden (Zoologischer Garten Berlin). It houses over 9,000 animals over three floors, including fish, reptiles and insects. For this video I only concentrated on the fish (and two jelly fish).

This video is dedicated to Scott Solary. After 160 weekly 1-minute videos in just over three years, it was long overdue to make a video especially for him, the person who has supported and helped me the most with this series and pretty much all of my film and video projects. Thank you, Scott. While in other 1-minute videos I've often included shots especially for Scott (as I have for other people), making a video about fish was all for him. Hope everyone else still enjoys it.

The featured song is "Twilight" by Jason Matherne.

Fish at Berlin Zoo Aquarium

The National - "Demons" (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:04:00 +0000

So here I go again: swooning over Brooklyn's The National, whom I've written about on this blog time and time again. Just three weeks ago I already recommended live performances of "I Need My Girl". But can I help it that they're such brilliant musicians, Matt Beringer is such a darkly emotional and seemingly honest lyricist (and has that deep voice) and that their songs get under my skin and speak to me like hardly any other music?

Besides, their new album Trouble Will Find Me is finally out and playing on heavy rotation on all of my devices - interrupted only by Junip's new self-titled album (from which I recommended songs a few weeks ago as well).

Today I want to leave you with the video for "Demons". The video was directed by the featured artist Azar Kazimir, who creates a drawing based on the album cover. He recorded this at the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin, where The National had a showcase and where I took the Instagram picture below the video.

You can currently stream the entire Trouble Will Find Me album via iTunes. If you want to see more, check out the video for "Sea of Love".

Trouble Will Find Me
Michelberger Hotel, Berlin

Photos of Fairy Tale Fountain (Maerchenbrunnen)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Sun, 26 May 2013 12:15:00 +0000

Photos from the shoot of the 1-minute video "Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain) – In A Berlin Minute (Week 160)". The Fairy Tale Fountain was opened in 1913 in Berlin's Volkspark Friedrichshain.

Read more about the fountain and watch the video HERE.

Dog - Hund
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Puss In Boots - Der Gestiefelte Kater
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Cinderella - Aschenputtel
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Seven Ravens - Sieben Raben
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Little Red Riding Hood - Rotkäppchen
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Sleeping Beauty - Dornröschen
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen


Brother and Sister - Brüderchen und Schwesterchen Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Boys love to fish
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Snow White - Schneewittchen
Fairy Tale Fountain - Maerchenbrunnen

Gretel without Hansel - Gretel ohne Hänsel
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Hans in Luck - Hans im Glück
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Deer - Hirsch
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

Frog Prince - Froschkönig
Fairy Tale Fountain - Märchenbrunnen

And when then I fall, who will catch me then?
Und wenn ich falle, wer fängt mich dann auf?

Read more about the fountain and watch the 1-minute video HERE.

Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 160)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:38:00 +0000

Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 160) from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

The Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain) in Volkspark Friedrichshain was opened in 1913 and is the largest fountain of the Kaiser era. It was conceived by Ludwig Hoffmann. The fountain is surrounded by sculptures of characters from the Grimm Brothers' Fairy Tales, various animals and several children created by the artists Ignatius Taschner, Georg Wrba und Josef Rauch.

Did you recognize all the characters? There are Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots, Hans in Luck, Seven Ravens, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Brother and Sister, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty.

While it was a beautiful how the light changed while I was filming, and the golden hour was quite magical, it became a bit of an issue in editing and trying to match the color. I thought about turning it black and white, but the sky was just too blue to turn it grey.

The music is a sped-up version of "In A Tree" by Jason Matherne.

Sleeping Beauty

The xx - Night + Day - Berlin (Photos and Videos)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:00 +0000

For months I'd been waiting for the musical event of this spring in Berlin: The xx were playing a special show called Night + Day together with several other bands and DJs in the abandoned amusement park Spreepark. Two similar shows were planned for Lisbon and London.

The location, which I have yet to feature in an In A Berlin Minute video, excited me as much as the prospect of seeing and hearing The xx and some of the other bands, like the Chromatics.

Unfortunately, it was rather cool and grey (sandwiched between two gorgeous early summer days) - and fortunately, I had such a great time with friends + friends of friends and getting a bit distracted by Cilian Murphy, that I didn't feel inspired or find time to film or take any pictures of the location or other bands.

