[Disclaimer] This blog entry is really old....
Yesterday was my father's birthday, and coincidentally yesterday was the date that the Berlin wall was constructed. I find this funny because my birthday, nov. 9th, is the day that the wall was broken. In the interest of history I ventured into the city in order to walk the East Side Gallery, a large span of the wall left intact and used as a canvas for international artists and their messages of peace.
I began by taking the S-Bahn to Warschauerstraße [if i haven't clarified this symbol ß is read as two s's, so ß = ss just fyi].
As the train sped over the cityscape buildings and plazas began to look familiar and evoke my trip here one year ago. A smile grew upon my face as I stepped off the train and up a flight of stairs to reveal an impressive view of the river and the TV tower looming in the distance.
It is hard to believe that only a few decades ago this thriving metropolis (one of the largest in Europe) was divided through the middle by two 5 meter tall steel-reinforced concrete walls with automated turrets scanning for the next person brave enough to ford the no-man's land between them.
As I walk along what used to be the physical embodiment of hate, and division I am glad to see it littered with people of all ages, nationalities, sexes, and sexual orientations enjoying the art, the river, and the sun.
Today I met with two fraternity brothers of mine at their hostel and gave them a mini-tour of some key locations. I opted to seek out the gritty Berlin over the gentrified tourist areas of the city.
Tomorrow morning the boys begin school and I begin language courses. Now I am relegated to a 630 wake up every week day in order to herd the boys out the door. wooooo
Yesterday was my father's birthday, and coincidentally yesterday was the date that the Berlin wall was constructed. I find this funny because my birthday, nov. 9th, is the day that the wall was broken. In the interest of history I ventured into the city in order to walk the East Side Gallery, a large span of the wall left intact and used as a canvas for international artists and their messages of peace.
I began by taking the S-Bahn to Warschauerstraße [if i haven't clarified this symbol ß is read as two s's, so ß = ss just fyi].
As the train sped over the cityscape buildings and plazas began to look familiar and evoke my trip here one year ago. A smile grew upon my face as I stepped off the train and up a flight of stairs to reveal an impressive view of the river and the TV tower looming in the distance.
It is hard to believe that only a few decades ago this thriving metropolis (one of the largest in Europe) was divided through the middle by two 5 meter tall steel-reinforced concrete walls with automated turrets scanning for the next person brave enough to ford the no-man's land between them.
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| Brandenburg Tor today |
Today I met with two fraternity brothers of mine at their hostel and gave them a mini-tour of some key locations. I opted to seek out the gritty Berlin over the gentrified tourist areas of the city.
 |
| Brandenburg Tor with the wall |
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