Try the local brews and you will be a winner.

Milwaukee is home to many breweries. It has a rich tradition of brewing beers that are consumed in the United States and all over the world. It is an industry that has survived and thrived despite the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment during the last century.

I visited the Lakefront Brewery Company, based in a former coal powered power station by the Milwaukee River. There, along with other visitors I was given a tour of the site by Adam who not only explained the process of producing the beer but also the fascinating story of how the Lakefront Brewery has grown into one of Milwaukee’s must see attractions.

Visitors are given beer tokens that they are encouraged to spend during their tour. Not that I needed any encouragement. All of the beers produced here are fantastic. and includes a gluten free variety called New Grist. I remember having a wonderful Cream City Wheat Ale which complimented the fish and chips that I enjoyed after my tour. I had my meal in the large beer hall which is a venue that is very popular with people who live in “Brew City”.

On my tour I was joined by Ben, Jonathan and Derek who had travelled from Orange County, California.

I also had a good yarn with Ron, a local citizen who briefed me about the history of brewing in the region and especially the influence of German settlers.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim Kilsch, a co founder of the enterprise and also Terre who has her own business producing chilli mixes. I had my photograph taken with Jim and Terre but the lady who used my camera did not press the button hard enough so I don’t have an image of this meeting. Sorry Jim and Terre.

Never mind. Milwaukee has many things for me to see so I will return.

Happy days!

You can’t beat growing your own.

 

 

Built on the site of Gestapo headquarters and also where SS leaders met. This museum and also The Foundation Memorial To The Murdered Jews Of Europe document the lives of individuals and families who were victims of Nazi persecution.

 

Dusseldorf tame big city rivals.

I really wanted to visit The Olympic Stadium. It is one of the world’s most famous sporting venues. It was home to the 1936 Olympic Games. Now it is home to Hertha BSC.

Hertha were hosting Fortuna Dusseldorf. Both teams are in the middle of the Bundesliga. It is a German equivalent of West Ham versus Leicester City.

Seeing the stadium was very exciting. Much of its original structure remains including its towers, an outdoor swimming pool and a large area called the Maifeld which was used for equestrian events and political rallies. It was easy to imagine how the stadium must have looked when Jesse Owens won four gold medals.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Lots of scarves, flags, banners and flares. Everybody was relaxed. Before kick off Hertha fans sing their adopted club song, “Sailing”, the Rod Stewart version.

There was quite a lot of police officers on duty. Many were armed. Despite this a platoon of Yam Yams broke through lines and made it all the way to the stadium.

Fortuna   were the best team and  deservedly won the contest 2-1. There could have been more goals but I can’t complain. It was a great way to spend Saturday afternoon.

Herr Ulrich would be pleased.

 

 

 

 

Millions come here to feel the history.

 

What a place to visit! The cocktail of history, politics, architecture and views over Berlin make this a must see attraction.

It is good to see that people come here to fight for our futures and just causes. I met some some activists of Climate Pledge Collective who are doing their bit.

 

Look out for more activity from them especially on Fridays. This is a global movement that we are all going to hear more about.

 

Tear down that wall!

 

Berlin was a divided city from 1961 until 1989. The construction of The Berlin Wall broke the city into two parts and made it a battlefield for political confrontation between the superpowers of the USA and western Europe against the Soviet Bloc. The Iron Curtain smashed through Berlin separating friends  and families.

It was at Checkpoint Charlie that Russian and American tanks squared up to each other. Several museums vividly describe what life was like and how people survived living under such pressure.

It is difficult to believe that only a generation ago Potsdamer Platz, Brendenburg Gate and many other areas  were littered with barbed wire, electric fences, watch towers, land mines and tank traps.

Despite all of the risks and dangers many people tried to cross from East to West Berlin. A few made it, some were captured and many were killed.

People power eventually brought down the wall and also Communism without a shot being fired. The human spirit is more powerful than any weapon.