To look for the Wall, look down at your feet
by dlandt
The Berlin Wall is largely gone except for a few preserved sections like Mauer Park. The differences between East and West Berlin are steadily disappearing, though you can at times still feel the difference. One way to tell where the wall was is to look for sections of empty lots, empty not because no one wants to build where the wall stood, but because ownership rights are STILL tied up in German courts. One way to see where the Berlin Wall stood is to look down at your feet. Sometimes, where you see the sidewalk abruptly change from one style to another (no sure way to tell) you will find a plaque in the ground like this one. Whether or not you find this kindof history interesting, denotations like this are one way the Cold War still casts its shadow over Berlin.
Checkpoint Charlie
by JUNLI
The main gateway for foreigners between the two Berlins during the Cold War, this was the third Allied checkpoint and thus named 'Charlie' with reference to the third letter in the phonetic alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie, dora ... ).
The old watchtower can be seen in my picture left with label 'US Army Checkpoint' above. The famous sign 'You are leaving the American Sector' is the remainders of that spooky chapter in German history.
No idea to the guy in the background picture there. He seems to be a Russian general as his Russian army uniform, but no idea who is he and why his picture is there?
Touching memorial
by matcrazy1
Between Branderburg Gate and Reichstag on the place where the Berlin wall stood, there was a special place to commemorate victims of the Berlin Wall.
On Sunday afternoon I met there quite many Berliners including one couple with a few years old boy who put flowers and stood long (pray?) by one of the numerous crosses. This was a place to remember and reflection on not so old past of divided Berlin and Europe.
Tiergarten
by barryg23
The Tiergarten is a huge park, with many quiet spots and enchanting walks. The weather was great when I visited Berlin; hence there were crowds of people out sunbathing and families having picnics in the Tiergarten.
Beware of Bouncers
by lennonj5 about Club Magnet
An Austrian friend of mine was thrown out for asking a bouncer if he could go out for something to eat and return again. Without answering the bouncer grabbed him by the throat and threw him out. I, ratherly stupidly asked the bouncer to explain why my friend had been ejected and was subdued to worse treatment. I was thrown down the steps to the wet ground outside where two bouncers proceeded to lay kicks into me as I lay. Completely unprovoked. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE.
German-American Volksfest
Checkpoint Charlie
Cell
Church in Nikolassee: tower clock
