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Stephen Locker

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EU 2019

EU 2019
travel

Berlin

16 July 201929 November 2019
St. George – The Dragon Slayer

WordCamp Europe, the catalyst for the travel, was held in Berlin this year and kick-offed the EU 2019 trip. Berlin is a large and beautiful city. The architecture, food, public transportation, and shopping were great. The open squares and beer gardens were plentiful—European cities know how to create large social spaces. There was also a lovely smell throughout the city due to the thousands of linden trees that were in bloom.

We stayed in the southern part of Mitte, the central borough of the city. The location was fantastic. It was easy to walk to all of the attractions and food of central Berlin. Our hotel was next to a U2 station, making it super convenient to get to the WCEU venue and to other districts within the city.

The city is extremely bicycle friendly. The bicyclist… lets just say that pedestrians are third in the hierarchy of owning the sidewalks and streets. 1-bicycles 2-cars 3-pedestrians. It was, however, impressive to see how many people ride their bikes as their primary mode of transportation. It is inspirational.

In dealing with its past, the city doesn’t hide the atrocities that happened in and around the area while under control by the Nazi Party. Rather, it is magnified. There are many markers, monuments, and memorials throughout the city to the memory of those that were taken and/or killed. It is a dramatic reminder that people are people and that we need to push back on anyone in power who divides people based on gender, race, religion, etc.

  • St. Marienkirche
  • Volksbühne theatre
  • Sculpture at a Jewish cemetery
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • Graffiti on the side of a building
  • View of Fernehturm outisde of a train station
  • Sunset over the Spree
  • One of the train lines at Alexanderplatz station
  • Fernsehturm broadcasting tower
  • Französischer Dom
  • The Spree through central Berlin
  • Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe murdered under national socialism
EU 2019
travel

Vltava

16 July 201930 March 2020
Vltava River with the Prague Castle in the distance – 10 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

Central Praha

16 July 201929 April 2020
Live Jazz in the Central Square of Prague – 8 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

Katedrála svatého Víta

10 July 201930 March 2020
St. Vitus Cathedral within the Prague Castle – 9 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

Schwanenboot

7 July 201930 March 2020
A swan paddle boat with mountains around.
Paddling in a swan boat on the Hallstätter See – Hallstatt – 6 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

SABOTAGE

7 July 201930 March 2020
Balloon animal dog pooping a balloon on the word sabotage
Art festival poster – Bologna – 4 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

Burning of the castle

4 July 201930 March 2020
Rapallo's old fortress with flames dripping down from it.
Rapallo’s fortress on fire for the Our Lady of Montallegro celebrations which occur every 1-3 July – 3 July 2019

Fireworks with the Rapallo castle in the foreground.
Fireworks preceding the burning of the castle – 3 July 2019
EU 2019
travel

Swiss lake and mountains

3 July 201930 March 2020
Vierwaldstättersee (Lake of the Four Forested Settlements)
Overlooking Vierwaldstättersee (Lake of the Four Forested Settlements), surrounded by the Swiss Alps – 28 June 2019
EU 2019
travel

The chapel of the Brotherhood of Death and Prayer

3 July 201930 March 2020
The ceiling of Oratorio della Confraternita dei Neri Mortis et Orationis – Monterosso al Mare, Italy – 2 July 2019
EU 2019
web

WCEU 2019 – Berlin

1 July 201910 July 2019
Opening session

WordCamp Europe 2019 in Berlin confirmed that the feeling I had after my first WordCamp Europe in Belgrade last year wasn’t a fluke – I haven’t been to a more inspiring, caring, inclusive, and thoughtful conference. Or a better conference. I am sure there are others that are great, but there is something about WCEU and I don’t think it is completely due to my rose-colored European vacation glasses.

The venues are well selected. The food has been great. The talks are excellent, and keep getting better!

Social

In addition to the excellent talks I was able to attend, the 80s themed after party that rocked, and contributor day, the biggest takeaway from the event for me were the existing relationships I was able to build on and the new relations that were started. I especially had a good time getting to know a few of the folks at the marketing table during contributor day.

These relationships are what make open source communities so great. They provide support, inspiration, opportunities to collaborate, and accountability.

Tina Turner rocking during the after party. Okay, not really, but still a great show.

I am looking forward to attending WCEU 2020 in Porto next year.

EU 2019
travel

Lake Zürich ferry

1 July 201930 March 2020
Had a wonderful ferry ride and social time with Felix on Lake Zürich, 27 June. The temperature was about 100° F – the lake provided some relief.
EU 2019
travel

At the station

27 June 201930 March 2020
Waiting for the train to Münich – Erfurt HBF – 26 June 2019
EU 2019
travel

Fernsehturm Berlin

22 June 201930 March 2020
Fernsehturm – broadcasting tower in central Berlin – 21 June 2019
EU 2019
travel

Happy Solstice

21 June 201930 March 2020
Sunset over the Spree – Berlin – 21 June 2019
EU 2019
food, travel

Sausage #1

20 June 201930 March 2020
Sausage, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut at Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt – Berlin – 19 June 2019
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