You may be skeptical like me or believe in aliens, but there is one thing we can all agree on: this strange landmark gives us a look into the mind of one of Sweden’s strangest businessmen. It’s a fascinating story that connects local history with folklore.

But, before I share this with you, I have to tell you how I ended up in this weird little memorial next to Ängelholm.

As I was organizing the phases and stops of my bike trip from Copenhagen to Oslo in the summer of 2025, I looked into whether there would be any noteworthy sites along the way. For this first day riding my bike, I spotted some interesting things next to the beach, but nothing felt like it was worth a change in route. Until I discovered the Ängelholm UFO Memorial.

I think I rode for 90 km or so when my GPS tracker told me that the UFO memorial was close by. I stepped into the forest and tried to spot it. After a few wrong paths and turns, I saw a clearing in the woods, and there it was: a concrete model of a flying saucer in the middle of nowhere. I was in the right place.

Gösta Carlsson and The Legend of the Pollen King

Now, let me try to tell you what I learned about the person behind the Ängelholm UFO Memorial. Gösta Carlsson (1918–2003) is remembered today as a successful businessman and founder of the herbal medicine brand Cernelle. But his journey to becoming the “Pollen King” is an origin story that we don’t hear much everyday.

It was May 1946 when Gösta Carlsson was walking home through the Kronoskogen forest when he spotted a glowing object near a clearing in the woods. This object was shaped like a disc and was resting on a keel with retractable legs, surrounded by a crew of beings dressed in tight-fitting flight suits. He couldn’t get close to them since they had a device to keep Gösta Carlsson at a distance.

After the encounter came to an end, the crew of the flying saucer managed to keep in touch with Gösta Carlsson. He maintained the story that, throughout the following years, he experienced recurring dreams where the crew communicated ideas to him. How did this work? I have no idea, but he attributed his later success in life to these moments.

Gosta Carlsson thought that the dreams and ideas that these visitors in the middle of the Kronoskogen forest gave him led to his work with bee pollen extract and even the funding of a local ice hockey team, the Rögle BK. And who am I to question this?

Exploring the Ängelholm UFO Memorial

Back in 1972, a few decades after the initial UFO sighting, Gösta Carlsson erected a monument to commemorate the event that was so important to him. The site was designed based on his sketches, and it’s quite an odd stop in the middle of the Swedish woods.

In the middle of it all, you will spot a flying saucer model built to a one-eighth scale in concrete. There is a fin on its rear and a periscope-like device on the top, and it sits on top of a concrete pedestal. Around it, on the forest floor, you will see the spots where Gösta Carlsson said that the landing gear was.

There are also historical plaques mounted on pillars at the edge of the monument, telling the story of how Gösta Carlsson witnessed the event, and that is it.

The Truth About the UFO Memorial

At first, when I read about the Ängelholm UFO Memorial, I thought that Gösta Carlsson had seen some lights in the sky and thought they were aliens or something. Which could be easy to justify since there was a lot of military activity in the area after the Second World War. But the encounter that he had in the woods feels more meaningful than that.

Nevertheless, even though the Ängelholm UFO Memorial is a historical heritage site in Sweden, there was never much evidence to support Gösta Carlsson’s claims.

Researchers, journalists, and even UFO experts have visited and investigated the area over the years. They never found any evidence of an alien craft, and the artifacts that Gösta Carlsson could have spotted in the woods were mundane.

Explore the Kronoskogen forest at your leisure if you happen to be in southern Sweden. You probably won’t meet any aliens, but you will find a cute piece of Swedish history that will always remind you of how deeply one man’s imagination can change the landscape.

The Ängelholm UFO Memorial: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

262 53 Ängelholm, Sweden

The post Sweden’s Out-of-This-World Attraction: A Guide to the Ängelholm UFO Memorial appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

At the end of the summer of 2025, I took my bike to Copenhagen one more time. I had to head back there so I could finish a bike trip that I started the year before. Now it was time for the second part of the ride, from Copenhagen to Oslo by bike.

In so many ways, this felt like a different bike ride. I wasn’t as fearful of the road as before. I knew what my body could handle on long rides, and I was comfortable enough with myself, my bike, and my surroundings to try something slightly longer. And that is what I did.

But, before I talk about the bike ride, my experience, and everything else, I believe I have to go back a few years into the past. And share a bit of where this idea came from. Why I had to start cycling from Copenhagen and how I set my mind to arrive in Oslo by bike from Berlin.

Let me tell you how I started cycling from Berlin to Oslo.

Day 00: Copenhagen

I left Berlin on a Friday evening using Flixbus since they offered the most affordable way to arrive in Copenhagen with my gear, bags, and my bike. I arrived in Sudkreuz with everything, and a delay of almost an hour made me more nervous than I was expecting. But that was just a small hiccup.

The bus had to stop around Rostock so the police could check documents and passports inside, but there were no issues. A little later, I saw the sun rise on the ferry that crosses from Germany to Denmark, and it felt like a good starting point for the trip.

My first day on the road was relaxed. I knew I didn’t want to rush things, and that is why I decided to take a day off in Copenhagen. In the morning, I cycled all the way to the north of the city, around the area where I visited Copenhill before. On the way there, I passed by several cool-looking buildings that I know I will have to get back to see again. But the highlight was how empty the area is and the pictures I took there while killing time before my check-in.

My only night in town was spent at the Generator Copenhagen, and I chose it because of how central it is. Next to it, I had some fantastic cheeseburgers at the Gasoline Grill. I passed by this place on the first stage of the bike trip, but I saved it for the second visit. And I can easily say that, despite the long queue, the burgers and fries were fantastic. I’m definitely going back there.

The rest of the day was focused on seeing a friend who moved from Berlin to Copenhagen, and we caught up with some beers!

Day 01: from Copenhagen to Helsingør and from Helsingborg to Ängelholm

My first day cycling from Copenhagen to Oslo started early, and it was a long one. I had to organize my bags in the hostel, and it wasn’t as easy as I had in mind. Probably because it was the first time I was doing that, but… It would get easier.

I cycled all the way to the Copenhagen Town Hall since that is where I stopped my bike ride before. I took my pictures in front of it to mark the start of my adventure and onwards to Helsingør.

Getting out of Copenhagen felt surreal in so many ways. The route followed the sea on the right side, and it had gorgeous views. On the other side, the houses felt like mansions for fancy Danish people. It was great to start the first day cycling on a straight line with such a beautiful view.

I stopped in Helsingør so I could take the ferry to Helsingborg and start the Swedish side of this trip. The ferry was short, but I can easily say that I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I believe I had a small cry thinking about how far I had gone and what was ahead of me.

The coast between Helsingborg and Ängelholm was almost perfect for cycling. I stopped a few times to take pictures of some defensive structures on the coast that were put in place during the Second World War. In a few places, the wind was a bit more than I wanted, but it didn’t bother me much.

