Matt the Roaming Canuck

Abandoned Berlin: Old Disco

admin — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:12:23 +0000

If you ask someone what they know about Berlin they’ll give you answers like the Berlin Wall, Cold War, West/East Germany, Currywurst, Doner and Techno music. Some consider Berlin as the birthplace for techno music. Even if it wasn’t, it has the reputation to have the best clubs on the planet. I’m pretty sure the Metronom Club had its own history from the opening day till being left alone to its own faith. Unfortunately the records for this abandoned place is not possible to be found anywhere other than being closed since 2008, as if it had a last shot … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: Bahnbetriebswerk (Train Yard)

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:28:17 +0000

Its been a long cold winter in Berlin for 2013. The darkest winter on record so far. Coming from snow country myself, I’m actually getting sick of it. That said, despite the depressing winter it still doesnt stop me exploring abandoned places. The Bahnbetriebswerk (Train Yard) was built in 1893 since the Berlin – Szczecin railway connection was built years ago and there was in need of repairing and servicing the trains. Therefore the last roundhouse of its kind in Germany on a 250,000m2 lot would be built in Heinersdorf. The train yard afterwards was connected to the Berlin S-Bahn in … Continue reading →

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Berlin My New Home Part 4

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:14:04 +0000

In my previous posts Berlin My New Home, I mentioned the do’s and dont’s after you move to Berlin. The necessary paperwork required, the bureaucracy you have to deal with, how to avoid waiting in the queue for hours just to get a stamp, etc. Now I’m going to write about the things that is required after moving into a rental apartment. Moving to a new flat with no furniture, electricity, gas, water and internet would be something of course no one would want. Assuming that you have already registered yourself to the Bürgeramt (if not do so) the next steps will be … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: Alte Bärenquell Brauerei

admin — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:30:03 +0000

On a snowy cold January afternoon the Alte Bärenquell Brauerei couldn’t look more fantastic than it is. Whether its my love of snow or not I believe this was the best time of the year to explore the brauerei. The snow gives this mystical feel and already chill abandoned building which adds extra excitement to it. The Bärenquell Brauerei was built in 1882 although founded under the name Kampfhenkel Borussia Brauerei. Later in 1898 the brewery was bought by Schultheiss AG and expanded to its current state today from Schnellerstrasse to the river. After the war, in 1954 the brauerei was again … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: GDR Iraqi Embassy

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:49:16 +0000

I’m pretty sure the GDR Iraqi embassy has seen better days. The time when Saddam Hussein in his “glory” times supporting the GDR and being a great ally to East Germany. The times when his posters were flourishing the walls of every Iraqi owned building and his control over the people. Eventually that all came to an end after the collapse of the wall and the Gulf War in 1991. The GDR Iraqi embassy was built in 1974 based on the fact that Iraq was the first non-socialist country to recognize East Germany back in 1969. Of course this meant … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: Alte Fleischfabrik (Old Meat Factory)

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:33:19 +0000

The Alte Fleischfabrik (Old Meat Factory) was owned by the Konsumgenossenschaft (KGB) and was established in 1899. The KGB is a consumer association that would sell and trade retail goods to its members for very inexpensive prices. Up to 1990 it was the largest consumer cooperative in the GDR and fourth largest in the world. The KGB still exists today although the old meat factory and bakery have been sold to private investors due to the operations of the factories went bankrupt in 1993. The KGB office buildings, meat factory and bakery were built before WWI in 1909 by architect Otto Wettstein. … Continue reading →

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Berlin My New Home Part 3

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:27:05 +0000

In my previous posts Berlin My New Home, I mentioned the essential tasks I did when I first arrived to Berlin. Opening a bank account, what paperwork is required for renting an apartment, getting your tax number, health insurance and social insurance number. Now its time to write about one of the most complicated and important process for Non EU citizens to get a visa/permit to stay in the country. Being a Canadian citizen has many perks. I’ve traveled various countries and seen many places around the world and by just showing my passport has opened many doors without questions raised. … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: Eisfabrik (Ice Factory)

admin — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 12:39:38 +0000

The Eisfabrik (Ice Factory) was one of the oldest ice factories in Germany. It opened its doors in 1896 next to the river on Köpenickerstrasse 40/41. In the time when refrigerators did not exist, the ice that was produced would be delivered all over Berlin to breweries, pubs, homes, etc. The Eisfabrik managed to survive many damages, several fires and bombs throughout its lifespan. In 1914 the factory chimney collapsed and made the headlines in the news. In 1945 the houses next to the factory which were owned by them as well were bombed to the ground during the war. After … Continue reading →

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Up in the Air

admin — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:36:15 +0000

Most of you either heard of or watched the George Clooney movie Up in The Air. If not then to summarize, its a man who’s job is to fire people and in order to do so he travels around the US going city to city living out of a suitcase. I’ve been working for a software company called Openlink for the past 4 months now. Its an American company which has office’s around the world and I’m currently working at there Berlin office. Their software is used by banks, energy and financial companies to forecast or provide decision support solutions … Continue reading →

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Abandoned Berlin: Kinderkrankenhaus (Children’s Hospital)

admin — Sun, 27 May 2012 11:11:38 +0000

The Kinderkrankenhaus aka Children’s Hospital in Neukölln, Berlin used to be full of new borns crying and kids trying to get healthier. It also used to be Germany’s biggest women’s gynaecology hospital but currently the hospital itself is sick and left alone. The hospital was built in 1917 during the war by King Kaiser Wilhelm II. The first medical director of the hospital was Sigfrid Hammerschlag and was there until 1933. He had to give up his position because he was a Jew and Hitler didn’t want him there. Afterwards the hospital was severely damaged during World War II and was rebuilt … Continue reading →

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