Bye Bye Berlin: My Street Photography

Peter Fechter, a young 18 year-old bricklayer living in East Germany, wanted freedom. Together with his buddy Helmut, he tried to jump the wall dividing Soviet territory from American regulated soil in Berlin, and was shot down by East German guards.

He laid there bleeding. Afraid of repercussions, neither East nor West helped him. Peter whimpered for an hour: “Helft mir doch! Helft mir doch,” he pleaded with both sides, screaming “Help me!” No one did. A few people passing by threw bandages over the fence to him. To no avail. Peter stopped whimpering, and eventually stopped breathing. He had bled to death.

I learned of Peter’s story while visiting Checkpoint Charlie. It was here that little Peter found his gruesome death in 1962, shortly after the Berlin wall was put up. The actual border booth has been torn down, and a huge picture frame has been erected in its place. A portrait of a Soviet soldier adorns one side, while an American soldier graces the other.

Back in the day, this little unassuming checkpoint became the gateway to freedom for more than 3.5 million East Germans. Just not for Peter Fechter. What a sad story, don’t you think?

I just left Berlin this morning, and I have come to appreciate the long journey my statesmen have traveled to be where they are today both economically and psychologically. They went from being seen as the absolute Nazi-devils to a respectable folk with a near squeaky-clean image.

I visited landmarks of division: Brandenburg Gate, for example, once was used as a Nazi symbol. But in 1989, West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through that gate as it was opened for the first time, to be greeted by Hans Modrow, the East German prime minister. I remember the fall of the wall rather well, even though I was only a little girl, because that was the night my father turned on the TV really loudly and I could see people screaming and jumping up and down for joy.

I also went to the Reichstag. What a grand structure. Sorta reminds me of the White House.

Memorial to the 96 Reichstag members of the opposition parties killed by the Nazis

And of course, I had to go to a castle. Because I really like castles. And kings. And queens. Schloss Charlottenburg is gorgeous! They don’t allow photography inside, but I clicked anyway once or twice. Shhhh!

I’m experiencing this country with very different eyes. Adult eyes, if you will. The winter is colder than how I remember it. Whenever I travel, I tend to pay closer attention to the people around me. I think that’s why I enjoy street photography so much. It makes me get to know others around me, as well as myself. I think about my hopes, dreams and my future, and I wonder what the stars have in store for these people:

Here’s some more abstract stuff. Is it me, or can you see a face in this tree?

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by night. It was badly damaged in a bomb raid in 1943.

And while I was at it, playing with lights, this is a picture of a very famous street light. Not!

Christmas decoration that has been taken down.

Ok, this man looks like he’s skiing through the woods, but he’s actually skiing on a sidewalk next to woods…

Sherlock Holmes is about to hit it big here…

I bid Berlin farewell today. It was lovely to be engulfed by a little bit more history. Thanks Berlin, keep them gates open!