One of the highlights of the first day of cycling was the stop I made at the Ängelholm UFO memorial. This monument in the middle of the forest celebrates the moment when Swedish entrepreneur Gösta Carlsson encountered a UFO back in 1946. He considered that encounter to be the reason he was successful in his life and decided to erect the monument in 1972 with flying saucer and spaceship impressions on the floor. It was a weird place to stop, but I love stumbling upon places like this.

After 103 km on the road, split into two sections, I crossed Ängelholm and arrived at the Strandbyn—Destination Råbocka, where I would spend the night. When I booked this place, I knew that the Råbocka beach would be close by, and that is where I went to relax after so many kilometers. I just locked my bike and went to the water with my bike bibs and my sunglasses. What a fantastic way to end the day.

Day 02: Angelholm to Halmstadt

This was my first day fully cycling in Sweden, and I loved every minute of it. Most of the bike ride was going through seaside villages, nature reserves, and beaches. All of those in the famous Kattegattleden, which is Sweden’s first national cycle path. This made the entire route such an experience, and I would come back to Sweden again just to ride this cycle path.

Even the hills that I crossed around Båstad took a hold on me due to the beautiful surroundings. I think the only “bad” part of the day was the detour I took around Laholm to see the remains of an old castle and a historical power plant. Besides that, the day was remarkable, and the highlight was the last kilometers before my stay at the Stugcentralen Lägenhetshotell & Stugor.

I cycled through a nature reserve called Gullbrana och Tönnersa, and it was the first section where I had to pedal in gravel, which made everything more exciting. I even passed by the Påarps Gravfålt, a 2000-year-old gravesite that can be easily missed if you don’t know what the rocks between the road and the sea mean.

The Stugcentralen Lägenhetshotell & Stugor is next to the beach, and, of course, I cooled down from the bike ride in the sea. It was colder than the day before, but it was precisely what I needed.

Every time that I talk to Swedish people about food, they mention an unusual type of pizza. And they vouch for it like it’s the best type of pizza ever. So, my lunch in Halmstadt was a kebab pizza at the Costello Pizzeria. Surprisingly, this was fantastic, and I loved every bite of it.

I will have to eat more next time I’m in Sweden and see if it was just me being hungry from the bike ride or if it’s really that tasty.

Day 03: Halmstadt to Varberg

During this trip, the first thing I did in the morning was to check the weather forecast for the day. I had already seen that this section between Halmstadt and Varberg could have some rain, and it was clear that it would be the case since it drizzled on me while I was setting up my bags on the bike.

The gray skies made leaving Halmstad a bit boring. Especially because the first few kilometers were inland, but everything got better when the scenery changed with the sea to my left.

Halfway towards Varberg, my energy levels dropped a bit more than expected, and I decided to stop in a small village after Falkenberg for an ice cream and a short cycling break. I ended up getting an energy drink as well, and it helped me out perfectly.

While I was planning my routes, I always looked for something interesting to pass by and stop at. In Varberg, I had only one thing in my mind: I needed to see the Danuta Danielsson statue. The woman is known as “The Woman with the Handbag” because of a picture that Hans Runesson took of her hitting a Neo-Nazi with her purse in Växjö, Sweden, on April 13, 1985. And I was so happy to stop by the statue made by Susanna Arwin and see that there is a tree close by where people leave handbags.

I spent the night at Anna’s Bed & Kitchen, and it was an excellent place to relax after more than 100 kilometers on my bike. This hotel is in an old farm outside Varberg, and there was another cyclist there.

We talked about his ride from London to Gothenburg, and it was cool to share the experience on the road with someone else.

Day 04: Varberg to Gothenburg

The weather seemed great when I went out to set up my bags and my bike. And it is unclear to me why, but that day I woke up excited about cycling. Since there was no breakfast offered at Anna’s Bed & Kitchen, I went to a COOP supermarket that was on my way. There I figure out that my CamelBak had a small puncture. I fixed it on the spot with some tape I had, and that was it.

Leaving Varberg was great on the Kattegattleden. I was getting some speed and getting ahead of my schedule, and I even stopped at the Utsiktstornet Kärven and went up the tower for some panoramic pictures.

But everything turned sour around kilometer 35 or so. I was passing by Väröbacka, and I felt like something moved weirdly under my feet. My right pedal broke down. I tried to fix it using some zip ties that I had with me, but it didn’t work. I tried some paracord rope that I had, but it only lasted for a few meters.

Furthermore, I went to a supermarket to check if they had anything that could help me out cycling, but no. I looked at Google Maps, and there were two bike shops close to me. One of them was 20 km back in the direction where I came from, and the other was 35 km ahead, in the direction of Gothenburg. It was a terrible decision to make, but I cycled 35 km with a steel bar under my foot.

I believe I was cycling fueled by anger, and I didn’t stop many times for pictures or to eat anything during those 35 km ahead. When I got to the TeamSportia in Kungsbacka, I was relieved that it was over. I told the gentleman at the shop about my problem, and he was happy to help. We talked a bit about bike trips like this, and I was ready to continue my bike ride with a Shimano pedal under my feet. It was grueling, painful, and a reminder that Copenhagen to Oslo by bike requires mental fortitude as much as leg strength.

On my way to Gothenburg, I was stopped by a couple cycling. I believe their names were Jordan and Julien, and they asked me where I was heading. I mentioned Oslo, and they asked if I needed Norwegian coins. They were coming back from there and forgot to buy anything with it before, and now they were looking for someone to give it away to. I took the coins, and it felt like a sign from the universe that things would get better!

A little before I arrived in Gothenburg, I stopped to see the Mölndals Kvarnby. These waterfalls have a big historical importance to the area since they were used in the Middle Ages to power mills. In the late 1800s, they developed into one of Sweden’s most important industrial areas with paper production and oil storage.

Arriving in Gothenburg was a moment filled with many feelings. Especially after everything that happened during the day. But also because that was the first time I visited the city since 2013. Gothenburg was the first city I visited in Sweden, and it will always have a place in my heart because of it. Getting there by bike made things even better.

To celebrate the city, everything that happened during the day, and to mark the halfway point between Copenhagen and Oslo, I decided to go have some beers and burgers at the 2112 restaurant, and what a fantastic experience it was. There was some heavy music in the air, the bar was full of great beers, and the burgers were tasty!

I slept like a baby at the Scandic No. 25, and I was ready for another day on the road.

Day 05: Gothenburg to Uddevalla

Breakfast at the Scandic No. 25 was everything I needed to start the day going north. Especially because the forecast told me that it might rain during the day. Rain wasn’t something I was excited for since I knew already that between Gothenburg and Uddevalla I would have the biggest elevation gain of the trip so far.

Also, Gothenburg marked the end of my love affair with Kattegattleden, and I knew that I would have to spend some time cycling on the road. Not a big fan of that, but life goes on.

At least the scenery was interesting. I cycled past the Bohus Fästning, a ruined fortress built in 1308 that was quite a sight for me. Around Kareby, I passed by two fighter jets in the parking lot of a car dealership. No idea why they are there. I also could see from the road the massive size of the Tjörnbron, a cable-stayed bridge over Askeröfjorden.

