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Spring is in the air (or some geese)

Sadly, it's been reduced to a block or so, but the gate built over H Street at 7th Street is a tribute to times past.

(Wiki) The Chinatown area was once home to many German immigrants; it is also the location of the Washington branch of the Goethe-Institut. Chinese immigrants began to move into the area in the 1930s, having been displaced from Washington's original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue by the development of the Federal Triangle government office complex. The newcomers marked it with decorative metal latticework and railings as well as Chinese signage. At its peak, Chinatown extended from G Street north to Massachusetts Avenue, and from 9th Street east to 5th Street.

Chinatown had fallen into disrepair after the 1968 riots. Ethnic Chinese residents, as well as many others, left for suburban areas, spurred further by the city's rising crime and taxes, and deteriorating business climate.

In 1986, the city dedicated the Friendship Archway, a traditional Chinese gate designed by local architect Alfred H. Liu. The colorful, US$1 million work of public art includes seven roofs up to 60 feet high, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Erected to celebrate friendship with Washington's sister city of Beijing, it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood's Chinese character. According to the plaque next to the arch, it is the largest such single-span archway in the world.

Today, most of the businesses are no longer representative of Chinatown, yet due to a city requirement to post all identifying signage in Chinese characters even national chains -- Starbucks, Hooters, Ruby Tuesday, Ann Taylor, Urban Outfitters etc. -- hang their names in Chinese outside their stores ;-)

Recently, Chinatown has become an independent intercity transportation hub. Several independent, immigrant-owned Chinatown bus lines run from DC to the Chinatowns in Philadelphia, New York, and even Boston.

Albert Einstein in Washington DC

Berliner Dom (1905) - Humboldt-Box (2011) - Marienkirche (1292) - Park Inn Hotel (1970) - Fernsehturm (19Berliner Dom (1905) - temporary Humboldt-Box (2011) - Marienkirche (1292) - Park Inn Hotel (1970) - Fernsehturm (1969)

A replica of the old Berlin City Palace will be built in the place of the oddly shaped box in a couple of years. The new structure will be called Humboldt Forum after the brothers Humboldt. In the meantime, the temporary Humboldt Box introduces the art collections that will be housed in the future Forum.

Fragment
von Heinrich Heine

Die Eule studierte Pandekten,
Kanonisches Recht und die Glossa,
Und als sie kam nach Welschland,
Sie frug: "Wo liegt Canossa?"

Die alten matten Raben,
Sie ließen die Flügel hangen,
Sie sprachen: "Das alte Canossa
Ist längstens untergegangen.

Wir möchten ein neues bauen,
Doch fehlt dazu das Beste:
Die Mamorblöcke, die Quadern,
Und die gekrönten Gäste."

Nun auch das obligatorische Krokus-Bildchen von mir - aber es geht einem mit den ersten Blüten doch wirklich das Herz auf :-)