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Published: September 16th 2009
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Saying Goodbye
On the platform at Bremervorde They say that all good things must come to an end, and so it was with my time in Grossenhain. The final weekend was full of folk music and a bit of sadness, as I knew the time I had on the farm was coming to an end. But looking back on the 3 weeks I spent there, I could honestly say that I helped to make a difference. The list of accomplishments was pretty impressive:
* Gathered apples for, juiced and bottled over 120 liters of apple juice
* Made and put up all the hay for the year - over 250 bales
* Completely weeded the greenhouse
* Created fences to move the sheep to new pasture land
* Made 3 dinners, one for Angelika's mom's birthday and 2 for the musicians who were staying on the farm
* Made a cheesecake for the musicians staying on the farm
* Put up over 8 kg of carrots, 5 kg of corn and 20 kg of beans in the freezer (cleaned/blanched/bagged)
I think it was a successful farm engagement, and am really quite glad to have gone. But now it's over, and it's time to look forward. I
Brandenburg Tor
The Brandenburg Gate am currently writing this from the park near the hostel in Berlin. I didn't know quite what to expect from Berlin, having very strong memories of the DDR as well as the fall of the wall in 1989 and unification in 1990. Plus there's the whole business of it being the seat of German power from 1932-1945, a period that should never be forgotten. What would the city be like? Would it portray the image of a broken city on the mend, or of a whole city? Would there be constant reminders of the past, or has it moved on?
Well, I am pleased to report that in my eyes, Berlin has moved on. It is not attempting to forget the past, but has accepted those periods of history and is moving upwards from them. There are two memorials to Jews in Berlin (The Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Jewish Museum), one of which is free and the other definitely worth the 5 Euro entry fee. The Jewish Museum is designed to be somewhat disorienting, complete with dead ends, empty space and very unique art installations. There is a holocaust tower that simply must be
Jewish Museum
The disorienting building for the Jewish Museum experienced, as I can't quite describe it with words. The Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe is striking as well, sitting within spitting distance of the Brandenburg Tor (Brandenburg Gate), Reichstag and the US Embassy.
Regarding the split, there is the EastSide Gallery, a stretch of 1.5 km of the Berlin Wall that houses some of the most famous post-war murals. It's on it's last leg, that's for sure. I visited it this afternoon, and the wall is currently being repainted. Some of the murals are being painted by the original artists for the 3rd time. The first in 1990, the second in 2000 (when that section was revitalized for the milennium), and now in 2009, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall. Word on the street is that this is the last time the wall will be restored, as it will just be allowed to crumble into history over the next few years. If this is the case, I certainly am glad to have seen it now. There is also the famous Checkpoint Charlie museum, which I saw but didn't pay to enter. I thought the free EastSide Gallery was a much better value.
Memorial
The Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe What else have I seen? Well, I caught a little bit of Berlin's nightlife last night with some folks from the hostel, but I'm not really all that interested in going out to drink much. I did go to one of the weekly markets today, and enjoyed a fantasic lunch there. Generally I'm just enjoying the time and trying to take it easy. There are things that I want to see, but now that I've been on the road for a while, I don't feel the need to see every sight. I guess that's what Rolf Potts means by his main piece of advice in "Vagabonding" - SLOW DOWN. We'll see if it holds over the next week and a half, as I'm heading to Prague tomorrow for 4 nights, then Vienna for 3 nights and Salsburg for 2. I will, of course, have to take a Sound of Music tour...
Lessons Learned:
Always buy a ticket for the Metro. I was on the Metro yesterday when an undercover cop showed up to check for tickets. I, being a law-abiding citizen, did have one. However, there was another tourist on the train who didn't, and was charged 40 Euro
Gehry!
The DZ Bank building in Berlin, designed by Frank Gehry on the spot. Always buy a ticket, because you really can't play dumb tourist with the cops on that one.
Be flexible in your travel plans, and if you can't read a metro map then learn how. The directions given by the hostel went straight through a section of the S-Bahn that is closed for repairs. This is the second time that's happened to me (the other in Ghent), so I am just glad I'm able to reroute my directions after a little confusion.
Even though it is sad, you have to remember the past. The Jewish Museum was right up there with the Anne Frank House, but both are really depressing.
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