When I arrived in Uddevalla, I was surprised to see that my bike would have to go around a rocky hill, going towards the Strandpromenaden in a wooden pathway over the water. That was the end of my 95 km bike ride, and I was happy to lie down for a moment at the Hotell Viking before I went around to explore the city.

Day 06: Uddevalla to Strömstad

As I mentioned before, I wake up and check the weather to see if there will be rain. Without any surprise, I learned that it would rain somewhere between Uddevalla and Strömstad, and I could already see it in the gray clouds outside my room at the Hotell Viking.

I took my bike to the road, and after less than 15 km of cycling, the drizzle turned into rain. Personally, I don’t really care about rain falling on me when I’m cycling. What really bothers me in the wet ground is that water is going to get to me when I pass by, and the water coming from below is what I don’t enjoy.

There were many hills on my way to Strömstad, and I believe I found a way to enjoy them somehow. Maybe it was the surrounding scenery that was filled with forests that helped out. I don’t know. But they distracted me when I passed by the massive antennas around Tanum Teleport, or else I would have gotten closer to them for some pictures.

At least I managed to find my focus on time to stop and go take pictures of the fantastic Rock Carvings in Tanum. This group of petroglyphs is so wonderful that UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1994. Within the World Heritage Area, approximately 600 panels contain thousands of images known as the Tanum petroglyphs. The ones you can see here are from the area near the Vitlycke Museum, and they made my entire day cycling in the rain so much better.

After another day cycling around 95 km, I arrived in Strömstad, which I believe is the smallest town I stayed in during this bike ride from Copenhagen to Oslo. After I hung my bags and clothes to dry at the Crusellska Vandrarhemmet, I went out to the city since I needed some Swedish food to help my mood.

Based on what I saw on Google Maps, I decided to go to the Helnys kiosk och gatukök AB and try their meatballs. I talked to the people there, and they shared that their burgers are famous around the area, and I decided to get them too. I was starving, and this was one of the best meals of the entire trip.

Before heading back to Crusellska Vandrarhemmet, I stopped at one of the many alcohol shops they have in town. Since Strömstad is one of the last cities before Norway, many people go there to buy “cheaper” alcohol and bring it back home. The size of their shop was a clear sign of this!

Day 07: Strömstad to Moss

This was the day that I was finally going to cross the border to Norway, and I had been dreaming about this day since I started planning this silly little bike trip in 2018. Besides that epic moment, the day started with the glamour of every other day. While I had a sandwich in my hotel bedroom, I checked the weather, and it pointed towards rain, but it was colder than I expected.

When I left Strömstad, my hands even felt a bit cold, but this didn’t last long since I had to cycle to some special places before crossing the border.

The first place I passed by was the Grönehög, a burial mound that was built in the 6th century near the shoreline when the sea around the area was higher. Next to it, I stopped at the Stenskeppet, also known as the Blomsholm Stone Ship.

The stone ship in the burial ground is Blomsholm’s most famous ancient monument, and I had to stop my bike there for some pictures. Measuring 41 meters long and 9 meters wide, it is the third largest stone ship in Sweden. The stones amidships rise about one meter high, while those at the bow and stern reach more than four meters. When the 49 stones that make up the ship were raised around 2,000 years ago, the shoreline was much closer, and waves could crash against the ship.

Many hills and more than 600 km after I started to cycle in Copenhagen, I spotted the bridge that connects Sweden to Norway. And I believe I never felt euphoric like that before. From the bridge, you can see the water below you, and there were ships passing, and I had to stop for a moment and be happy that I managed to cycle all the way there.

The first kilometers cycling in Norway were not the best since I had to spend a lot of time on a narrow road that was busy with cars on both sides. It didn’t feel dangerous, but it was stressing me out. I was relieved when I arrived in Fredrikstad and had to stop cycling for a while to cross the Glomma River by ferry.

According to Strava, this was my personal record in elevation gain, and my legs felt that when I arrived at the hotel I booked in Moss. There I got a message from my girlfriend and my friends from Canal Alemanizando that they were already in Oslo waiting for me to arrive. This trip was almost coming to an end.

Day 08: Moss to Oslo

It was challenging to find a position to sleep in during the night; I was too excited and anxious to be able to rest. When it started getting bright outside my window, I decided it was time to get ready and packed the bike for my last day cycling to Oslo.

When I left Moss, the city was still covered in mist, and it was so humid that the spiderwebs next to the bike lane were covered in morning dew. The closer I got to Oslo, the busier the bike lane got. There were so many people biking on that early Sunday morning, and it felt great to see that. These people were having a great Sunday morning cycling, and so was I.

With each kilometer, I got more excited. When I spotted the Oslo Town Hall, it almost didn’t feel real. When I saw Camila, Rodrigo, and Elissa waving their arms at me, it hit me that I was about to end my bike ride. They had some of those black and white flags that you see in car races, and I was so happy to share that moment with them.

My girlfriend gave me a medal like she did when I arrived back in Berlin after the first stage of this trip. But, this time, she gave in Oslo. I had to stop for a moment to collect myself, and that was it. More than a thousand kilometers later, I finally arrived in Oslo. My dream trip was coming to an end, and I was still speechless.

Since I didn’t need to cycle anymore, it was time to drop my bike and my bags at the Citybox Oslo, take a shower, and go out to explore Oslo since this was my first time in the city.

As a big fan of black metal, the first place I visited in Oslo was the building where, on the night of 10 August 1993, Varg Vikernes stabbed Euronymous to death. If you are familiar with the Norwegian Black Metal scene from the early 1990s, you know what this means.

Close to it, you can find the St. Hallvards Kirke, which was built of brick and concrete exposed both to the interior and exterior. It has a fantastic design that feels brutalist in many ways and won several architectural awards after it was completed in 1966. One of the highlights for me is how the roof of the church room hangs down and gives the lowest height where it is traditionally highest.

From there, we walked towards the Ekeberg Park to see the statues and artwork there. But, before we arrived, we stumbled upon the Dildonissen that reminded me a lot of the Rotterdam Santa Claus that I visited before. It’s difficult to just write a few sentences about what I saw at the Ekeberg Park. I will need a full article about it in the future. The highlights for me were the Nordic Pixel Forest, the Dilemma statue, and the Venus de Milo aux tiroirs by Salvador Dalí.

After a long walk around the Ekeberg Park, we took our cameras to the city center since I wanted to see the Oslo Opera House while it was still sunny outside. The opera house was one of the first things I remember seeing in Oslo, and it was fantastic to be able to walk around and take pictures of this fantastic-looking place.

After several kilometers cycling to Oslo and many more walking around town, we had reindeer kebab for dinner and called it a night after having some beers at Crow Bar, which felt like the perfect way to end my bike ride from Copenhagen to Oslo. I couldn’t be happier about all this.

Day 09: Oslo

Since I didn’t need to cycle anymore, I left the bike at the hotel and went to have breakfast with Camila, Rodrigo, and Elissa at the W.B. Samson–Egertorget bakery. There we had one of the best grilled sandwiches I ever had and planned how to get to the Norsk Folkemuseum.

