Berlin

Berlin Street Food

Tiara

Continuing our legacy of eating all the things, we checked out Street Food Thursday while in Berlin.  Every Thursday Markethalle Neun in Kreuzberg has many stalls of vendors selling snacks from all over the world.  It’s pretty much exactly like Off the Grid, for you Bay Area friends.  Nothing we had was a standout but it was a really fun scene and there was a ton to choose from.  Definitely recommended!

These knödel (dumplings) were stuffed with spinach and cheese. They were ok, but really rich.

These knödel (dumplings) were stuffed with spinach and cheese. They were ok, but really rich.

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East Side Gallery

Tiara

The East Side Gallery is a nearly mile-long section of the Berlin Wall that was painted by muralists in 1990 and is intended as a memorial for freedom.  The murals have been covered with graffiti and though some restoration work has been done it seems like a losing battle.  It is truly sad to see how the art has been disrespected.  Still, walking along this stretch of wall is quite interesting and moving.  Here are some favorite pieces:

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Remembering History in Berlin

Tiara

Berlin was great for many reasons – art, food, cooler weather (wearing pants again!), seeing an old friend – but one thing that really stood out to me was the variety of ways the city remembers its past.  By comparison, the US is pretty lousy at this, especially when it comes to taking responsibility for our actions.  There are more museums and monuments in Berlin than a person could possibly visit in one trip, but here are some that stuck with me:

The Topography of Terror recounts the establishment of the SS and Gestapo in extreme detail.  There are so many stories you can tell about World War II and the Holocaust.  I thought this was a really interesting point of view.

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