Hallo or Ahoj: Converse with basic lingo

The Berliners and the Viennese speak German, while Praguers speak Czech.
Learn some basic words and phrases so you can converse with the locals!

German:
Hallo (Hah-loh) - Hello
Guten Tag (goot-en tahk) - Hello/Good Day
Guten Morgen (goot-en mor-gen) - Good Morning
Auf Wiedersehen (owf vee-dair-zayn) - Goodbye
Bitte (bih-tuh) - Please
Danke/Danke schon (dahn-kuh shurn) - Thank you
Bitte Shon (bit-tuh shurn) - you're welcome
Ja (yah) - Yes
Nein (nine) - No

Czech:
Ahoj (Ahoy) - Hello
Dobré den (Do-bree Dehn) - Good Day/Formal Hello
Dobré rano (Do-breh rah-no) - Good Morning
Na shledanou (Nah skledah-noh) - Goodbye (formal)
Cau (Chow) - Goodbye (informal)
Prosim (Proseem) - Please/your welcome
Dekuji (Dyekooyee) - Thank you
Ano (Ah-no) - Yes
Ne (Neh) - No

For more words and phrases in German and Czech, go to Pages 'Learn German and Czech'

Next Instalment Payment Due Soon

A reminder to all travellers that the next instalment payment of $1300 is due to Worldstrides on Friday 20 October 2017.

The Coloured Pipes of Berlin

Urban areas of Berlin are lined and intersected with colourful massive pipes. Appearing like an art installation, these brightly painted pipes in pink, blue and purple, carry groundwater from construction sites to the open waters. While Berliners accept the pipes as a normal part of city life, tourists are intrigued by their presence and colour, particularly in a city that has a strong art culture.

Berlin is build on top of a swamp, just 35 metre above sea level, and sits between the Spree and Havel Rivers. The groundwater sits just 2 metres below the surface so it is impossible to dig tunnels without flooding the city. The coloured pipes surrounding Berlin and near construction sites serve to pump water from the ground and transport it to the canals. They are used with modern pumps to lower the water table so that building foundations can be set. This system has been in place for more than a century.

A psychologist was consulted about the colour choice to paint the pipes. She suggested pink and purple because they were favoured by children. The pipes twist and turn throughout the city because when temperatures fall below 15 degrees fahrenheit, the pipe material can shrink and break. By avoiding the long linear sections of pipes, it prevents them from breaking.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-24773752/berlin-s-pink-pipes-what-are-they

Fun Facts about Vienna

In Europe, Vienna is known as Wien (German word for Vienna).  Hence, the Wiener Schnitzel (Vienna Cutlet); the Wiener (Frankfurt or small sausage from Vienna); and the The Wiener Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel).

The Wiener Riesenrad was constructed in 1897 and is the world's oldest operating ferris wheel. Located in Wurstelprater (Prater) Amusement Park, it is one of the major tourist attractions and a symbol of the city. It was also used as a location in the 1949 film, The Third Man.

Still from Carol Reed's film, 'The Third Man', 1949

For more information on this beautiful city, visit the Pages sections and go to 'Learn more about Vienna'.

Urban Nation: A New Urban/Street Art Gallery in Berlin

Urban Nation in Berlin is the first major art museum of street art and graffiti. Berlin is known as the street art capital of the world and it is only fitting that this city opens the world's first major institution that champions and archives international street artists. 

arrestedmotion.com

Recently opened on the 16 September this year, Urban Nation's first exhibition had works by famous street artists such as Shepard Fairey (known for his Obama Hope poster), Banksy and Blek le Rat, the Parisian street artists who pioneered stencil street graffiti. Now 66, Blek le Rat, sees Urban Nation Museum as a turning point because a goal of street artists is to be admitted into institutions. 

"Its very tricky because on one side we are rebellious, we make art in places where it is illegal, we risk gaol by making our art on the streets, but on the other side, when you talk with street artists and graffiti artists they all want to be in museums, they all want to be sold at Christie's, they want to be part of the art world." Blek le Rat for Hannah Ellis-Petersen's 'Street art goes home: museum of graffiti opens in Berlin' The Guardian, Wednesday 20 September, 2017

The work in Urban Nation is an extension of what happens on the streets, not sections of work that have been 'chopped off' from walls. Street artists also work on canvas and by putting their art in galleries and museums it becomes more appealing to collectors and increases in value.

Watch a documentary on Urban Nation
https://youtu.be/SGzwWzeL0m4

For a virtual tour of the gallery go to:
https://vimeo.com/234573854