A short bus ride later, and there we were, walking around the Norsk Folkemuseum and seeing the historical architecture that shows how much Norway has changed through the years. But the highlight there, at least for me, was the Gol stavkirke. Also known as the Gol Stave Church, this is a stave church originally from Gol that dates from 1157 to 1216. Most of the main construction remained intact and in original form, and inside, you can still see original murals and medieval artifacts. It was magical to be able to see this.

As a way to continue with my black metal interest in Oslo, we headed to where Helvete used to be. If you have no idea what Helvete is, besides meaning hell in Norwegian, this is a record shop that was first opened in June 1991 by the late and now-infamous Mayhem’s guitarist Euronymous.

Since I visited the building where he was murdered, I had to visit his old shop since it feels like an unofficial black metal museum. I even tried to buy a Mayhem shirt there, but they didn’t have it in my size, so I got a Neseblod Records shirt, and I’m more than happy about it.

At the end of the day, Rodrigo and Elissa headed to the airport to fly back to Berlin, and Camila and I decided to go for a ferry ride around the islands of the inner Oslo Fjord. We took the B1 line from Aker Brygge, and it was fantastic to see the sky getting dark over Oslo from the water.

Day 10: Oslo to Berlin

One of the things that I was worrying about a lot was how to get my bike safely back home. I never had to deal with taking my bike on a plane before, and I was curious to see how it would work. I followed the rules and guidelines that Norwegian Airlines had on their website, got myself a bike bag, and packed everything so we could leave the hotel to explore Oslo one last time.

We headed towards the gorgeous houses around Damstredet and visited Munch’s and Ibsen’s graves at the Our Savior’s Cemetery. From there we walked towards the Akerselva river for some pictures, and we ended up at the Mathallen Oslo for an early lunch.

As a way to celebrate this massive bike ride, we went to Helt Vilt and decided to have something special. This is how we ended up with a dish called Arctic Journey that is made of grilled steaks of moose, reindeer, and minke whale. I thought that everything sounded so surreal that I needed to try it out. Of course, it was exceptional, and I will always remember this meal.

Before heading back to the hotel to pick up my bike and go to the airport, there was one last place that I wanted to visit. After walking for a few blocks, we arrived in a square that looked like many other places we passed by in Oslo.

But this square is different since this is where the 2011 Norway attacks happened, led by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik. A car bomb exploded at Regjeringskvartalet, where today there is a museum there called 22. Juli-Senteret, but we didn’t have to visit it.

The last thing I needed to do in Oslo was to get my bike in a bag and carry it to the airport. Even though it felt like a massive thing, it was easy to carry it, and I didn’t have any problems with dispatching it and picking it up again back in Berlin. Maybe I need to do this more often.

The End of My 10-Day Odyssey from Copenhagen to Oslo by Bike

As I mentioned before, in the article I wrote about the Berlin to Copenhagen bike ride, this entire trip felt to me like more than just a physical trip. It almost felt like a pilgrimage of self-discovery where I managed to find time to celebrate the simple pleasures of life. I started as a cyclist that wasn’t fully comfortable on the road and ended as a bikepacker who could handle a broken pedal in a foreign country and a downpour in the Swedish woods.

Even when it was raining and I had to climb hills, it still felt like a fantastic experience. The challenges only made me more determined to cycle and increased my appreciation for everything around me.

And I’m sure that this trip has sparked a fire, a love for bikepacking that will last forever. I will never forget the open road and bike lanes, the flexibility to go at my own speed, and the sense of accomplishment I get from finishing each kilometer.

I’m already planning and looking forward to the next one! This was the beginning of my backpacking journey, and I can’t wait to see where the road leads me next!

Copenhagen to Oslo by Bike for Beginners: The conclusion to my dream bike trip

The post The Ultimate Cycling Guide: From Copenhagen to Oslo by Bike appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

It was designed by Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank, who also worked on the Berlin Chancellery. What they created feels less like a building and more like a sensory experience. While I was there, this was one of the many things that came to mind.

I went to the Krematorium Baumschulenweg in November 2025, during Totensonntag, which is the annual date of Berlin’s Crematorium Day. This is a special day in the city when people can visit the Berlin crematoria, see how cremation works, and explore a bit of these places.

But my experience with the Krematorium Baumschulenweg started many years ago when I passed by bike through the area. A building made of concrete caught my eye, and I remember stopping next to the gates and wondering, What is this?. When I got home, I did a little research and found out that this place has been used in many movies and series like Aeon Flux, John Wick, Cloud Atlas, and the sci-fi series Foundation. That made me want to visit it even more.

It took a few years, but, on Berlin Crematorium Day in 2025, I managed to go in with my Mamiya RZ67 and take as many pictures as I could.

Beyond the Veil: The Art and Function of Krematorium Baumschulenweg

From outside, the Krematorium Baumschulenweg is a massive, seamless block of exposed concrete that feels more like one of the many brutalist buildings in Berlin than a crematorium. It measures 50 by 70 meters, and it sits partially submerged in the landscape, with ten meters anchored in the ground and the other ten meters rising towards the sky. While the facades remain minimalistic, the front of the building opens up through vast glass surfaces and atriums that feel to me like an invitation for a dialogue between the interior and the surrounding cemetery.

The heart of the crematorium is what is known as the “Condolence Hall,” which is a large area defined by 29 towering concrete columns. But these columns are not there just for structural support. They end in circular skylights that allow the sun to pour into the space like a cosmological event in an ancient burial space. The architects envision this hall as a covered square where groups of mourners can congregate at the same time while still being protected in their personal sorrow. By positioning the columns to create “distancing rooms,” the individual journey can remain private and personal even in public areas.

Besides that, there are three ceremonial halls: two smaller ones for around 50 people and a grand hall for 250. They are all designed as what feels to me like boxes of split stone. Slat-steered glass casings cover the windows, which look out onto the grassy cemetery. This feels intentional in the best way possible since I can picture how the focus from a service would shift towards the light outside. This seems to me to be a subtle change from the building’s heavy concrete interior to the sky and clouds outside.

Based on what I read, Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank noted that architecture cannot make people “happy” about death, but it can provide a place of rest and silence. And it seems to me like they achieved this precisely in the Krematorium Baumschulenweg. This massive structure celebrates the space differently, using the brutalist weight of the concrete to honor the weight of the human experience.

A Rare Look Behind the Scenes

The Krematorium Baumschulenweg’s architecture attracts design enthusiasts all year long, but the building is only fully accessible to the public on the Day of the Crematorium. This is one of the opportunities that the public has to see behind the curtain on the technical and emotional realities of cremation.

During my visit on Totensonntag, the atmosphere there was of respectful curiosity rather than gloom. There were small exhibitions on the history of burial rites, a harp concert, and some panel discussions and presentations. They also had a technical tour, but it was already sold out when I got there. Next time I’ll arrive earlier just to see this rare opportunity to view the process and the machinery required in the cremation process.

