Geisa, Point Alpha

We have reached the most remote point of our trip. We're nestled in the mountain at Point Alpha. Our hotel is a former palace now a Gausthaus. We are only the second group to visit the Palace. We were presented with a beer stein from the local brewery by the mayor of Geisa. We then had a traditional bratwurst dinner with the local beer.

Point Alpha

Point Alpha in Thuringia side. On border sign 22 December 1989 the border opened. Zones had nothing growing now it's farmland. 3 zone system, mines laid, fences along the 1,000 mile border.
Life was hell because if the division. Families torn apart and if they couldn't keep their mouths shut they were removed and sent elsewhere. At the peace sign is the American Museum where you can view the border.
Religion in Geisa maintained bishops status during the division. Bonneface history dating back to monastery in 817. The town also has its own brewery.
In all of Germany 11,000 people were forced to leave their homes. The farms were divided in half along the border and people abandoned the farms because the barn was on one side and land on the other.
The hammer and sickle symbolized the ideology of the Russians it resembles the Masonic symbol .
ideas for escape: they used foot loops attached to the fence. They launched small gliders and planes over the fence. They would also position cars alongside the fence and jump over.
40's the border fence was rudimentary wood barrier
50's barbed wire with wood and smaller. No one was still getting shot and they were free to go through
60's same height but concrete post and wire with double rows and towers. People understood there was an order to shoot if u crossed. Although its not written. Families divided. Living in East became more difficult.
70's fence much higher and concrete barrier with towers. Mine fields removed and the electric guns mounted in fence . There was a signal electric in fence activated when touched.
80's tower was constructed. Birkenkreuz a man tried to escape and put in prison. He unsuccessful but hurt badly. He tried to escape Christmas eve in the 80's.
The sandman appeared in GDR tv it was a way to moderate tv and ensure propaganda distribution. Teachers would ask children if sandman had a beard when they watched tv. If kids said know. Teacher would report parents to gov. Officials. Propaganda was there and people adapted to it. They knew it wasn't truth but some believed it. Their environment influenced them to stay quiet and put up with it. She didn't even realize that there were American soldiers in other side of fence. Everyone was suspicious and not courageous to challenge the authority . They were taught to believe Americans were Imperialistic empire especially during Vietnam war. They were critical of Americans.

Sachsenhausen, San Souci and Wittenberg

Sachsenhausen

We spent the morning at Sachsenhausen POW camp. Our wonderful guide was very sincere and I couldn't help making fun of the fact that she mispronounced v and w. it's a common language translation issue. The camp was a revised version of the original and was a fitting memorial
to murdered Jews, POWs and German undesirables. Later they interned Russians and Nazis as punishment for their crimes. The interesting twist in how they managed to kill so many had a lot to do with a medical exam that included a shot to the back of the neck and Merit pay to the Nazi who could kill the most in one day.

San Souci
To contrast that experience completely I travelled up to Potsdam (where the treaty was signed) to visit the summer home of Fredrick the Great. San Souci gardens are modeled on Versailles. The home is as flamboyant as Fredrick and in decadent Rocco style. We visited the home and the room in whic he entertained Voltaire. The church is an architects dream with Greek, Italian and French influences. We has a great Turkish meal in the quarter and topped off the night in Berlin at some punk rock 'Russiandisko' at White Trash.

Wittenberg
We left early for Wittenberg and a tour of Martin Luther's home 'quite the contrast'. We toured an alternative 'gymnasium' school that was very artistic. The kids spoke great English! Then we visited downtown Wittenberg for the castle, museum and Everything Martin Luther. It was a small town centered around its famous professor and Protestant Reformer!
Then we took a bus ride to the gorgeous Medieval town of Quedlinburg. We are staying 4 days at the base of the castle in a Medieval styled 4star hotel. Tomorrow we have lunch with the Mayor so I'll have to behave myself!

