Month: October 2025

Then and Now – Bern – Waisenhausplatz

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THEN (probably earlier than 1800s)

NOW

NOW, in color

 

 

COMMENTS

(1) The building to the left of center is still there today – and I don’t think many people stop to realize it is contemporary with the tall Fachwerkhaus on the right! 

(2) And what’s really interesting is that the tower in the old painting had no windows – so it makes one wonder what exact purpose the tower served when it was built? Often towers served to house grain or wheat – but then in a case like that there would usually be a visible pulley. This is the Holländerturm and interestingly, nobody knows how old it is!  It’s part of an original defensive wall – but that bit on the top is a recent addition, dating back to the 1600’s by a mercenary from Holland. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I was always told this is also called the “Raucherturm,” or smoking tower, since people would come here to smoke tobacco – and at the time, tobacco was illegal!  Amazing!

(3) Probably what many people overlook are the steps to the buildings in the old painting. This is still common in many countries since it can be an advantage to have the floor raised enough to escape the pooling water when it rains.

Machita Shoten in Zurich: is this the worst ramen shop, ever?

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I was pretty excited when I read that a world-famous Ramen chain would be opening a restaurant in Zurich. Silly me!  The normal bowl of their signature dish was not only around CHF 30 – but it was the smallest bowl of ramen I’ve ever seen, anywhere – it was literally what you might call a “tasting bowl” at any other ramen shop, if they offered anything like that. And it came with NO side offerings at all!

I’m not “dissing” the price – if you try to eat in the world’s most expensive city in the world’s most expensive country, you are going to pay the price. But surely a restaurant of this caliber can size the portions according to international standards, then add “extras” give you the feeling it was a good meal.

If you are in Zurich and a big bowel of tasty ramen is what you crave . . . I’d go just about anywhere than here!

A comfortable place to shoot

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Compare the French vs. the Germans. The Germans build their city walls with little holes so they could shoot arrows to kill the invaders. The French did exactly the same – but look at the little chairs they built for themselves next to the hole! In fact, the even added some space at the bottom for a lunch bag and a bottle of wine!

Then and Now – Bern – Bubenbergplatz

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THEN (late 1800s)

NOW

NOW, in color

COMMENTS:

(1) I could not find a date, but it was certainly after around 1860 because the original tower stood where the fountain is standing today.

(2) It makes me really wonder, how was the power generated for the water fountain?  Was it purely decorative, or — like its cousin in Geneva — was it is a necessary way to relieve overpressure in the first public water infrastructure?

(3) I’ve seen some old photos and also drawings of this scene. As far as I can tell this is Bubenbergplatz – or at least it was. In the older drawings you could see horses working through the water – and that makes a certain amount of sense, since in the old photograph you can see left and right embankments but a subtle drop at the foreground of the fountain. According to ChatGPT, if horses would have ridden in on unpaved roads, it might have been useful to give them a quick cleaning before allowing them into the paved part of the city – although, I assume with horsecrap everywhere that would hardly make a difference. 

To me this shows the impossibility of history: we can hardly understand a scene we see 100 years ago, in our own backyard and culture – how can we possibly understand the Middle Ages or history in other countries???

Snails on a Stick

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As artistic a snap as I thought I could take of some snails on a stick in a salt marsh, just outside the medieval city walls of Aigues-Mortes, in South France.  Just think, when the medieval Crusaders set out from here centuries ago to conquer Jerusalem, the great-great-great snail parents of these snails were probably here, doing the same thing!

Then and Now – Bern – Kirchenfeldbrücke

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THEN, between 1914 – 1918

NOW

NOW, in color

COMMENTS:

What strikes me as amazing: Still two tramlines after 110 years – and still the cables that run laterally across the bridge. And although it is not obvious, a possible analogy with Covid. If this snap was taken in 1918 the Spanish Flu would be raging and killing zillions, so it could be many of the people shown here had the same kinds of feelings we felt with Covid in the beginning.

Hungry Crow – Do we train the animals or do they train us?

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I spent a few days cleaning up the apartment that I was leaving – and once an hour or so I’d sit outside and relax, and everytime I went out I’d put a little piece of cheese on the railing for him to eat!  The problem is: was I training the crow or was he training me?  I’d sit out there – watch until he came and ate his little piece of cheese. Then . . . he’d come even closer to me and just STARE at me until I felt guilty and put out a second piece of cheese for him . . . and then a third.

 

Then and Now – Bern – Vor dem Bundeshaus

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THEN: Vor dem Bundeshaus, 01.01.1915

NOW:

And in color

COMMENTS:

Very nearly the same after around 115 years!  The older lamppost was taller – it probably needed to illuminate more. And in the old photo you see a black metal attachment to the bottom of the wall. Since the doors are reset quite a distance I am assuming this is not a door stopper but a shit scraper, but probably officially called a show scraper (or in German, Schuhkratzer).