It can be complicated to find a way to visit this place, but you should keep an eye out for the next Crematorium Day. Krematorium Baumschulenweg is one of Berlin’s most influential, albeit unconventional, landmarks, whether you are an architecture enthusiast like myself or a traveler seeking a moment of contemplation.

The Brutalist Architecture of Silence: A Visit to Berlin’s Krematorium Baumschulenweg

Südostallee 55, 12437 Berlin

The post Inside the Krematorium Baumschulenweg: Concrete, Light, and Shadows appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

I first visited this place when I went for a bike ride to Steglitz. I decided to look for a shortcut next to Sudkreuz, and I passed by the Grazer Damm housing estate. There I noticed something interesting about one of the buildings as I passed by. And I remember taking a picture of it so I could save the location and try to learn more about it later.

Back in the summer of 2022, I headed back there to document the small stone reliefs that appear above the entrance of the buildings. This is the main reason why you will mostly see them here and not many pictures of the buildings themselves. You will soon understand why.

Grazer Damm: Berlin’s Largest Nazi-Era Housing Project Explained

Built during the Second World War, between 1938 and 1940, the settlement at Grazer Damm is made of around two thousand homes, making it the largest completed housing estate from the Nazi era. As you walk along the 1.3-kilometer stretch of buildings, it’s easy to see how big this place is. They almost feel like a fortress.

Designed by a team of architects that included Hugo Virchow and Richard Pardon, they were led by Albert Speer since the goal here was to build something that would survive in a future war. The plan was to make a part of the future Welthauptstadt Germania into an air-raid-proof city, and this idea guided how the buildings were set up.

When you walk around the area, you will notice that the blocks have open areas on certain sides, and it seems like that wasn’t in place to help the residents with a view. This was done to allow the air pressure from bomb blasts to escape and prevent what caused courtyards to turn into firestorms during aerial attacks.

Hidden Symbols and Modern Struggles

But, as I said before, I wasn’t there to explore the Nazi-era architectural aesthetic of the buildings on Grazer Damm. I was there to capture the stone reliefs that are visible above the entrance doors of the buildings. Some of them show fairy tales like the animals from the Town Musicians of Bremen. These reliefs were put in place to help residents find their way.

However, some of them still serve as a reminder of Nazism’s ideological hold on daily life. There are still ceramics that show images of the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls, the girls’ branch of the Nazi Party youth movement known in German as Bund Deutscher Mädel. Which is insane for me to see it on a building in the middle of Berlin.

Grazer Damm was a drastic shift in Living Standards

For those interested in social history, Grazer Damm is a fascinating location in addition to the historical artifacts from the Nazi era. I say this because these represent a big departure from the progressive New Objectivity that was led by the Bauhaus in the 1920s.

While the Weimar Republic gained international praise for trying to bring the lower levels of society to a higher standard, the Nazi era thought that these ideas were cultural Bolshevism. Instead of improving housing, they implemented what was called Volkswohnung, and it meant that apartments were designed to be the cheapest rentals possible. This meant that they didn’t have hot water or central heating, they rarely had balconies, and they followed a strict cost limit per unit.

And, surprisingly, even with all these horrible standards, they still stand today. But the Grazer Damm buildings have been facing a new kind of transformation in the last decades. It all started in 2004 when a state-owned property management company was sold to a private investment fund. This was the first step towards gentrification.

Later, extensive modernizations included the very balconies and heating systems that were denied to the original tenants. Now, they are driving up rents and causing tension for the long-term residents who have called these historic blocks home for decades.

How to Visit the Grazer Damm housing estate

The estate begins near the Schöneberg motorway junction (Bundesautobahn 100) and runs south toward the Insulaner hill. The area is pretty residential, so there won’t be much for you to explore around besides the Natur Park Südgelände. But if you want to go for a walk after exploring the area, the “abandoned” Schlangenbader Strasse tunnel and the Bierpinsel aren’t that far. 

The Dark Side of Berlin Design: Exploring the Grazer Damm Estate

Grazer Damm – Schöneberg
12157 Berlin

The post Finding the Grazer Damm: A Deep Dive into Berlin’s Dark Architectural History appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

After a few visits, I began to see a city molded by centuries of maritime aspirations, post-war resiliency, and artistic passion. When you start exploring historic Hamburg, you will peel back the layers of a city that has survived Great Fires and wartime destruction. Every time it came out, its heritage was preserved in beautiful red brick, and its identity was strengthened.

You will see it in the small roads around Deichstraße to the massive warehouses of the Speicherstadt. Hamburg is a one-of-a-kind place that combines what I would call Hanseatic tradition with new ideas in architecture. Maybe this happens because they are one of the richest cities in Germany; perhaps it’s something else.

You could be going to the city for the arts, the history, or just because you’re interested in travel. The landmarks I’m highlighting here tell the story of a “Free and Hanseatic City” that has always looked toward the future.

Get away from the bars and shopping districts and explore the areas that have shaped Hamburg’s skyline for many years if you want to understand the city. Here I will share some of my favorite landmarks of historic Hamburg.

Hamburger Kunsthalle: A Romantic Encounter

The first item on this list is from the art lovers. The Hamburger Kunsthalle is a museum that houses a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and much more, spanning over seven centuries.

And its most famous artwork is Caspar David Friedrich’s “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog.” And we loved seeing it so much that there is an entire article on it here. This painting is a symbol of what came to be known as German Romanticism and captures a sense of wonder that reflects the atmosphere around the 19th century in Germany.

But there is more to the Hamburger Kunsthalle than the artwork. The building itself is a masterpiece made of three different architectural styles. The Galerie der Gegenwart, a modern section, and a limestone extension follow the original brick. All of them present a timeline of the city’s cultural evolution.

A Silhouette of Resilience in the Shape of the St. Nicholas’ Church

Once it was one of the tallest buildings in the world, but today it stands as a memorial. This is St. Nicholas’ Church. Unlike some urban structures that were rebuilt after the Second World War, this church remains in ruins.

The blackened spire that rises to the sky is a reminder of the damage that Operation Gomorrah did in 1943.

Even though it’s still in ruins, visitors can explore the area without any problem. There is even a glass elevator that takes you to a viewing platform high above Hamburg. The panoramic view of the city and the somber memorial make this place one of our favorite historic landmarks in Hamburg.

An Engineering Marvel Called the Old Elbe Tunnel

Opened to the public in 1911, the St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel bridges the gap between the industrial needs of Hamburg and architectural beauty. This tunnel is more than 400 meters in width and was designed to allow dockworkers to go from the southern banks of the Elbe River directly to the shipyards.

When you descend into the tunnel via the original lifts, you will feel like you are stepping into a different time. Down there, the walls are decorated with ornate tiles that show fish and river life, turning a piece of functional infrastructure into a work of art. Something that we don’t see much of anymore.

The Speicherstadt and Beyond

No trip through the historic Hamburg can be complete without a walk around the Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the entire world. Everything in the area was built on top of thousands of oak piles. These huge brick buildings were once the main way that coffee, tea, and spices got to Germany.

