Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Springfield

Adios Italy, hola Germany.

It’s a bit disorienting to be in a completely different culture after having spent the previous eight days becoming accustomed to Italy. Adding to it is the contrast between Italy’s winding streets and intimate vistas and Germany’s enormous, imposing structures.

I repeatedly had to stop myself from saying “scusi” and “grazie.”

Made it to Berlin on Friday and managed to hit a few sites right off the bat. With my old buddy Kathryn serving as tour guide, we strolled the Unter den Linden leading up to the massive, majestic Brandenburg Gate.

FUN FACT: The gate is where Ronnie said, “Be my little baby… oh my darling. Whoa, oh-oh-oh-ohhh.”

Hold on… wrong Ronnie.

“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

There are also different types of bricks signifying where the wall used to be (some parts of it still stand … more later).

Then to the nearby (and relatively new) Holocaust Memorial (AKA Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). In and of itself, it was solemn, imposing and effective – and, architecturally, not what I expected. But adding to the experience was a concert of sorts being played from within the massive, almost maze-like memorial. It was brass and percussion, producing dark and moving music to commemorate the opening of the memorial. It was powerful.

And logistically impressive. There isn’t a lot of room among the concrete slabs for a small orchestra, so each instrument was set up apart from the others, with the musicians watching the conductor via camera/video.

The memorial itself – which for me felt like countless, nameless tombstones -- was powerful. The music deepened the experience.

Then a German TV station interviewed us for our reaction to the concert. No idea if it aired, but I’ll pay a quarter…

We also visited Bebelplatz, the site of Berlin’s book burning, which happened 75 years ago today. That monument also is impressive – a glass floor through which one can see a while room with empty bookshelves.

On the way to Potsdamer Platz, we passed a motorcade. Clearly the government was ready for my arrival. Once there, I got to see/touch remains of the wall. Kathryn tells me of friends from both sides who talk about the effects the wall coming down has had. In addition to the obviously positive, many West Berliners gobbled up property in East Berlin, affecting the housing markets, while the government has put so much time and resources into developing the east that some parts of West Berlin now pale in comparison.
The segments of the wall are completely covered in graffiti (and, in some places, gum), making even more vivid the scenes of it coming down … which, really, didn’t happen all that long ago.

But all of this completely paled in comparison to what was to come. After eating at an Italian restaurant (I know, I know), on the way out they provide you with…

Free. Gummy. Bears.

I am in the home of Gummy Bears?! My god – it’s like a coffee addict venturing to Colombia (I passed on the harder drug references here. You are welcome).

My host doesn’t know of any Gummy Bear attraction or theme park (though apparently Germans love the circus … no, really), but I shall search. And yes, damnit, Gummy Bears are capitalized!

FUN FACT: Gummy Bears are awesome.

And then the ticket machine at the train station ate my credit card.

Jonathan, son of Susan ...