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Celebrating Berlin’s Mauerfall in the Most Special Way Possible

Earlier this month Berlin celebrated 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The whole city seemed to come alive and in the days leading up to the exact anniversary, November 9th, there was more and more buzz about the Silver Jubilee. Even a city as tough and stoic as Berlin seemed to shed its skin in the lead-up to the event.

25-mauerfall-berlin

Then there was the art project—typical of Berlin today. Over 8,000 balloons were set up along 15km of the former Berlin Wall path. They popped up in the middle of the street, crossing sidewalks, and through the city’s countless parks on November 7th. When the balloons weren’t yet filled with helium, they looked a little wimpy, but on that first night, with the balloons lit and the sky dark, there was a bit of excitement in the air. I took my bike out and rode along parts of the path, passing through Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. In Berlin I regularly walk past these landmarks and every time I cross the path of the former Wall, I’m reminded of what this city once was and what it is today. There’s something surreal about walking in a place which once was forbidden. And then when you think back that it was only 25 years ago, it makes you wonder: what is this world?

* * *

In my humble opinion, a world where walls are built isn’t a good one. But a world where walls can come down — that’s where I want to be. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, I’d argue this city has come to embody a sense of hope. That’s what the fall of the Wall symbolized back in November 1989. And I think that same feeling is in the air still today in Berlin. This is an exciting, fascinating, important city. One that, despite its many flaws, still has a strange hold over the world. There’s a reason why Germany was recently named one of the world’s favorite countries. And that’s because exciting things are happening here.

Being in Berlin for the 25th anniversary of the Mauerfall did actually feel special. From my weekend of tracing the Berlin Wall earlier this summer, to the many conversations I had with my Berliner friends as November approached, it’s just felt like an extra special year to be in Berlin. I was lucky enough to be invited by airberlin to participate as one of the balloon sponsors for the special “25 Jahre Mauerfall” event.

berlin-wall

And while my balloon was actually a failure (it floated down not up, hit some woman in the face and then was snatched almost immediately by a bystander who ran away with it), I was still glad to be a part of the anniversary event. This year has been an important one for me, as much for Berlin. With my renewed residency visa, a new apartment and much more security and stability in my day-to-day Berlin life, this city finally feels like the home I’ve always wanted. I’ve read a lot of other expat blogs over the past three years, and it does seem to me that the 3-year mark for living abroad is a tumultuous one. But Berlin has pulled through and I’ve never felt more at home in the city that I love.

berlin lichtgrenze

Watch my balloon float down, not up – oops!

lichtgrenze-berlin-oberbaumbruecke

checkpoint-charlie-berlin

  1. Kozue says:

    Love this post! A large city is a free place. Or must be. Berlin of today will be a comfortable city for me. I hope to visit there some day…

    • Adam says:

      Hey Kozue – Berlin does indeed feel like a very free city. Hope you’ll come visit! It’s an exciting time to be in Berlin :)

  2. John says:

    You are so lucky to be living in such an exciting city and I’m glad it’s starting to feel like home. I always feel under such pressure to feel “settled” as an expat, but there’s never any real rush.

    I’m sorry your balloon was a failure, but the story sounds hilarious!

  3. Rob says:

    Great post, Adam…sorry to hear about your malfunctioning balloon, though. I was so pleased to be in Berlin that weekend and I agree that, since the fall of the Wall, Berlin has embodied an optimism and creativity that is quite unique. The buzz on the street was interesting – one of remembrance and commemoration, but of hope and celebration too (9th Novermber is such a complex date in German history). It was fabulous to see old, young, family groups and an incredible mix of nationalities too – I overheard so many conversations about the beauty of the installation, but also the significance of the event, including some moving conversations between parents and their children who, of course, are far too young to have remembered a divided city. What a city. What a weekend!

  4. Dorothée says:

    Hi Adam

    What a lovely thing to say: “… a world where walls are built isn’t a good one. But a world where walls can come down — that’s where I want to be” …

  5. Maya says:

    I want to visit Berlin atleast once…can anyone suggest me the cheapest way to do this…

  6. Great post.nice article Photos are so good.really I like this.I have Never Seen Like Before.I think You have Great Experience in travel.Thanks for Great sharing.

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