Category Archives: Germany

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Berlin Wall Part V

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Wingclipped

Just beyond the replica of the Berlin Wall on Bernauer Strasse is a memorial to its victims.  The Berlin Wall was put up on 13 August 1961 and fell on 9 November 1989.  During that time at least 136 people are known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Berlin Wall Part IV

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Wingclipped

Although the East German authorities stopped people escaping through the Bernauer Strasse apartment blocks by demolishing them, this did not stop the constant stream of escape attempts generally.  Over the course of its 28-year operational life the Berlin Wall was therefore … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Berlin Wall Part III

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Wingclipped

Having forcibly evicted over 2,000 residents of Bernauer Strasse, the East German authorities set about sealing shut this popular escape route.  The front doors of the houses, which opened directly onto West Berlin, had already been nailed closed.  The ground floor … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Berlin Wall Part II

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Wingclipped

The sealing of the border between East and West Berlin, just after midnight on 13 August 1961, was swift and immediate, although in some ways not as swift and immediate as the authorities would have liked.  The residents of Bernauer Strasse were able to open the front doors … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Berlin Wall Part I

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Wingclipped

In January 2008 I was  sat in a plane at Heathrow airport.  It had backed away from its stand by about 30 feet and was about to taxi out to the runway to take me to Inverness.   The aircraft suddenly stopped and … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Coastal Path in Berlin – Fernsehturm

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Wingclipped

When you stay in Berlin the skyline tends to be dominated by one structure in particular.  This is the TV Tower, the Fernsehturm. If you happen to stay in a hotel close to this tower, then you are never lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Coastal Path in Berlin – The Holocaust Memorial

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Wingclipped

Just to the south of the Brandenburg Gate is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, otherwise known as the Holocaust Memorial.  Officially dedicated on 10 May 2005, the memorial had been 17 years in the planning.  It occupies … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Coastal Path in Berlin – The Brandenburg Gate

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Wingclipped

Each year, just before the Christmas onslaught, we tend to go away.  It is time for just the four of us.  Last year we chose Cologne and thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas Markets there.  Staying with that theme, this year we chose Berlin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Coastal Path in Cologne – The Rhine Part 4

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Wingclipped

The home leg of our walk along the Rhine took us to Hohenzollernbrücke, which is said to be the most heavily used bridge in all of Germany.  It was once a rail and traffic bridge, but was destroyed in the Second … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Coastal Path in Cologne – The Rhine Part 3

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Wingclipped

The Zoobrücke, literally “Zoo Bridge” is so called because it lies just to the south of Cologne’s zoo.  We weren’t going to the zoo today.  Instead we went to Skulpturenpark which was right next to the bridge.  It had a cafe, and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Germany | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment