Berlin has so many lovely places -so many that we didn't see and others that we did including ones that we stumbled upon
Brandenburg Gate
The "make believe" - because people want to see Checkpoint Charlie (and actors pretending they are "manning" it)
The recognition of what the wall did to/for some people
ie how an official from East Berlin escaped over the wall with his family from his office building near the wall
The words broadcast to the world, more or less by mistake, that lead to the wall coming down.
Berlin seems to not hide or cover up its past but rather lay everything open. For example, all school children around the age of 13 have to visit a concentration camp. (I really could not do this. I would be physically sick).
Berlin has tried to preserve what it has. For example, near to us was a Church - a ruin from the War that has not been reduced to rubble but rather has been kept as a reminder and I think this is a beautiful thing. (No, it's not a Catholic church).
Inside you see some of its beauty that was not destroyed during bombing raids on Berlin
There are constant reminders of War and what happened.
For example, a new area recently opened
Inside there is a detailed account of what happened in the past in Germany
There is the moment to all murdered Jews in Europe. It is not just a series of blocks. It is difficult to explain but the ground slopes down and people can enter the area and disappear into the narrow spaces and be totally isolated.
There are so many more places and things but one place that we really liked /discovered during our wanderings was the beautiful Gardens
A couple of special things I'd like to mention:
Cash
Unlike every other place we have been to, in Germany, it is rare for small places and even some larger places to accept a credit (or as we use) a debit card. It is cash or nothing.
Chance encounter
The world is made up of some beautiful people and I am lucky to have some of these as my family (now) and my family (siblings) as well as dear friends. One night in Berlin after a long day, we were on the busy yellow Metro train home and I happened to get a seat along the side, next to two elderly gentlemen. The one who I was sitting next to started saying something like "Why don't people talk German?". As I don't (obviously) I explained that I would,if I could, but I was really hopeless at any language other than English.
Over the next 10 mins or so, all three of us then had the most lovely chat with him. He remembered an Australian who spoke about "pie die" (pay day) and I told him about J thinking (when he first came to Australia) that he had to wait around because someone had said "See you later". He and his companion - both 90 - had just been to the Theatre to listen to young people training for the Opera. He was originally from Holland but moved to Berlin and had worked as an interpreter to the US Army until the wall came down 25 years ago when they gave him a pension. He and his friend hoped to be still around in 25 years time. (I really marvel at elderly people who go here and there on public transport seemingly so easily).
Our new friend was such a lovely man (his friend was quiet and wore a hearing aid) and it was with reluctance that we got off the train at our stop.
This chance encounter was one of the most lovely experiences anyone could wish for. We really wished that we could "See you later".
Berlin - fantastic place and we do hope to see you again one day!
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