BERLIN, GERMANY

We docked in Warnemunde and then took a motor coach drive for three hours on the Autobahn to Berlin. We toured Berlin all day.  I had been to Berlin as a young Army wife in 1964 when the wall was still up. We went through Checkpoint Charlie and visited East Berlin under the watchful eyes of soldiers with guns.  Tom had not been to Berlin before.  

Germany has opened its doors to refergees. They are not allowed to work the first year and the State feeds them. There was no word on what happens then, but they are a problem it was stated.  Now there are 2.3 million people living in West Berlin and 1.3 people live in East Berlin.  

There are five Universities in Berlin and they are free for Germans with good grades to attend. A student just must find and pay for housing.

There is an odd shaped building that was a gift from the USA. Our guide said it looks a pregnant oyster or Jimmy Carter’s smile.

The Brandenburg Gate, the only remaining city gate, was originally built in 1791.  It was damaged some in the war but has been repaired to its former beauty. 

In July 1961 the Wall between East and West Berlin was put up over a weekend. The wires were ordered from the UK without their knowledge what they were going to do with it. The wall was 12 feet high. Between 1961 and 1963 about 150 people were shot trying to scale the wall.  In all about 700 died trying to escape to the West. 

Checkpoint Charlie was still in the same location as it was when I was there with some men dressed in uniforms to reenact how it might have looked.  East Berlin has rebuilt and is thriving just like the West side.