Today, the Speicherstadt district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can easily understand why whenever you walk around the area. The lights reflecting on the red brick will create an atmosphere that seems out of place as you watch the sun set through the iron bridges. Like a hard-to-explain thing from the days of maritime trade.

Timeless Treasures: Must-Visit Sites in Historic Hamburg

There are plenty of things to do and places to see in Hamburg, and we also wrote about some unusual things to see in town. You should check it out.

The post Discovering the Landmarks of Historic Hamburg appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

I remember trying to go up the arch during my first visit to Paris in 2010, but I didn’t have enough time in town, and I decided to walk around as much as I could. It was only in 2017 that I went to Paris again with this goal in mind, and Camila and I had a fantastic time taking pictures and enjoying the fantastic panoramic view.

When we got back in 2022 with our friends from Canal Alemanizando, I mentioned that we needed to go there. When I told them that I wanted to see the Arc de Triomphe, I argued that it was the perfect place for history buffs, architecture fans, and photographers looking for the best views of Paris. I didn’t need to pitch this visit much, and the pictures here explain why.

History Meets Skyline: Why the Arc de Triomphe is a Must-See in Paris

Even though it’s such an important historical site in Paris, the story of the Arc de Triomphe begins only in 1806, following Napoleon Bonaparte’s decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. I always thought it was older, but it was just my silly imagination.

Napoleon wanted to honor the “Grande Armée” and promised his soldiers they would return home “through arches of triumph.” And this is why he commissioned architect Jean-François Chalgrin to design a monument inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome, but on a much larger scale, on a Neoclassical scale.

But, as we can imagine, building such a massive structure isn’t so simple. And construction stopped for several years after Napoleon’s abdication and the Bourbon Restoration. It was only in 1836, under the reign of King Louis-Philippe, that the arch was finally inaugurated. Napoleon had already been dead for almost twenty years by the time his remains passed through the arch in 1840 on their way to his final resting place at Les Invalides. His original promise was fulfilled in posthumous fashion, but it happened.

Now, let me talk a bit about the architectural side of the Arc de Triomphe. It stands almost 50 meters tall and 45 meters in width, and its surface serves as a stone canvas for French history. On the inner walls, you will find the names of military leaders and generals.

The exterior is more complex, and it can be split into four major sculptural groups. The most famous of these is Le Départ des Volontaires de 1792, commonly known as La Marseillaise. This high-relief sculpture, which was created by François Rude, features a winged personification of Liberty who urges the French people to protect their country.

Beneath the vast vault of the Arc de Triomphe, you will find a site of national mourning: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This memorial was installed in 1921 to honor unidentified fallen of World War I. One of the elements that caught my attention there is the eternal flame, and I learned that this is the first of its kind in Europe since the vestal fires of the Roman Empire.

I didn’t manage to witness it, but every evening, around 18:30, the veterans’s associations participate in a ceremony to solemnly rekindle the flame. This ritual has been happening every day for more than a century, and it even took place during the Nazi occupation of the city during the Second World War.

The Experience: Climbing to the Arc de Triomphe’s Rooftop

Even though the view from the ground is beautiful, the real beauty of the Arc de Triomphe is seen when you reach the top. But if you want to reach the panoramic terrace, you will have to climb 284 steps in a narrow spiral staircase that can feel like a fever dream. And I cannot explain to you how that happens. You will see.

From the top, you can clearly see how the city layout was defined. Paris has twelve grand avenues that radiate from the arch like points of a star. This is how we get the famous L’Étoile plan. And the view from the Arc de Triomphe probably has the best view of the Eiffel Tower in the city, especially at the end of the day when the lights begin to sparkle and dance. It’s truly beautiful.

How to Visit the Arc de Triomphe: History, Rooftop Views, and Pro Tips

By the pictures here and the history behind it, now you might be wondering how you can visit the Arc de Triomphe. Below are some of my tips.

Do Not Cross the Road: The roundabout around the arch is one of the world’s most dangerous. Don’t be stupid and never attempt to run across the street. Instead, look for the underground pedestrian tunnel located on the Champs-Élysées or the Avenue de la Grande Armée and be safe. You don’t want to ruin your trip to Paris by being stupid.

Book in Advance: As a way to avoid long queues, don’t forget to book a timed-entry ticket online. This lets you skip the line at the ticket office and go straight to the security check. And be careful with what you have in your bag; the security check is there for a reason.

Try to go there during Golden Hour: If you are looking for the best photos, try to arrive about an hour before sunset. You will have enough time to go through security, climb all the way to the top, and get to see the city in the soft “blue hour” light. And also watch the Eiffel Tower’s sparkle show, which begins on the hour after dark.

The Arc de Triomphe Museum: On your way down, don’t forget to spend some time in the Arc de Triomphe Museum. There you will find interactive exhibits on the arch’s construction that will explain more about the history of the place, from its role in pop culture—from 1919 biplane stunts to modern-day victory parades.

You can now see that the Arc de Triomphe is more than just a place to take pictures. It is a memorial to the complicated history of France and the strong spirit of Paris. You can go there to admire the gorgeous stonework from below or do like I did and look over the 8th Arrondissement from above.

This place remains a centerpiece of the Parisian experience, and it’s one of my favorite places to visit in Paris.

Visiting the Arc de Triomphe: A Complete Guide to Paris’ Iconic Landmark

Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008
Paris, France

www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr

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If you are feeling frustrated with how Instagram works nowadays, you are not alone. Many of us are tired of Meta’s data-harvesting practices and the relentless push of algorithm content. Besides those, there are always the ads. So many ads.

More recently, there was also Meta’s abrupt change in policy regarding fact-checking and community guidelines, allowing certain groups to be targeted. That was the final spark for me, and I decided to look elsewhere since I wanted to share my pictures in an environment focused on what actually matters.

This is why I have been publishing my pictures on Pixelfed for over a year now. And the experience has been incredibly refreshing.

Beyond the Algorithm: Using Pixelfed for Honest Photography

For those who are not familiar, Pixelfed is an open-source, federated photo-sharing platform. It is a privacy-focused response to commercial social media that rewards user control and eliminates algorithmic manipulation. If you’ve heard of Mastodon or the Fediverse, you’ll find that Pixelfed feels like a natural home. This might sound complicated, but it isn’t once you start using it.

Originally, I started posting digital photos there before transitioning my focus to the film photography that I have been posting online more often lately. I didn’t know who to follow at first, so I decided to explore hashtags like #BelieveInFilm and #AnalogPhotography, and there I discovered a thriving community of like-minded photographers.

This felt to me like how discovery used to work on Instagram before the entire experience was distorted by never-ending ads and the notoriously annoying suggested posts. On Pixelfed, these tags still make sense and function as intended, connecting people through shared interests.

I still maintain my Instagram account, primarily because it remains as one of the few ways that I can stay connected with some friends and family that I have in Brazil. While I strongly disagree with Meta’s corporate direction, I have to recognize the reality of those existing connections. However, posting my pictures on both platforms in parallel has revealed some unexpected truths for me.

