Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (35)
thevolunteer
Amazing how things change over time. Guess that is what they call progress. Nice shot Sig. Aloha
jeroni
Beautiful composition. excellent capture
Ionel
Another very interesting image, Sig! Beautiful capture too!!!
pixelmeister
Fantastic shot!
sharky_
Your travels and series is just outstanding. Aloha
ElizaB
shame they pulled down the old buildings...very nice capture
Sylvia
~Elegantly Beautiful~ Thanks for sharing... EXCELLENT!!!
Minda
great building..this is really fantastic shot sig.
MrsRatbag
It's a pretty enough building, but I can't help thinking the older stuff would have been much more interesting! I like the black and white striped curbs too...great shot!
beachzz
Beautiful lines and colors==where is this?
Richardphotos
certainly does not look Chinese in style but still an excellent shot Sig
ledwolorz
Beautiful photo.
gypsyflame
Beautiful shot...am wondering if it looks the same today.
Buffalo1
Much traditional architecture is lost when a city goes "modern." The same is happening all over Asia (look at Beijing) and the world.
lior
A very interesting image!
MrsLubner
Sacramento's China Town looks more like Chinatown than this China Town! :-) How interesting.
SSoffia
WONDERFUL CAPTURE & BEAUTIFUL COLORS :)
Meisiekind
It is so sad as this looks nothing like the Chinatowns I have come to know on my travels. Hope you are well Sig!! :)
flora-crassella
wunderschönes Foto von diesem einzigartigen Gebäude!!!
emmecielle
Beautiful photo! :)
kgb224
Excellent capture my friend.
Alz2008
Wonderful capture, Excellent well done..
durleybeachbum
Much more attractive for housing, but of course it's not!
tallpindo
Not a restaurant or laundry to be seen. This is not Washington, DC.
tetsu-pino
Excellent capture!!
JeffG7BRJ
Nice enough to look at but I think the character has gone from this place, I would love to have seen a before shot here Sig. I know they call it progress but I think the heart and feel of it has been torn out. I hope some little part of it stays as it was. Excellent work. Bravo!!!!!
virginiese
stunning architecture. Nice shot Sig
Hendesse
Beautiful houses, excellent captured!
leanndra
Hmm, would have never thought this to be Chinatown. I think I prefer how I thought of it in my mind. A great capture though Sig, I just feel like so much history has been circumvented by building these buildings.
jocko500
wow look like the buildings I saw in a movie one time this year too. lol. cool looking [forgot the name of the movie. ]