Here I am in Berlin towards the end of a rather hectic schedule, hence the lack of blog posts for a few days. I'm going to have to do a quick summary of the last three days: Wednesday morning I packed everything away after six nights in Leipzig - was it really that long? - said my goodbyes, paid a last quick visit to the Grassi Museum, and caught my pre-booked midday InterCity Express to Berlin.
By 2:30pm I was installed in my hotel north of the centre, close to where I stayed on the Grand Tour, and walked the short distance to the Berlin Wall Memorial, near Nordbahnhof station. Not just a section of the well known wall, it also has the inner wall, the very wide 'Death Strip' between the two, and a representation of the electrified barbed wire fence that ran along the middle. Particularly moving is the memorial, with photos, to the many who died trying to escape to the West; I noted among them two children of five and six.
Then to Hackeschen Höfe, 'restored early 20th century courtyards' says my guide book, actually now mainly expensive boutique fashion shops - and their customers - of the type I have trouble coming to terms with. But especially poignant (when I managed to find it) the museum about Otto Weidt, who saved hundreds of Jews from the Nazis by employing them in his workshop for the blind, in this building, making brushes 'for the war effort', as well as hiding them, giving them false papers, bribing officials, and more.
Finally, after ten days, I have an Internet connection via WiFi rather than over the roaming phone network.
Comments