Checkpoint Charlie
This morning I visited two sites: Reischstag, the seat of legislature, and Checkpoint Charlie, the access point between the American sector of West Berlin and East Berlin.
I waited a short 20 minutes for the Reischstag. I had to go throught the usual security and was then wisked up the elevator to the top of the building. The view was a 360° view of Berlin from the roof and along the walk around the dome whihc serves as the top of the legislative part of the building. The dome sort of acts like a cooling tower for the building and also lets the sun shine (figuratively as well as literally) onto the Bundestag below the dome. I took alot of pictures (I vowed to take alot more this trip) and then descended to the bottom floor. I was disappointed that I couldn't see the interior of the legislature. I could make it out through the glass but the view wasn't a good one.
I left and took the bus and then the subway to Checkpoint Charlie. The sign is still there and marks where the sectors changed between east and west Berlin. The remants of the Wall are almost all gone. It is difficult to discern where the wall was at all and if one didn't know better, it never existed. I toured the surprisingly touching museum adjacent to the checkpoint. It showed- through photos, exhibits, audio, video- the history of the wall, escapes, politics, and finally the tearing-down and the reunification of Germany. I rented the audioguide and was quite taken by the force of the museum.
For example, near the end there was a german-language video of the day the gates fo teh wall were open in Nov. '89. I sat down and watched it, not understanding a word but definitely feeling the emotion in the room from the roughly 10 or so Germans there watching. Some were crying and some were blowing their noses.. All sad for joy and remembrance of that day. The younger ones were staring at the video and probaly learning, as I was, the force of that particular day. It was an outstanding overview, picturally, for me to have experienced. This is travel-- learning in a first hand manner about things you may have know existed but never appreciated until that moment.
I am sorry I haven't called everyone. I don't have a house phone and it costs 0.50 per minute to call from a payphone. I promise I will describe in detail what I have seen on this trip. Thankfully, I have this blog some everyone can know I am alive, well, and preparing to come home tomorrow (already?)
I waited a short 20 minutes for the Reischstag. I had to go throught the usual security and was then wisked up the elevator to the top of the building. The view was a 360° view of Berlin from the roof and along the walk around the dome whihc serves as the top of the legislative part of the building. The dome sort of acts like a cooling tower for the building and also lets the sun shine (figuratively as well as literally) onto the Bundestag below the dome. I took alot of pictures (I vowed to take alot more this trip) and then descended to the bottom floor. I was disappointed that I couldn't see the interior of the legislature. I could make it out through the glass but the view wasn't a good one.
I left and took the bus and then the subway to Checkpoint Charlie. The sign is still there and marks where the sectors changed between east and west Berlin. The remants of the Wall are almost all gone. It is difficult to discern where the wall was at all and if one didn't know better, it never existed. I toured the surprisingly touching museum adjacent to the checkpoint. It showed- through photos, exhibits, audio, video- the history of the wall, escapes, politics, and finally the tearing-down and the reunification of Germany. I rented the audioguide and was quite taken by the force of the museum.
For example, near the end there was a german-language video of the day the gates fo teh wall were open in Nov. '89. I sat down and watched it, not understanding a word but definitely feeling the emotion in the room from the roughly 10 or so Germans there watching. Some were crying and some were blowing their noses.. All sad for joy and remembrance of that day. The younger ones were staring at the video and probaly learning, as I was, the force of that particular day. It was an outstanding overview, picturally, for me to have experienced. This is travel-- learning in a first hand manner about things you may have know existed but never appreciated until that moment.
I am sorry I haven't called everyone. I don't have a house phone and it costs 0.50 per minute to call from a payphone. I promise I will describe in detail what I have seen on this trip. Thankfully, I have this blog some everyone can know I am alive, well, and preparing to come home tomorrow (already?)
posted by Unknown at 3:43 AM
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