Berlin

Rob had business in Berlin this weekend, so he let me tag along. He was basically in meetings all day, but I ran around the town soaking in everything. It was fascinating to me because I last visited Berlin in 1986 when the wall was still up. At that time, we drove into East Berlin after visiting the Soviet Union, so the entire experience was totally different. East Berlin was dark and grey and West Berlin was the chic place. Now, all the nouveau-chic is in East Berlin. Plus, most of the historic and cultural sites are there too. (When they divided up Berlin, the Soviets got the best part -- but, hey, they shed the blood to conquer Berlin.) Anyhow, Berlin is an intriguing city because it contains the triumphs and horrors of Prussian history, Nazi history and Communist history -- all in one small place. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. But I did take some iphone photos.

We saw the Brandenburg Gate (below) from afar because it was in the "Death Zone" between the Outer and Inner Berlin Walls so you couldn't get close to it. Now the place is full of tourists and actors trying to make a few euros.

Here are the actors dressed as American and Soviet soldiers. A reminder to the history of a divided Berlin.

A democratic protest outside the Brandenburg Gate. So nice to see democracy flourishing now.

The Memorial to Jews killed in the Second World War. Quite interesting architecture. It looks like thousands of tombs. But as you walk deeper into it, you begin to feel small and disoriented -- similar feelings were probably felt by the Jews as the Nazis turned their lives upside down.

Here I am in the middle of the Memorial. Small and insignificant.

The German flag waving above the Reichstag Building. The old German Reichstag, burned in 1933, an act which Hitler blamed on the communists and which allowed the Nazis to usurp more power. It is now the site of the current German parliament (Bundestag). The dome has been replaced with a beautiful glass one, indicating transparency in government. I visited the building -- and was impressed that they allow everyone to come see the Parliament in session. What a change from Germany's past!

Here I am at Checkpoint Charlie. This was the only way for foreigners to enter/exit East Berlin. It is now completely open, with a small re-built "checkpoint" marking the place. When I was here in 1986, this was a huge six-lane checkpoint. But they searched everything.

Notice the sign at Checkpoint Charlie. This was a reminder to all that you were now on "Soviet" territory.

The remains of the Berlin Wall. It's amazing that this is all that remains of that symbolic monstrosity. Not far from here is the place where Hitler had his bunker. There is nothing left now -- the Communists dynamited it to make way for an apartment building. It's just marked with a plain marker with a little bit of historic information. As you can see, the pictures and events of the day (Nazi history, East Berliner repression) were very sobering to me.

The Berlin Wall is now marked by a red brick trail running around West Berlin. What a change from when I was here 24 years ago!

Okay, so Rob made me take a picture of this Bugati. I guess it's his dream car? This dealership would never have been in East Berlin 24 years ago.