Day Two Continued

The Brandenburg Gate was commissioned by King Frederick William II as a symbol of peace. Built in 1791, it was later used by the Nazis as a party symbol. Later, it was a symbol of the Cold War, as the Berlin Wall was built just west of the gate. Above, you can see us clowning around now as it is a symbol of reunification. Franziska, our guide, was born in a small city in East Germany and was 9 when the wall came down. So she had interesting stories to tell as we went to Checkpoint Charlie Museum. For example, books were a precious commodity and one usually had to know a shopkeeper to get a newly published book. And, people often ordered cars when they had a kid, because it usually took 12 years to obtain one! But, as she pointed out, since she didn't know any thing else, she never knew she was deprived!