Good grief! It's July already! Part 1

Time really flies...

And ever since my last blog, there was so much going on in these few months! Let's start from the begining: firstly, my sincere apologies for the long silence. The start of the tourism season arrived in full force this year!

Barely time to get used to the usual hectic and together with the regular and official aniversaries, local and international celebrations and events, the inspiration for good lines and even better images was simply not there. But, as we say in German: Jetzt aber!

Let's see... Since in January, as every year, the Grüne Woche (Green Week, actually more than a week) and the Fruitlogistica early February, kicked off the regular calendar of events in Berlin (look up Time is money). As far as culture is concerned, a new space for art and entertainment - Zentrum für internationale Künste - opens in one of the several shopping malls along the Schloßstraße shopping area in Steglitz. As every year, the Transmediale festival brought new trends in contemporary music to the public's attention, while two exhibitions at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam (Munch) and the berliner Neue Nationalgalerie (Josephine Baker) were the sensation of the first quarter this year. Also, because literature has always been in the forefront in Germany and the ‘graphic novel’ genre is the current trend, an entertaining publication by German author Lauraine Meyer came out: Feminists in Progress - Ein Comic-Guide für Empowerment, Body Positivity und Vielfalt. A must-read. And not only for women! (Do check Leasure and entertainment, Art and Museums).

Finally, although many would say no, even more exciting and authentic than the ‘king of sports’, the European Handball Championships also took place in Germany and although the national team did not win the title, at least they were not kicked out halfway through the tournament as in the recently concluded European Championship (football).

In February, the only thing talked about in Berlin and the rest of Europe (also on the other side of the ocean) is the Berlin International Film Festival - Berlinale -. This year, more relevant than the films in competition, was the beginning and the end of the prestigious festival: after 5 years of poor direction and organization, the organizers ended their work by announcing that starting in 2025, they will no longer be in charge. I can only say that they will not be missed...

The only thing that really gave shine to the contest was the jury of this, the 74th edition: for the first time in its history, the Berlinale had a black woman as president of the jury, Academy Award Winner 2014 Lupita Nyong'o. In the same way as the inauguration, the awards ceremony ended with a scandal of international repercussions. If you watch the corresponding video you will find out what happened... (More about movies and movie making in Special Tours - And Action...Filmpark Babelsberg)

 Coming soon: Parts 2 and 3. Be warned!