25 Years after the Fall of the Wall
This weekend was very exciting for us because it was the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the WAll (hashtag: #FOTW25) and Berlin, with the rest of the world, was celebrating in a big way with so many meaningful activities. We feel very lucky to be in Berlin and be able to celebrate such a important part of world history in the very city where it happened.
Lichtgrenze or Border of Light
Situated right in the heart of the city this unique and arresting light installation will trace a circa 15 km long segment of the former course of the wall that once separated Berlin in two. The light installation is based on an idea by Christopher Bauder and Marc Bauder.
Berliners and visitors are invited to take a stroll along the LICHTGRENZE. The LICHTGRENZE is highly evocative of the magnitude of the Berlin Wall, the historical significance of its fall and the joy that came with the happy ending of the division.
The ‘frontier of lights’ will create unique images on streets, squares and bridges, along paths and housing walls, that—formerly separated—now set the tone after 25 years: a tone that is creative, exciting, future oriented and international.
Someone recommended we check out the installation from a high place and we came upon Solar, a hidden bar on the rooftop of a building in Kreuzberg. It’s a very hip bar and because we were there at 20.00 – early by Berlin’s standards – we got the swing. Seriously our seating was an oversized swing. (Nor recommend for those who get motion sick, like me!)
Each balloon has a patron The evening of November 9 was the spectacular and highly symbolic highlight of the anniversary, a communal action. Each balloon has a patron, with their personal messages attached to the balloon. At 7pm yesterday they released the balloons one by one and you could see the pieces of paper dangling from their strings. It was a solemn and emotional thing to watch with the Staatskapelle Berlin playing “Ode an die Freude” (Ode to Joy) with Daniel Barenboim conducting by the Brandenburg Gate
For those of you who aren’t in Berlin, you can post your message for Berlin with the hashtag #FOTW25 and your message will be posted in this virtual wall.
I thought this video was really cool. You can see the preparation and thought that went into the Border of Light and how it traced Berlin,
Berlin Wall Memorial
We decided to go to the Berlin Wall Memorial in Bernauer Strasse because we didn’t want to go through the immense crowd at Brandenburger Tor and Potsdamer Plats. I am so happy that we went here because we were able to really appreciate the different points of interest and learn about the memorial. It wasn’t too crowded on the afternoon of November 9.
Touching scenes of the past. The iron columns on the right side is part of the permanent open-air exhibit on the former border strip.
Behind the cross you can see part of the traces of the Berlin Wall that have been preserved. This area used to be the Sophien parish cemetery and though bodies were exhumed, there is a high possibility that not all remains were transferred.
This video shows you the astounding difference in Berlin 25 years after the wall has fallen. I hope you watch it. I was really impressed by how Berlin has progressed in such a short span of time. I can only attribute it to German discipline and their tireless need to improve. It is so inspiring, don’t you think?
Learn more about the the Fall of the Wall 25 Years After, Berlin Wall Memorial and get an authentic piece of the wall. (I honestly don’t believe that the stuff that souvenir shops are selling, are genuinely part of the wall, but a certificate from the official Visit Berlin website is more believable for me and they sell it at a fraction of the price of souvenir shops, who sell it for 10 Euros!)
image credits: Berlin.de | Restaurants Berlin