Ampelmann in Berlin

Berlin and Ampelmann  Another great day in Berlin, but a long one!  Today we started in Kretzeberg in the Jewish section.  We toured the area which and visited a Jewish Market.  Then we were graciously invited into the home of the Head of the EU visitors office.  Ulli and her husband Martin were delightful!  We enjoyed BuchenSwartz gateau and a roof top view of the city German memorial to the Jewish People, and looped around to the Brandenburg Gate.  Naturally the French Quarter where the gate stands today is not the original location of the gate.  It's always a thrill to stop at the gate and imagine what it was like to pass through it. Then hopped the bus to the Ampelmann restaurant.  Ampelmann is the crossing light that only exsists in East Berlin.  Gradually as he becomes a tourist symbol most crossings in the West are starting to be replaced with Ampelmann.  There are restaurants and gift shops all over the city.  Naturally I had to ride Ampelmann!  Then we enjoyed a beautiful classical concert in the Berlin Cathedral.  The encore...some poor elderly man had a stroke in the pew in front of us.  The emergency services were spectacular and acted so promptly.  There was no fuss and they attended to him and got him to the hospital safely.  Talk about a momentous ending to the performance!

 

Berlin Wall

 Berlin Wall - East Berlin

After a long flight with a connection in Frankfurt we finally reached Berlin.  We had a brief stop in the hotel and a quick swing around AlexanderPlatz.  Then we had a lovely coach tour of all the Berlin highlights.  I finally had the opportunity to pose at the Wall.  This is the longest remaining section of the Wall along the river in East Berlin.  It's opposite the new O2 Arena.  It was amazing to view the freshly painted murals mostly repainted depicting original work from the 80's.  Our tour guides Monica and Martin have been wonderful and very informative.  Also Goethe has been amazing along with our representative  Sarah.  We finished off the night with a tour of the Jewish Quarter and a great Thai meal with a tall glass of Dunkel.  Berlin is such an amazing city full of multiculturalism and eco-friendly design and architecture.  It's easy and very friendly to navigate.  Checkpoint Charlie is a bit of a tourist

 trap and quite honestly other than the new museum and the obvious signs showing the border crossing there isn't much there other than the odd street vendor with military caps, USSR knock-offs and Matreuska dolls.  I'm so glad that we will be here a few days.  Tomorrow is the official d visit and lunch with Budestag officials.

 

 

 

 

Reichstag and Bundestag

Today we spent the day with German Sociologist and his interpretation of Modern Germany. It was wonderful to hear his views on multicultural Berlin and how diverse the communities are in neighbourhoods throughout Germany. He referred to the suburbs as 'Islands of Equality'. Next we had lunch with a diplomat from Foreign office. He discussed topics from Holocaust to immigration in Germany today. After that lovely lunch we had a tour of Budenstag and inside Gov. Chambers looking at some reminders of Nazi and Russian writing on the walls.  Beth and I decided to try on the Green party and see what membership would be like!  See the Ampelmann blog for the picture.  We also had a TOP group picture taken in the Reichstag chamber.  I think I could be Merkel's assistant and help her take on the EU...not!  The inside of the Budestag is transparent, but we joked that it looks like giant laser beam!

TOP Transatlantic Outreach Tour

 

 

 

 

Orientation in Washington DC
So far I feel incredibly privileged to be on this tour. The educators are Fulbright scholars and incredibly well travelled. Orientation was a get to know session with a slight immersion in German. Some of my HS German is floating back to consciousness! We toured the capital city at night taking in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Korean War Memorial and WWII Memorial. Even Congress appears quite lovely at night! It was delightful at a balmy 90. We will attend more orientation sessions at the Institut tomorrow then depart for Frankfurt. The hotel and Goethe are very centrally located.

 

Point Alpha

July 2012 - TOP tour participants at Point Alpha Stiftung Guesthouse in Geisa.  Point Alpha is the former US Army observation post, a hot spot in the Cold War.  Until 1989, an invasion of Warsaw Pact troops was a distinct and constant possibility at this very point.  Today it stands as a testament to the historic achievement of the Americans in defending freedom on the former border and contributing to the reunification of Germany.  The modern day memorial has preserved and reconstructed border installations of the GDR era.  It also contains a museum dedicated to the suffering of East German people in the restricted zone under the GDR border regime.  The Point Alpha Foundation was established in 2008.  Rebecca van Wickeren, Goethe-Institut

Websites:

Fulda Gap: http://www.1-33rdar.org/fulagap2.htm

Point Alpha: http://www.pointalpha.com/home

Quedlinburg

Berlin Cathedral

Memorial for murdered
Jews of Europe

Brandenberg Gate 1960's

Reichstag - Bundestag buliding

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