But here are a few (slightly blurry) pictures of The xx and also two short video excerpts. Usually I don't publish anything so shaky - and usually I don't stand that far away from the stage (the zoom makes shakiness worse). But these two moments were so personal and special that I wanted to share them.

They were as magical and moving as expected. Wow!

Excerpt from "Shelter"

Excerpt from "Angels"

Überlin Berlin Portrait Photo Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:37:00 +0000

James watching Zoë take a picture

Last week James Glazebrook and Zoë Noble of the fabulous Berlin blog überlin published a new article in their Berlin Portrait series, for which they asked me a few questions about the Berlin neighborhood I'm currently staying it (Prenzlauer Berg).

I felt very honored that they asked me to be part of this series, in which they have different (creative expat) people introduce their "Kiez" (Berlinish for neighborhood - or Hamburgish for red light district).

The real bonus of participating in this series was spending a lovely day with Zoë and James and having my picture taken by such a talented photographer as Zoë. I usually don't like having my picture taken, especially over and over again and then in public!

But since I had already admired her other photos on the blog and from fashion shoots, I knew she was really good and that I was in safe hands. Even more important for the time of the shoot was that she made me feel so comfortable and even relaxed. Of course, James also did his part through engaging conversations and distracting me from the clicking camera.

So, if you're in Berlin (or really anywhere in Europe) and you need to hire a portrait, still life or fashion photographer, get in touch with Zoë Noble via zoenoble.com!

Zoë Noble taking a photograph at Hemlholzplatz, Berlin

If you'd like to see the pictures and read the article, please check out "Berlin Portrait: Luci Westphal".

And if you've checked out the pictures on überlin and wondered where I found the awesome Coney Island T-shirt... I got that and more right on the Coney Island boardwalk from Lola Star. Man, I miss the old Brooklyn beach scene...

Photos from Volkspark Friedrichshain

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:46:00 +0000

Photos from the shoot of the 1-minute video "Volkspark Friedrichshain (People’s Park) – In A Berlin Minute (Week 159)".

Watch the video HERE.


Statue in the Scent Garden Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Park lawn and majestic chestnut tree
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Chestnut tree blooms
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Skaters at the Memorial to Polish Soldiers and German Anti-Fascists
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

BMX
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Restaurant roof cows
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Monument to the Spanish Civil War
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Boy and fish statue - at the entrance to Märchenbrunnen (Fountain of Fairy Tales)
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Photos from the shoot of the 1-minute video "Volkspark Friedrichshain (People’s Park) – In A Berlin Minute (Week 159)".

Watch the video HERE.

Mikal Cronin - "Change" (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:02:00 +0000

Just discovered a new favorite song: "Change" by American singer-songwriter Mikal Cronin. Great melody, moving lyrics and a cool video to boot.

The mixture of total realism and a surreal twist reminds me of Jonathan Lethem's novels and short stories. Can't go wrong with that.

Mikal Cronin in "Change"

Volkspark Friedrichshain (People's Park) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 159)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:10:00 +0000

Volkspark Friedrichshain (People's Park) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 159) from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

Volkspark Friedrichshain (People's Park Friedrichshain) is on the border of the neighborhoods Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain and conveniently located along the M10 tram line. It's the oldest park in Berlin and one of its largest. During the years of the Cold War it was an East Berlin park.

Besides the usual big lawns, canopy paths, majestic trees, and the quintessential beer garden (it's Germany after all) this park's special features are all the different urban sports you can enjoy and (in addition to a few large scale political memorials and statues) it features the lovely Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain), which you can see at the end of the video already, but to which I will dedicate a future In A Berlin Minute completely.

This is actually a park I have not spend all that much time in. I remember well the first time when Scott and I had just bought our black European bikes and made a trip to that park our first ride. I remember how exhausting it was to ride up the hills in the park (which like many Berlin parks are built out of World War II debris) - but how absolutely lovely it was to escape the city and chill out in the luscious green nature.

Zooming through the shot of the beer garden / restaurant is my friend Adam, who is a very successful gay hipster travel and lifestyle blogger (Travels of Adam) and vlogger working out of Berlin. I'd like to note that he describes himself and promotes his work as a hipster traveler. The significance of this is that almost by definition all hipsters claim to not be hipsters. I think it's charming when finally someone embraces this term instead of pretending otherwise.

The song is the appropriately titled "Sunburn" by Jason Matherne of Goonygoogoo Productions.