Despite having over ten times more followers on Instagram, my posts on Pixelfed often receive double the engagement. It’s a strange sensation to have: I reach more people and receive genuine feedback on a platform where my “numbers” are technically smaller. The community on Pixelfed feels to me like they are more interested, friendly, and focused. And what else do I need?

Some might view the smaller user base on Pixelfed as a negative feature, but I find it nostalgic somehow. It feels a bit cozy, if that is the right way to describe a social network. It takes me back to the early days of social networks, before everything turned into a huge, impersonal machine that is used to show people advertisements.

I joined Instagram in 2010 on an iPod Touch, long before Meta decided to buy the platform. During these many years, I watched it evolve from a mobile photography experiment into something I no longer care for. Now it feels to me like a platform cluttered with short videos and AI-generated content. And many of my friends find the same issues there.

Pixelfed recently reached one million users without any traditional marketing. If this happened a few years ago, it would be on the news, but we live in a different world. All of these new users show that everyone wants a platform that respects photography.

After one year in Pixelfed, I plan to keep posting. It feels like a place for photographers, a place where I can share one of my hobbies and reach a group of people that are as interested as I am. In a world filled with AI slop and constant distractions, the focus I get on Pixelfed is precisely what I was looking for. You need to try it out.

Why Every Travel Blogger Should Explore the Fediverse with Pixelfed

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Especially when you realize that there are well over three million units produced daily and an annual export figure that reaches close to a billion. These small sausages carry the culinary legacy of Nuremberg to every corner of the world. And I’m not exaggerating when I say this.

However, to truly understand what this dish is all about, you have to skip the modern restaurants and go straight to the source.

This is what I did when I went to Nuremberg for the first time during the summer of 2025. I was in town to see London’s famous Royal Albert Hall organist Anna Lapwood play at the ION music festival at Saint Sebald Church, and I chose to spend a few days in town. When I started putting together a plan to explore the city, I was happily surprised to see so many interesting places to visit; I even wrote a full article about it.

One of these places was the oldest bratwurst kitchen in town: Zum Gulden Stern.

Why Zum Gulden Stern Is the Heart of Nuremberg Bratwurst

If you are looking for the ultimate authentic experience in Nuremberg, a visit to Zum Gulden Stern is mandatory. This restaurant with low ceilings and a medieval atmosphere has been operating since 1419. This isn’t just a restaurant; this is the oldest historical bratwurst kitchen in the world that still exists in its original location.

While many buildings in Nuremberg were lost in time or in wars, the Zum Gulden Stern still stands in the same place as a surviving piece of 15th-century history. And it’s wonderful to be able to go there and try their Nuremberg bratwurst.

There the Nuremberg bratwurst is treated with the kind of reverence that it deserves. And they were awarded many times for its quality! Every sausage that leaves the kitchen is produced by butchers that are still using the ancient recipes just to ensure that what lands on your plate is a direct link to the history of the city. That makes the sausages even tastier in my opinion.

But, you might be wondering by now, what makes the Nuremberg bratwurst an official city delicacy? It isn’t just about the flavor; there is way more than that, and it even involves the law. Since 2003, these sausages have fallen under the EU status known as PGI, which means that they are a Protected Geographical Indication. Which makes these sausages the same level of protection as the Parma Ham, Champagne, and Grana Padano.

If you decide to make some Nuremberg bratwurst and want them to have the official seal, you have to follow a set of rules and guidelines. The main one is that every single step of the processing must take place within the city limits of Nuremberg. Besides that, the ingredients that need to be in the sausage are specific: sheep intestines, pepper, salt, and a large amount of marjoram.

An interesting historical anecdote comes into play here. Even though the tradition behind the Nuremberg bratwurst is local, the spice trade behind its flavor is global. Historically speaking, these spices arrived in town through the trade routes that came from the Orient and the empires to the south, like the Venetian. Which proves that Nuremberg has always been a hub of international flavor.

Small Sausage, Big History: Why are Nuremberg bratwurst so small?

I still remember seeing the small Nuremberg bratwurst in the supermarkets when I moved to Berlin back in 2012. And I always wondered about their small size. This is their most striking feature, and there are some legends and stories behind it.

Each sausage is no more than 9 centimeters long and weighs roughly 25 grams. And some legends explain the small size in different ways. One of them says that the small size of the Nuremberg bratwurst allowed innkeepers to slide the sausages through the keyholes of tavern doors to feed hungry travelers after the medieval curfew had begun.

Another story says that prisoners were fed by sliding the sausages through extra holes that were drilled into the cell walls. This story gets more complex since it even involves names like Hans Stromer, who was sentenced to life in the debtor’s tower. His only wish while in jail was to receive two Nuremberg bratwurst every day. During the 38 years he was in prison, he reportedly consumed close to thirty thousand sausages, which were all passed to him through a keyhole.

Are these stories true? I have no idea, but I love the stories I read when I was researching to write this article.

But it seems like the real reason behind it is more practical. Historical records recommended that, as ingredient costs rose, butchers reduce the size of their sausages while maintaining the original price as a way to keep their business profitable. That sounds closer to the truth to me.

Where to Find the Most Authentic Nuremberg Bratwurst

When you visit the Zum Gulden Stern, expect an experience that is delightful tradition. The sausages are grilled over an open fire and served on pewter plates. You can order Nuremberg bratwursts in sets of 6, 8, 10, or 12 and pair them with classical German side dishes like sauerkraut, potato salad, or freshly grated horseradish.

With main dish prices starting around €10, this is an affordable place to taste the history of Nuremberg. And if you want to experience the authentic culinary heart of Franconian cuisine, there is no better place to start in Nuremberg than the smoky and historical halls of the world’s oldest bratwurst kitchen.

Your Guide to the Iconic Nuremberg Bratwurst and Why Zum Gulden Stern is the Heart of Nuremberg Bratwurst

Zirkelschmiedsgasse 26
90402 Nürnberg

www.bratwurstkueche.de

The post The World’s Oldest Bratwurst Kitchen: A Deep Dive into the Nuremberg Bratwurst appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

After a previous photo walk using infrared film in Kreuzberg, I was open to taking this beautiful beast somewhere that matched its heavy-duty soul. The Aerodynamic Park in Berlin-Adlershof felt like the obvious choice.

The pictures you can see here are from May 2024. I didn’t have a good night of sleep one day, and I decided to feel productive and left the house with my Mamiya C330 at hand. I took my bike on a photographic ride to Berlin-Adlershof with a goal in mind: I wanted to test an Ilford HP5 with some red filters.

Not only that, but I had wondered about how the red filter would affect the pictures from the Mamiya C330 for a while. And since it was a bright, sunny day, it felt like it was the right time to put this idea into practice.

Capturing the Alien Architecture of Berlin-Adlershof on Medium Format

Located in the southeast of Berlin on the Humboldt University campus, the Aerodynamic Park is not a proper park. It is home to a collection of aviation research structures that look like they were plucked straight from a 1930s science fiction set.

