Berlin, Germany Illuminated by annual Festival of Lights

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Gendarmenmarkt

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This year, between the 14 and 26 of October, they had something called the Berlin Festival of Lights. 

Now, it's not quite like the Festival of Lights in the USA which consists of Christmas trees in a warehouse that have been decorated and then are auctioned for charity.  Instead, here in Berlin, they haul out spotlights and pin lights in different colors and put them on to their most favorite buildings. Several of them have colors that change over time, some have lasers, and others have fountains that move as the colors of light change. The street performers come out to the squares and play music, and perform. In addition, Berlin hosts also host specialty "art" competitions that deal with the use of light in their works in some of the public locations.

The local expatriot group that I try to participate in is trying to get a photography group organized, and the two events together caused me to get out and make a bunch of photographs, at night, while fighting through the crowds of spectators enjoying the visual and musical treats.  Night time photography is difficult, to say the least, but I've  gotten my photographs posted in a set on flickr, and thought others might enjoy.

Gendarmenmarket in Berlin


ALEXA shopping plaza


Brandenburg Gate


Berliner Dom (those are palm fronds)


Abstract Kites (they color changed)


Light Bright (these also color changed)


Pick Up Sticks




Karl Marx Park - it's a clock where the "TV Tower" would be one of the hands.


Mariankirche spires, TV tower, the bottom of the clock

I'd say I'll never quite see Berlin in the same "light" again.  If you get the chance to visit while the festival of lights is going on, it's a worthy "free" treat for all.

You can see more on the Berlin Festival of Lights here:   http://www.festival-of-lights.de/