Skaters at the Memorial to Polish Soldiers and German Anti-Fascists
Volkspark Friedrichshain, Berlin

Team Spirit - "MRDR It's Ok" (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:37:00 +0000

The animated video for "MRDR It's Ok" by Brooklyn band Team Spirit is the second video in a series of five created by the Swedish (London-based) animation video team HannesJohannes aka Hannes Elltorp and Johannes Helgelin.

While this is not my favorite drawing style (I admit it, I like thinks prettier and yet darker, with less bright garish colors), I'm super impressed that this was all hand drawn by those two guys and then cut out and animated. And the story line is fun.

Most importantly, of course, for a Music Monday post: I really like the song a lot. That's a band I'd love to see perform live.

Team Spirit - MRDR It's Ok [Official] from HannesJohannes on Vimeo.

The previous video in the series (for the song "Jesus, He's Alright") you can watch HERE. However, please be aware that it's probably offensive to most Christians.

Team Spirit - MRDR It's Ok

Team Spirit

Wannsee - In A Berlin Minute (Week 158)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Wannsee - In A Berlin Minute (Week 158) from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

The famous Berlin lake Wannsee is really two lakes, Kleiner Wannsee and Grosser Wannsee, that are bights of the river Havel.

In this video I only show a small part of Grosser Wannsee (Large Wannsee), including the popular public beach Strandbad Wannsee - after hours.

There would have been a lot more to see, but according to my new to not go overboard (no pun intended), I decided to keep it simple and not include the villa, where the Wannsee Conference took place or any of the islands and bridges.

What fascinates me most about this area, that during the East / West Germany split, it was the only real big "get away from the city" nature that people in West Berlin could access without leaving "the country" and getting the permission to drive through East Germany to reach West Germany. Kind of mind blowing.

If time allows I plan to return to the lakes for a boat tour and to visit the Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). At this point it seems that winter has quickly turned into early summer. It seems the whole city has breathed a sigh of relief.

The music is a track from Soundtrack Pro mixed with the natural sounds around the lake.

Wannsee

3 Years! ... and a big change

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:58:00 +0000

On the day of the 3-year anniversary of my web series In A Berlin Minute aka In A Brooklyn Minute I spontaneously decided to make a new vlog - one in English and one in German.

Because this vlog is very long I'll give you a quick overview so you can decide if you want to bother watching it. It is mostly intended for the people who watch my web series -- but could possibly be interesting to my friends as well. I made this vlog today because today is the 3-year anniversary of In A Berlin Minute / In A Brooklyn Minute.

However, most words are about the identity crisis I hit this past summer/fall and how at this point it has affected my priorities in life regarding video work and money work -- and my most important priority: the people in my life. Although the really personal things I don't discuss in this video.

Mainly I finally acknowledged that I'm a workaholic and that such driven behavior together with lack of success caused me misery as well as the people around me. In our society we think that being busy and working to much is somehow honorable. I don't believe that anymore - but that being obsessed with your work can do harm to yourself and your family.

In the depth of the crisis I thought I'd never make videos or films again. Now I'm on the other side of my journey and would like to tell you that I'll continue to make videos but that as a priority they will come after the people whom I love and after making money. So from now on my web series may be released late or altogether less regularly.

My hope is that my story can help others to let go of some of the pressures that hurt themselves and their families and that there can be a path to a well-balanced life.

Thank you all for watching -- no matter if for three years or just today.

3 Years! ... and a big change. [Vlog 5 - English]

3 Jahre! ... und eine grosse Veraenderung [Vlog 5 - Deutsch]

Watch any episode from the last three years: http://MovingPostcard.com

My blog: http://goodhardworkingpeople.blogspot...
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YouTube: http://youtube.com/GNYBerlin
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Blip: http://blip.tv/InABerlinMinute

The National - "I Need My Girl" (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:57:00 +0000

Ah, patience... Two more weeks until the new The National album Trouble Will Find Me will finally be released. Not only have I never been disappointed by any of their albums, the songs I've heard so far promise another great record full of musical brilliance and the experience of emotion and truth.

Last week The National performed "I Need My Girl" on Fallon:

For some reason, while I was putting together this blog post, the video disappeared from my post as well as from the Stereogum post where I had discovered it. I'm leaving up the embed code in hopes that it will return.

But so you can at least hear the song, here is a beautiful acoustic live recording of the same song from a Canadian radio station a year ago.

Download the live version of "I Need My Girl".

