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 (18)
bobrgallegos
Wow! This is so cool!!! Love the colors and perspective!!
auntietk
Oh, that is too cool. !!! I just put it on my list of things to see. What fun!
starship64 Online Now!
What a fantastic place! I've got to visit there.
giulband
Beautiful capture !!
Cyve
Fantastic place and very great shot !
durleybeachbum
This looks fun!
blankfrancine
Amazing motel and fine capture.Wonderful color.
ontar1
That is just fantastic, great capture!
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
Faemike55
Definitely a place where I want to spend several nights!
Great shot
UteBigSmile
Buffalo1
Make a reservation for me! I loved cabooses when I was a kid.
weesel
Just east of Strasburg, PA, right?
farmerC
Shining shot.
T.Rex
Very nice photo! In Lund, Sweden, we had a series of old Swedish Railway sleeping cars used as a hostel behind the railroad station. The ground has since been purchased, the train is gone and track torn up for apartment construction. These cabooses are wonderful as motel rooms - a lot of space, too. Any chance of seeing one inside? Keep up the good work! :-)
junge1
@weesel! Correct!
junge1
@T.Rex! Sorry, I didn't go inside. My buddy had stayed there before with his kids and the cabooses were a big hit with them!
flavia49
wonderful