As you already know I visited Berlin when it was still split, but after the wall had come down. I think I visited in April 1990. I was still working as an Administrative Officer in the MOD, and one of my ex-colleagues, who is now a very good friend, was stationed in West Berlin. Although it was a week’s holiday for me, my first visit to East Berlin was an “official” visit. I had to have clearance from the MOD and the correct paperwork to show at the border crossing etc. I’m sure this meant we were followed for the rest of the day!

My first impressions of the East were how drab everything seemed to be. A marked contrast to the bright lights of commercialism in the West. I think we could only visit for two hours, so we headed for the Soviet War Memorial. I was struck by all the symbolism, especially the huge (well huge seems to belittle it) statue of the Russian Soldier holding a little boy, while stamping on a Swastika.

Later on in the week, I went “undercover”, well as a normal tourist! I remember walking along Unter Den Linden and still seeing the scars of World War 2. Many buildings still had bullet holes. This was the day I went to the top of the TV tower and had Borsch, and my first, and I think only taste of GDR Coca-Cola – Yuck!!! Going across the border as a tourist gave me more freedom, and having changed some US Dollars to Ost Marks outside the Zoo Station in the West, I actually felt quite wealthy, however, that feeling soon passed, when I discovered there was nothing to buy.

The best part of the trip was being able to walk in “no-mans land” on part of the route the wall took. Plenty of people were hiring out chisels etc so you could get your own piece of the wall. Off course I paid to have a go at knocking the wall down, and still have a couple of pieces of wall at home. However, there were still some East German guards around, and I did get told off for climbing on a bit of the collapsed wall

The whole trip was an amazing experience, and I would really love to go back to see the changes.

Thanks for sparking some happy memories, although, I will now probably spend most of tonight looking for the photos I took back then.

“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

J.F.Kennedy.

We forget his words at our peril.

Andre’

Somewhat related, have you listened to this : http://www.stephenfry.com/2008/12/22/series-2-episode-3-language/ ?

Note to self: next time, bring both your camera and a container for blackberries or other treasures!

Yes, I am aware of how much of a non-option cycling (and indeed walking) is for a lot of folks elsewhere, and believe me, I appreciate it all the more knowing how different it could be.

I’m totally jealous of the ride-ability of where you live. I would love to ride my bike to work, but it would mean a significant risk to life and limb to do so. To ride a bike here and do it safely, you need to go to park that has a bike path.
Truth be told, I don’t own a bike anymore. Mostly because I have nowhere to store it and because I’d have to drive a fair ways before I could get the bicycle out of (or off of) my car.
Walking is dangerous too, but a bit more doable.

As you say, everything will be fine. It will be!

When you are with “the one”, so little in life is unsurmountable.