Berlin day 1

Cobblestones mark out the wall.

It's true: can't keep my eyes off of you.

Sunday - went for a walk along the canal to reach the Berlin wall. It's about 160km long, so everywhere, and you can walk or cycle it all. Now it is just 2 rows of cobblestones marking where it was. There are a couple of sections preserved, but not much. Sadly, it mostly got smashed down. I say sadly since it's one thing that's really unique about Berlin, having been divided after the war. Don't mention it!

Chewing them up.

We stopped at one of the high square watchtowers, got 2 kebabs, really delicious, and a historic bridge. Two large steel men wrestle on the line where the wall was in the middle of the river.

The man from the East versus the West on the old border.

Gorby was driving the change.

Further on there's the Eastside gallery - a couple of hundred metres of wall with frescos painted on, eg Gorbachev driving a hammer and sickle for a wheel, and Brechnev kissing the communist German puppet president on the lips. I thought this was some statement, but it seems they all do it.

The leaders greeting, showing higher brotherly love.

Later we saw a photo of Gorbachev kissing the same old man. Bleuck! I hope Louis didn't notice, but he is inspired to give me one too. I'm too old and queasy for this.

West Bank Israel 2009 - photo on the Berlin wall.

One side is a photo display of other walls around the world - Belfast, Israel, USA/Mexico and Spain/Morocco.