Matt Berninger of The National

Berlin Bears / Bärenzwinger - In A Berlin Minute (Week 157)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Berlin Bears / Bärenzwinger - In A Berlin Minute (Week 157) from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

Since 1280 the coat of arms, mascot and symbol for Berlin has been the bear. It is actually not exactly clear where the name of the city or the connection to the animal may have come from.

Since 1939 there have been bears living in the Bärenzwinger (bear cage) in the Köllnischer Park in Mitte. The two brown bears living there today are Schnute and Maxi. There is some controversy about the living conditions of the bears. Activists are trying to get them moved somewhere else.

Since May 7th, 2011 I have published a 1-minute video every single week - either from Berlin (where I had moved during that week in 2011) or Brooklyn (where we lived again in 2011/2012) or other places I traveled to. The name changed from German New Yorker in Berlin to In A Berlin Minute and In A Brooklyn Minute and eventually became part of the more general catch-all Moving Postcard.

A huge thanks to everyone who has been watching or just started now. You make me keep wanting to film, edit and share these videos. And I'm not done yet.

The song is "Clown Face" by Jason Matherne.

Mallorca Island, Spain - In A Berlin Minute (Week 156)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Mallorca Island, Spain - In A Berlin Minute (Week 156) from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

Mallorca (aka Majorca) is the largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The Spanish island is a very popular destination for German tourists and I've thought many times I might possibly be the only German who has never been.

Mallorca has a reputation for being a party island and for everything to be in German. I was delighted to realize that the other rumors were true: the party sections are only in small enclaves, that are either German or English - while the majority of the island is breathtakingly beautiful and fully Spanish or Catalan, when it comes to language and cultural influences.

The video will give you a short glimpse into the rough mountainous terrain, the beautiful flowers, the vast sea, the old architecture, majestic cathedrals, the serpentine cliff roads, and the various animals roaming the island. As so often I have a lot more footage than I could fit into the minute. Hopefully I will find time soon to publish a longer version and also a video of just our drives.

I went to Mallorca to spend my birthday with my friends Gilly and Bine, who you can find in the background of one of the shots (they preferred to not be featured). They had just moved to the island themselves and it was great to explore places with them for the first time as well. Thank you for your extraordinary hospitality, Bine and Gilly!

What struck me is how beautiful the sunsets were - especially the one seen from the Lighthouse of Formentor. It's one of those moments when you really feel the beauty, majesty and harmony in the nature's divinity. You can almost believe that everything will be alright.

Some of the places you see in this video:
Palma de Mallorca (capital city)
Coast of Platja de Palma
Beaches of Arenal
La Seu, Palma Cathedral
One of Europe's oldest olive trees
Valldemossa
Port de Valldemossa
Formentor Coast and Lighthouse

The music is from the software Soundtrack Pro.

On May 7th, with the next video, I will mark three years of publishing a 1-minute video every single week. This week was the first time that I published 4 days after the regular schedule.

Some of you have been on this journey with me for the entire 3 years and I'm very grateful for you. We've become friends through videos, comments, messages and even a few meetings. So I hope you don't mind if I get personal for a moment.

The last few months have been a time of great transition for me. A lot happened, mainly loss, including the deletion of my YouTube channel. Although that part was not the worst or most important thing that happened, it has the most to do with this web series and our connection, which is why I'm emphasizing it in this context. I decided to not give up after that blow but keep pushing it, while at the same time I figured out all the other (more) important issues in my life.

Over the last two months I've built a dedicated website for the series (MovingPostcard.com) and I'm in the process of re-building the channel. I don't know if I will ever reconnect with the over 7000 subscribers, whom I lost. Because what I have realized through this phase of transition (and this is a reason why this week's video is late) that I want and need to spend more focus on the people in my personal life and the well-being of my heart and soul and also on making money. I will continue to make videos (this series and larger projects), but they will have to come second from now on to my people and my efforts to make money.

Badia de Palma - Mallorca, Spain

Teufelsberg Spy Station - In A Berlin Minute (Week 155)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:03:00 +0000

In the northern part of the nature preserve Grunewald Forest, on top of the man-made hill Teufelsberg (Devil's Mountain) sits a former US spy listening station, with which Americans listened in on East Germans and Russians from the 1950s until 1991 when Germany was reunited.

The 260 ft tall (80 m) Teufelsberg mountain itself was built out of rubble from Berlin buildings destroyed during the Second World War, burying with it a Nazi technical college designed by Albert Speer.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) built the listening stations on top of the hill even though it was in the British sector. It was and still is clearly visible throughout Berlin, so it was no secret to the Soviets and East Germans that the US was listening in.