If you’ve read what I wrote about the location before, you know that I have a soft spot in my heart for concrete geometry and architecture. Bringing the Mamiya C330 there felt like a meeting of different eras of engineering.

One of the first places I went to visit was the Trudelturm, also known as the Vertical Spin Tunnel. There I found myself leaning into the meditative process that I mentioned in my Mamiya C330 review. Looking down into the waist-level viewfinder, the world looks reversed and glowing. Maybe it was the lack of sleep; possibly it was really glowing during that morning. I will never know. But the Trudelturm, with its egg-shaped concrete shell, never looked more alien to me.

Because the Mamiya C330 uses a bellows system for focusing, I managed to get surprisingly close to a window that reflected deeply the concrete structures behind me. That was the moment I realized that I made the right choice of camera.

One of the reasons why I call the Mamiya C330 my almost perfect travel camera is the versatility that it brings to any photo walk. While most TLR cameras lock you into using a single focal length, this camera allows for more. And I spent the time in Adlershof swapping between my 80 mm lenses and the wider 55 mm lenses that I brought along. Again, another excellent decision that I made even after a terrible night of no sleep. The 55 mm lens was essential for capturing the massive, concrete curves of the Großer Windkanal, also known as the Big Wind Tunnel in English.

The weight of the Mamiya C330, which can be a problem on longer trips, helped me a bit here. I believe it forced me to slow down and cycle from one place to the other and consider every frame. The area was quiet, the sun was shining, and I think my patience was rewarded with some of my favorite architectural pictures I ever took. Especially because every click felt to me like preserving a piece of Berlin science history.

The Meditative Frame: Exploring Aerodynamic Park with a Twin Lens Reflex

As illustrated by the pictures here, shooting in Adlershof isn’t the same as taking pictures in Mitte or Neukölln. Especially in the early morning, this place is for silence, wind, and some imposing shapes. The Mamiya C330, with its mechanical noises and manual precision, was the perfect tool to document the technical structures I saw there. \

The negatives that came out of that early morning photo walk have a depth and range that digital sensors would struggle to replicate. This is one of the many reasons why I started shooting film cameras back in the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are looking for a photo walk that moves you away from the typical Berlin street scenes and sights, pack a few rolls of film and head to Adlershof. You’ll be honored to witness a bit of aerodynamic history and some of my favorite concrete structures that this city has to offer. And there is no better way to see them than through the lens of a classic TLR camera like the Mamiya C330.

Beyond the Center: Photographing the Trudelturm with the Mamiya C330

The post An early morning photowalk through Adlershof with the Mamiya C330 appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.

The Mamiya RZ67 has resolution for days, with its medium-format film being almost five times larger than a full-frame digital sensor. The sharp images it captures make it a prime choice for anyone into landscape photography.

If you are looking for a camera to capture the world in stunning 6×7 precision and detail, the Mamiya RZ67 might be the camera for you.

From Studio to the Street: The Ultimate Guide to Shooting Urban Landscapes with the Mamiya RZ67

I picked up my Mamiya RZ67 almost accidentally at the end of 2024. Although I wasn’t planning to buy this particular camera, I felt compelled to do so when the chance came up. It came with different lenses and film backs, and it belonged to someone who wasn’t using it as much anymore. Everything that I could hope for.

It took me a few weeks to read all that I could about the camera and go out with it for some photo walks around Berlin, as illustrated by the pictures here. When I was reviewing my favorite pictures from 2025, I realized that most of the ones I liked most were taken with the Mamiya RZ67.

Since those first few weeks carrying it around the city, I have been in love with this camera. This is why I’m writing about it here. This is not a review; this is a love letter of sorts.

But let me try to review it as well since I imagine that this might be interesting for many people.

The Mamiya RZ67 is the younger brother of the Mamiya RB67. And both cameras share a similar box-like silhouette and a modular approach to photography. I never used an RB67 before, and my only experience with another Mamiya comes from the world of twin-lens reflex cameras since I have owned a Mamiya C330 since 2022. Comparing the C330 and the RZ67 isn’t what I’m trying to do here, so I won’t mention it again.

The RZ67 is a modular camera in the truest sense. From the lenses to the viewfinders, passing by the film backs, everything is interchangeable. Whenever I go out with this camera, I bring two film backs with me as a way to take pictures in both black and white and color, another great feature that this camera has.

The “RB” in the name of the camera that came before the Mamiya RZ67 stands for “Rotating Back,” and this is one of my favorite features that these cameras have. It allows you to switch from landscape to portrait orientation with a simple move. All of this without having to lift the camera from the tripod. That makes composition so much easier.

The Mamiya RZ67 is not an effortless camera to operate, and this is one of the things that draws me to it. Whenever I use it, I have to focus on what I’m doing. It has a deliberate, slow-moving pace that feels to me like it was designed for those who find joy in the photography process.

It feels bulky in the best way possible, largely due to the revolving back construction. When you think about the fact that this camera was intended for studios, you get why it might feel a bit stupid to carry it around the city with you. Through time, the used camera market placed this camera into the hands of people like me. And these landscape and travel enthusiasts are more than willing to carry the weight and pay the price for the quality that it brings with the 6×7 negatives.

If you liked what you learned so far, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to buy one and pack it for a photo walk.

The Mamiya RZ67 is not a fully mechanical camera, unlike the RB67. It relies on a 6V PX28 battery to power the electronic shutter. But it can still work without a battery if you’d like to, but I’m not going to explain it here since I never needed to use it like this before.

Due to the electronic system behind the Mamiya RZ67, I read that the camera might get temperamental. Especially when it gets too cold. Another thing that I never had to deal with was it. Maybe because I have the Mamiya RZ67 Professional II, and it’s not as old as the first generation of this camera that was introduced back in 1982.

Besides that, another thing that you have to keep in mind is that the Mamiya RZ67 is a heavy camera. There is no way around it. You might need to carry it with a monopod or a tripod if you want to go on a longer walk. Furthermore, a dedicated camera bag might be needed. I used a Savotta Kahakka backpack that works perfectly for what I had in mind.

Whenever you find a Mamiya RZ67 for sale, pay attention to the integrity of the bellows since even a tiny light leak there might ruin your medium-format film. Also, don’t forget to look for any signs of corrosion on the battery chamber.

The Mamiya RZ67 Advantage: Why Every Film Enthusiast Needs This 6×7 Powerhouse

For me, the Mamiya RZ67 is a masterpiece of Japanese engineering. It provides a level of quality and detail that rivals digital systems that cost way more than what I can afford.

While it might be slow and heavy for street photography, this camera can be the perfect tool for those who like architecture and landscape photography, like me. I’m not sure how it would go for travel photography, but I’ll have to try it in the future. I’ll update here whenever this happens!

The post Mastering the Mamiya RZ67: Why This Medium Format Icon Is Worth the Weight appeared first on FRAME TRAVEL ROAM CAPTURE.