Perceptions of Nationality
by JourneyOf1
I had been mildly concerned about the reception of the north German people of a mixed German American because of the world situation, because of my parentage. I was born in Frankfurt, my mother being from Hanau, parts of former West Germany who were used to seeing more American military personnel and brown-skinned people (for the most part).
I had absolutely no problems at all. No one said anything to me about it, no one mentioned it except among friends who were discussing the world situation, no one treated me any differently than anyone else.Maybe it was on their minds, maybe not but then again most people took me for being French. A number of people assumed this and spoke to me in the French language because many Africans who come to Germany do, and a few asked was I from France.
Regarding Americans, I saw exactly 2 scrawling signs posted to streetlamps that said, "F*** Americans" and "F*** Bush and Blair!*, and the American embassy was blockaded off and guarded with protestors hanging around in front of it, but I had no problems whatsoever. Just being in Berlin is my fondest memory.
Russian Embassy
by bugulma
I think the biggest the brightest in golden reflection building on Unter den Linden Street. The building is staying here from DDR and USSR times. I ask the guard and there is no problem to make the photo of the building. Besides the guard man showed me a point of view to the building with most wonderful picture. The building is situated near of Brandenburg Gate.
A suburban Holocaust memorial
by sarahandgareth
Holocaust Memorial Platform, Gruenewald S-Bahn station
This is the platform from which many trains left, crowded with Jews and other victims of the Nazis, for concentration and death camps ranging from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz. There's a plaque for each of the trains that have been documented, with its destination and the number aboard - a testament, too, to the Nazis unnervingly meticulous record-keeping as they moved forward with their 'Final Solution'.
The platform is not used for transportation these days: step off the S-7, go down the stairs into the tunnel and turn right. The memorial is barely marked: there's just a simple sign saying 'Gleis 17', and you take the second set of stairs up to the memorial.
It's probably a sign of Germany's difficult relationship with its past that police cars often cruise by the memorial just to ensure that no-one is interfering with the area; don't be alarmed and they won't be.
municipal market halls
by hundertmorgen about various
A little-known but remarkable feature in Berlin's architectural history consists of the municipal market halls dating from the end of the 19th century, four of which are preserved in their original condition or are being restored.
The market halls were an improvement: for the residents next to the old weekly markets they eliminated a source of smell and noise, and the customers and traders could now conduct their business out of the weather and in a more structured fashion.
Market hall VI in Ackerstrasse is the only one of the four old halls which still have the original exterior. Like all the halls it has two entrances, but whereas they were usually at the ends, here they are in the corners. Most market halls were built in a block residential context so that only two narrow facades had to be financed. Small shops were established next to the entrances, and dwellings for the shop owners were created on the first floor.
All halls were built to a uniform pattern: a high central aisle lit by side windows leads into traverse side aisles with skylights. The roof is supported by cast-iron girders and steel trusses.
Lively market activity can still be seen in the Arminiushalle in Moabit which, unusually, occupies an entire block. However, the facade facing Arminiusstrasse has been altered, and the same applies to the market halls in Kreuzberg on Eisenbahnstrasse and Marheinekeplatz.
Airports
by mgmarcus
Three Airports will covert to one from 2011
http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/index.html
Tegal - main airport used by the big name carriers, taxi or buses X09 and 109 to/from the city.
Schenefeld - used by low cost and Eastern Europe carriers, taxi or Airport Express Train to/fom the city.
Tempelhof - used for German regional and ScandInavia connections, taxi, train U6 or bus 119 to.from the city
Starting in 2011, all air traffic will pass through Schoenefeld Airport and it is possible Tegal and Tempelhof will be closed.
Eggs
O.P. view of East Berlin section of checkpoint
Adria-Grill
The East Side Gallery
