Anniversary of the fall of the wall

We didn't want to be with large crowds at the time that the ballons marking the former wall, were released.  

Instead we headed off to the Metro station Schlesisches Tor which was the closest to the East Side Gallery (images / art work along the banks of the river).

Our fearless navigator, Emma worked out where we should go - this is an image that we will think of often when we reflect on our days in Berlin

                                  

Our Metro station

During the week, we had seen the preparations for the lights-

before installation

After installation, at day time, we could see the line of the former wall

Seemingly everywhere

Sometimes as far as you could see

And at night

On the night of 9 November, we went on the Metro to Schlesisches Tor and then after about 10 min walk, decided to join people on the banks of the river to await the balloons release.  It was quite cold and there was no information as to what was happening.

We elected to stay behind the "fence" (see photo below) and before this was an angled slope down to the water.  Contrary to appearances, there were no lights on the bank and, as it grew darker, the crowds before the fence took up all the spare space on the banks.  Behind us more people came along and at one stage when I turned around there were at least 10 deep behind us.

The tiny white lights show the line of balloons visible from the bank were we were standing - probably inconveniently behind some weeping trees but we liked the spot.

People came with their children, prams and in front of us their dog.  A lot of Europeans seem to take their dogs with them wherever they go.  We didn't know if there were going to be fireworks or not and wondered how dogs in front of us would react.  People dropping over the fence, could quite easily drop onto a dog or a sleeping child/body as there were no lights.  Very little drinking was taking place and the (99.9% I'd say) German crowd were so quiet and patient.  We (all three of us) did our Mexican wave but in the dark and with only 3 peculiar people, it didn't last very long.

There were 2, yes 2, (must have been) unofficial fireworks.  

No songs, no music but cheers as the balloons in our sight were released, one by one.  Extra long cheers went up when a "stuck" balloon finally made its way into the open sky.  

Then it was over and we headed back to the Metro - and so did many others.  We were one of the first batch to arrive on the platform but it was sooooooo crowded.

                           

                  

Three trains came (packed with people crammed in every square inch).  While few people were able to get on the trains (which rather inconveniently were coming every 10 mins - it's usually every 3-4 in European cities!), we were soon just a few of the people on the platform.  It appeared most had left our station and walked up to the earlier Metro station.

We had no idea how to get there.  Without the crowd, we were getting colder.  We therefore decided on a strategy of attack for the next train.  If we couldn't all 3 get on at the one door, we would each go to 3 different doors and head down, ram into an open space and meet back at the Hotel - the end of the line.  

All set, ready to go.  The train came and about 5 people got out at the door of the train near us.  I kept on saying "Thank you, thank you!".  Once on, I then realised that at each of the next few stops, others would be trying to get on.  We stood our ground, didn't fall over and actually got a seat - two stops before the end of the line (and our stop.)

What a night!  Thank you Berlin. It was a pleasure sharing the experience.

Glad to leave this Metro station behind