"ICH BIN NICHT EIN BERLINER"-GERMANY-BERLIN-1121 THRU 1124

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I am definitely not a Berliner...The East and the West the difference is definitely narrowing...The separation between the two was less than fifty years...So in historical context it was not that deep routed...The wall a very literal element of divide definitely had its effect culturally on the city, but it was not as grave as I thought...It has been twenty years yes , but coming from the middle east twenty years , hell fifteen hundred years is like yesterday....I had to continuously place myself in an Western mind set of pick up the sticks and move on...So beside our occasional encounter with a brick paved line, marking the location of the wall, some pieces of the wall still intact, and Check-Point Charlie as a marker, I as a tourist did not see and feel a big difference...
I found Berlin a harder city to navigate, compare to other European cities ...The city blocks are much larger...It is easier to navigate thru the city with a car, bus, or train, rather than walking, and It is much better to visit with a Berliner...I felt after four days, I barely touched on it...The hotel was in the west side, but we spent most of our days in the East...I found the smaller blocks and the narrower streets more charming...The vibe of the city is youthful and active...If you visit Berlin, do not forget the Turkish Doner Kabab...

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Photos

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STR. DES 17 JUNI

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BOMBARDIER TRAIN STATION

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BRANDENBURG GATE

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL-PETER EISENMAN

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL-PETER EISENMAN

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CHECK POINT CHARLIE-GOING EAST

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CHECK POINT CHARLIE-GOING EAST

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THE WALL AND THE PAVED BRICK MARKER

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PAVED BRICK MARKER OF THE BERLIN WALL

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CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE