Day 240, 1 March 2013, Berlin, Germany. Bernauer Strasse section of the Berlin Wall, Reconciliation Chapel, The Death Strip. We had a slow, relaxed start - slept in, packed for tomorrow's flight and eventually emerged, blinking like moles, into bright sunshine. It's been weeks since we've seen anything like it. We think it was sunshine. Otherwise there was a massive glowing orb in a stunning blue sky. Might have been a UFO. The section of the Wall at Bernauer Strasse is a major memorial site and includes a large section of "inner wall" on the East Berlin side. Something we've only learned in the last few days is that the wall was more than just one wall - there was an inner wall, watchtowers, dogs, automatic firing guns, and spikes set into the ground - "Stalin's Lawn" as it was known. All this collectively was in the Death Strip covering 20-30 metres behind the Berlin Wall itself. The memorials and photos in the area were displayed within this strip of land. Much of what was there to see didn't make for great photographs - it is the sense of what came before that made it so chilling. Walking past streets that were blocked off. Walking in the foundation of houses demolished to make way for the Wall. We eventually headed down into the S-Bahn station Nordbahnhof. This was one of the ghost stations. We'd never really understood the concept - but trains coming from West Berlin and going to the other side of West Berlin would pass under East Berlin for part of the trip. As part of a subterranean "Wall" these stations were closed, patrolled and their above ground entrances de-signposted and allowed to grow over with weeds and trash - so that East Berliners would forget they were even there. Visiting this part of the wall took hours, but given the glow in the sky and the warmth of the sun, it was worth staying and seeing as much as possible. Off to Vancouver tomorrow - in fact it will be one day, three countries and 4 airports by the time we arrive (Berlin Tegel to London Heathrow - to Vancouver - to Kelowna). Best be off to bed then - sweet dreams.
PS - pictured is a preserved part of the wall (front) then the death strip and guard tower behind then the "inner wall".