Since the early 90s there have been various investors and plans to utilize the hill and the now abandoned listening station. The view from above onto Berlin and the surrounding countryside makes it a valuable location. But instead it is today, more than 20 years since it's lost its Cold War functionality still in an abandoned looking shape. There have been many illegal parties and the buildings are full of amazing street art.

I'd been wanting to visit Teufelsberg for a long time. Rumors had been flying about fences having holes, these holes being closed up again, security guards keeping people out, harassing and hustling them for money. Since May 2012 two artists have been leasing the area of the former listening station and are charging people an entry fee (€7 - €15), which is linked to a tour (between 1 and 2 hours, depends if you go during the week or on the weekend). Even though it's more fun to sneak into abandoned buildings for your urban explorations, I have to admit I didn't mind so much to pay. It was certainly worth it to see the art, the buildings and the view. However, I really hate these time restricted tours. There's never enough time for me to film and photograph everything, roam freely and relax for a bit to really take in the space.

You can find out more about Teufelsberg and the tours on the English or the German version (more information) website Berlin Insight Out.

The sounds in the video are a mixture between the natural on-location sounds of birds, wind and the cloth flapping in the wind and the song "Spamgate" by Pandacetamol available through the Free Music Archive: Spamgate (Pandacetamol) / CC BY-SA 3.0

Former US Listening Station on top of Devil's Mountain, Berlin
Ehemalige US Abhörstation auf dem Teufelsberg, Berlin

Favorite Songs of 1st 1/4 of 2013 (MusicMonday)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:08:00 +0000

My favorite songs during January, February and March 2013 (not counting Carnival songs in Brazil).

My favorite songs from the last 3 months

1   - Stupid - Brendan Maclean
2   - Dead Now - Frightened Rabbit
3   - Line of Fire - Junip
4   - Your Life Your Call - Junip
5   - We No Who U R - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
6   - Late Night - Foals
7   - Entertainment (Phoenix Cover) - Dinosaur Jr.
8   - Wishes - Beach House
9   - Push the Sky Away - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
10 - People Are Poison - Cold Cave
11 - Sex- The 1975
12 - Entertainment - Phoenix
13 - I.O.U. - Fol Chen
14 - Bassline Junkie - Dizzee Rascal
15 - I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) - Icona Popl
16 - Born To Kill - The Thermals
17 - Der fünfte Four Top - Die Liga der gewöhnlichen Gentlemen
18 - The Wrong Direction - Passenger
19 - Water’s Edge - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

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Views from the Berlin Ringbahn (Circular Railway)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:22:00 +0000

These are a few pictures from the shoot of the 1-minute video "Berlin Ringbahn (Circular Railway) – In A Berlin Minute (Week 154)".

You can watch the video and read more about the Ringbahn HERE.

Ostkreuz train station seen from the Ringbahn
Ostkreuz Bahnhof von der Ringbahn aus

Molecule Man, the Spree river and the TV Tower
Molecule Man, die Spree und der Fernsehturm

Tempelhof, Berlin

Exiting the train prohibited
Aussteigen verboten

Graffiti Station along the Berlin Ringbahn (Circular Railway)

Berlin Circular Railway Map
Berlin Ringbahn Karte

Berlin Ringbahn (Circular Railway) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 154)

noreply@blogger.com (LuciWest) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Berlin Ringbahn (Circular Railway) - In A Berlin Minute (Week 154) [HD] from Luci Westphal on Vimeo.

The Berlin Ringbahn (circular railway) is a 37.5 km (23.3 mi) long city train (S-Bahn) line around the center of Berlin.
There are two trains: S41 goes clockwise, the S42 goes counter-clockwise.

For this video I took the S41 all the way around Berlin pointing the camera towards the inside of the ring (or the city center) and catching a glimpse of the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) from the East, South and West and North.

This video begs for me to put together a longer version because there is a lot more to see and I think it's quite fascinating to see the neighborhoods change.

The music is called "So Easy" by Jahzzar and can be found in the Free Music Archive and used under a Creative Commons license: So Easy (Jahzzar) / CC BY-SA 3.0

View of the Spree River, Molecule Man and TV Tower as seen from the Ringbahn
Sicht auf die Spree, den Molecule Man und Fernsehturm von der Ringbahn aus
- Berlin -