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Alexanderplatz is the largest and most central square in E. Berlin, and is also home to many of Berlin's skin heads. They are an interesting crowd as they sit on the square with their scary looking dogs drinking beer and looking tough. While the immediate reaction may be to think these kids are neo-nazis, one of their jackets read, in German, "Against Nazism." We took this photo from a distance, as Rich did not want to get beat up.
The TV Tower was constructed by the East German government in 1969. Standing at just over 1,200 feet (just a tad bit shorter than the similar tower in big brother USSR), the tower was built to be seen by the people in West Berlin. The East German government wanted to show the West that they too were at the forefront of technology. West Berlin was amused, however, when they learned that the communists had to seek the help of the Swedes to complete the tower.
The beautifully reconstructed Berliner Dom with the TV Tower in the background.
Beautiful views over the Spree River from the Berliner Dom.
"Ostalgia" is a term that has been created to describe the nostalgia that certain citizens of former East (Ost in German) Berlin feel for their lives as they knew them in the former East Germany, as things have changed so drastically with the coming down of the Wall and the move from communism/socialism to capitalism. While they could only watch as so many changes took place in their city, they put their foot down when it came to their beloved Ampel Mannchen, the little green guy that indicates it is safe to cross the street. The East Berlin Ampel Mannchen can be seen on the left, while the European (and West Berlin) walking guy that was replacing their familiar friend is on the right. The citizens of East Berlin have been victorious so far in their fight to save their Ampel Mannchen.
After four action packed days in Berlin, we packed our bags and headed South to Stuttgart to visit our friends, Jens and Sabine. |
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On our last day in Berlin, we ventured out into the
economically depressed areas of Marzahn and Hellersdorf located in the outskirts of former East
Berlin. The Plattenbauten structures, which look like University dorms,
can be seen in great numbers everywhere in these neighborhoods and are the most
prevalent form of housing. These
apartment buildings were very popular in the late 1970's/1980s (when they were constructed)
because they actually had plumbing and heat. However, only fifteen or so
years later, and with the fall of the Wall and the increase in prosperity in the
East, they are now mainly used as low-income housing. The residents
of these neighborhoods now long for the good old days of the Cold War as
evidenced by the fact that they have elected governmental representatives that
were members of the former communist parties of East Germany.
