The woods decay and fall

 

Late on Sunday afternoon we went out for a stroll and ended up walking through the Kulturbrauerei where the stalls had been partially assembled for the Christmas markets which begin next week.  It had been dank and drizzly all day and as we settled into the cosy surroundings of a candlelit bar, I wondered if Berlin’s spectacular autumn was finally coming to an end.

For the past few weeks the city has really been putting on a show, displaying the entire palate of autumn hues: sulphur and gold, ochre and fiery red, copper and rust.  Whilst some of its colours have mellowed, others have blazed.  It has been a delight to walk around my neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg witnessing this extravaganza.  In fact I’ve found it impossible to stay indoors and I’ve ventured out daily to wander the streets taking photographs.

 

Play area between Kanzowstrasse and Wichertstrasse

 

 

A carpet of fallen leaves in Zionskirchpatz

 

 

An October Sunday in Helmholtzplatz

More often than not my ramblings have taken me to the area around Kollwitzplatz – a pretty enough corner of the city at any time of the year with its cobbles and ornate street signs.  The leafy canopy over its shops and cafes is the icing on Kollwitzplatz’s cake.  In summer its foliage is so dense that sunlight only reaches the pavements in Pollock-esque splashes.  Now the leaves have bronzed and fallen, yet the beauty of this quarter only seems to have been enhanced.

 

Still plenty of green in late October

 

 

The Saturday market at Kollwitzplatz - evidence of the approaching season

 

 

Last Thursday - towards late afternoon the square assumes a more wintry aspect

 

Leaving Prenzlauer Berg, last Friday I had to run an errand to Kreuzberg.  I was rewarded with the opportunity for more photographs in Mariannenplatz which, under its tawny cloak, had a slightly ‘New England’ feel:

 

 

Very soon the city’s trees will be completely bare, the aroma of glühwein will fill the air and out will come those jumpers and scarves as we steel ourselves for the long Berlin winter ahead.

 

Deserted tables outside Café Liebling a tell-tale sign that the temperature is dropping.

 

A lantern hanging from a tree glows in the twilight