Guten tag from Berlin, Germany

German and European Union flags

Took the first May bank holiday weekend to travel to Berlin, Germany - one of those important European countries that we had not visited yet. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The interesting sights are within a fairly small area, so we were able to hit them all on one day. Their infamous history is so recent, and it absolutely amazed me how quickly things have developed there over the last 20 years. This November is the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the "wall".

Here are 2 images of the same sight - the Brandenburg gate:

This one just 20 years ago - it is taken from the West side facing the East side of Berlin. The wall is in front with the graffiti on it. (one confusing part - it wasn't the cardinal east and west side of the city. I think those were just descriptions of the controlling political sides).

Here is the same area today. Folks are free to walk through at their leisure. (Images are a little fuzzy since they are actually part of a hologram.)

There are 2 rows of cobblestones through the streets of Berlin that show the placement of the wall before it was torn down. Plaque reads "Berliner Mauer 1961- 1989"

One major fact that I had not really clued in on was that the wall wasn't always there. At first the border was open between the East (Communist) side and the West (Freedom) side. Folks would live on the cheaper East side, buy their goods there, but then work on the West side so that they could earn 4 times the salary. One night the wall was put up in secret, so in the morning the folks were cut off from their families, jobs, friends and even automobiles that were on the "other" side of the street from where the wall was placed. The animosity grew between the 2 sides and the death zone between the borders was heavily patrolled with illegal defectors shot on the spot.


Here we are at checkpoint Charlie, one of the more famous checkpoints to travel between the 2 sides. This building is actually a reproduction, but it is in the correct location.

I felt a little weird taking pictures of these places knowing that it was a place of death and strife for many. We tried to be respectful while at the same time learn facts about life at that time.


This shot is especially meaningful as we can just casually stand on each side of where the wall was placed, even though, within my lifetime, folks were killed for trying to make it to the Western side. Crazy to think about.


One really ironic thing is that this is a section of the original wall that is still standing. As hard as people worked to make the iron curtain fall, they have now actually had to put a fence up AROUND the wall to protect it! I'm sure there are some Germans who cannot even fathom that the wall is being protected.



We ended up taking a 5.5 hour bicycle tour through the city. It sounds challenging, but it is very fun. (Did the same thing in Barcelona). You ride on these cruiser bikes for about 5 min. over flat terrain and then the group stops for information about that sight and then you move on. It's very, very easy riding plus it's good, informative and the kid's don't mind spending all day on the bike. Great type of tour for our family.


This plaza was the sight of the massive book burning that took place in Berlin in 1933. Over 20,000 volumes burned.

Here we are with the Dom (Cathedral) in the background.

DA at the Brandenburg Gate. The brand new American Embassy is located directly to his right.

Pergamonmuseum -housing the original Ishtar gate of Babylon (of Nebuchadnezar's time). A replica of this gate currently stands on location in Iraq close to Saddam's former palace.

Pergamon alter - "the largest and most important treasure of Berlin's museums". From the Greek ruins of Pergamon (now in Turkey).

One especially impressive area in Berlin is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It is a very interesting plot of land with over 2,700 blocks of concrete set at various angles on undulating land. It is very disorientating to walk through, but really cool at the same time. Hard to describe and give the correct impression of it. A "must see" though. There is a museum underground, but it was too graphic. The kids and I walked through the first section of the museum and after that B decided it was too sad. She didn't want to see any more. I only learned later that museum is for 14 year olds and older. oops. Should have stayed above ground in the cement block area.

the kids within the cement blocks in the memorial to murdered Jews of Europe. (really, that's the official name)

All in all I'd place Berlin in the "been there, done that" shelf. Happy to have seen it and experienced it, but don't think I would ever make a point to go back as a tourist.