Invitation To Germany, Vignettes-8

Chapter 28 Berlin, After the Wall

It was exciting to watch people just “window-shopping” and “walk-shopping” through the store, getting their first glimpse of how the “other half” lived all these years.

Considering the couple of hundred cathedrals and large churches we have toured, when completed, Berlin’s Dom will rank with the most beautiful.

We have seen Berlin both with and without the Wall. Believe it, we prefer without! … we helped remove the Wall. … two 10” pieces from what remained of the Berlin Wall joined our collection, along with the hammer that did it.

Chapter 29 South of Berlin

Spandau … western suburb of Berlin is best known as the location of Spandau Prison, the penitentiary home of many top Nazis who had been sentenced at the Nürnberg Trials,

… in July 1945, the Potsdam Conference was held in the Cecilienhof, in the New Gardens, in Potsdam. This 176-room Marble Palace and the New Garden, was built in 1787 between the Heiliger See and the Jungfern See.

Potsdam … The beautiful French Garden at Sans Souci is a terraced vineyard, the centerpiece of the entire grounds. (Sans Souci means “without care” in French.)

… Checkpoint Baker, there were no guards to order Emmy to take off her glasses. To make sure she did not feel neglected, doing his best guard imitation, Jim barked, “Ohne Brille!”

Chapter 30 Southern Part of Former East Germany

Weimar … In the 1930s and early ‘40s a few men, at the head of state, turned Germany into the most hated nation in the world. … frightening to see how few men it takes. A handful of men (and millions of honorable citizens) converted Germany into a decent society during the decades since.

Buchenwald memorial … high on a hill overlooking the town of Weimar, and miles of farm land. It is hard to believe the horror that occurred … such beautiful, tranquil scenery.

In Wittenberg, … in the farmers’ market, … over a hundred chickens turning on the huge, portable barbecue.

Chemnitz … It took only a short time to change this city name, Karl Marx Stadt, back to what it had been, Chemnitz. We wondered when ‘ol Karl’s statue will disappear, or at least when it will be moved to a less prominent location.