The Bode-Museum

I have a slight issue going to museums. I view them mainly as a way to stay dry when it is raining. I also prefer them to be free — I have likely seen more museums in England than anywhere because they too, believe in free museums. England, I love you for that. 

I tend to get a bit bored and overloaded by room after room after room after room of stuff. 

The museums in Coventry, England, though — best museums I have ever been to. Hands on and educational — I apparently have the mental capacity of a 12 year old. But still, I was fascinated and I learned a ton about the city. 

With the knowledge that my time in Potsdam/Berlin will finally be coming to a close, I knew that I had to stop avoiding museums. First, I went to the Jewish museum — I barely made it through the bottom floor before getting frustrated. Horribly laid out. Horribly designed. Couldn’t handle it. Ended up sitting in the cafe drinking overpriced nasty coffee playing sudoku on my phone until my friend was finished. 

But I couldn’t give up on the Berlin Museums just yet, so I went to the Bode-Museum because I do in fact love Byzantine art — that’s got to hold my attention for a bit, right? 

What actually happened is something more along the lines of, turn the corner:

Oh. My. RAVENNA!!! That’s HERE?! 

Jaw

To

The

Floor

And after staring in awe for ages at the reconstructed apse mosaic, marveling at all the minuscule pieces, I ran back to the bag check to get my camera. 

Which is a good thing because I then came face to face with this mosaic icon from the first quarter of the 12th century. 

Again, jaw to the floor and a MASSIVE desire to reach out and touch it. Restraint, not my strong point.

Antonio Canova’s Dancer — is this how high heels came into being?

With a few minor adjustments (mainly the sleeves), I’m pretty sure that Francesco di Valdambrino’s Mary, from an Annunciation from 1420’s Sienna is wearing a dress that I for one would love to own. 

I believe there is a second floor to the Bode-museum, or at least there is according to my map and the staircase that I saw, but I didn’t really make it out of the first floor before closing time. It takes a while picking your jaw up off the floor.