Brrrrrlin

Berlin is cold. The temperature is cold, the landscape is flat and full of windmill farms, and the buildings are grey and dreary- everything appropriately matches the weather.

We spent a weekend wandering around the city and taking in the highlights- the wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, and of course the new American embassy (first time I've been to an embassy, unfortunately it was closed).

Below is a picture of the remaining sections of the wall, and Cameron and I on opposing sides.

Classic "good" versus "evil"- I am on the Western side of the wall :)

My favorite part of the trip was Checkpoint Charlie and its museum. It was interesting to read about the wall during different decades, and to see all the creative ways people would escape to the western side. People would, for example, hide in cars, impersonate American officers with homemade uniforms, swim with a hand held submarine, and even hid between two hollowed out surfboards. 

This is the Brandenburg Gate, built in 1788 and used as a gate into Berlin since then. The gate was a symbol of the Nazi regime, and subsequently part of the Berlin Wall. Now, several embassies (the new American one is just to the right of this photo) and a Dunkin' Donuts (haven't seen one of those since Sept!) are located within the Gate's square. I wonder if the American ambassador requested that a Dunkin' Donuts be built there... he's got a tough job... do I go to Starbucks or Dunks today??