Berlin

We've had spotty wifi since leaving London, so I've had this little slide show of Berlin done for some time, but wasn't able to get it uploaded until today. Berlin was very interesting. We had some great food. The people were a little on the "hard" side, as a rule. We saw lots and lots of piercings, tattoos, grunge and immodest dress. Our hosts were a Polish lady and her Italian husband, and they were charming and we felt like we were leaving friends when we left, but otherwise, my impression of the German people..my people, by the way..was that they are not as friendly as other places we've been. My ancestors came from an area of old Prussia that is south and a little east of Berlin near the border of what is now The Czech Republic. An area that is quite beautiful.

There are reminders all over Berlin of WWII, which must get to be like a huge weight after awhile. There is "Checkpoint Charlie", with it's crowds of tourists, there are little bronze markers in the sidewalks in front of every building that housed someone who was killed in a concentration camp..and there are thousands of those around the city. Where the "Wall" stood is marked by bricks in the pavement. There is an old church with it's steeple half blown off that is left as a memorial. The facade of the train station where the Jews and others were finally transported to their doom is left standing. Many of the buildings where Hitler stood to make his famous speeches are still standing, despite all the bombing that took place. There are memorials all over the place..an entire city block in the middle of town is dedicated to the Jewish holocaust. I imagine Berliners are sick of being reminded of what "they" let happen, keeping in mind that almost none of the people who perpetrated or allowed what happened are even still alive.

There are many very beautiful buildings in Berlin. I visited the Ault and the Neua Museums (old and new), but they both have really old stuff in them..not much framed art..and I ran out of time to see the other museums there. My guide who was a Mexican lady from Durango, Mexico, but spoke English like she was from Philly, told me that the birth rate in Berlin is at an all time low, so the government is encouraging young people to come to school there, hoping many will stay and get work. I also learned that Berlin has the largest Turkish population outside of Istanbul of any city in the world..they imported Turkish labor after WWII to rebuild the city, and many of them stayed and are now 2nd generation..so lots of Kabob shops in Berlin

The dish that Berlin is famous for now is..wait for it...its not wiener schnitzel...it's the curry worst, which is a knock worst with ketchup and curry on it on a bun..kind of a variation on the American hot dog. They are yummy.

So here is my photo tribute to Berlin. I hope you enjoy it.