Off the wall...

The "U Bahn" underground and "S Bahn" overground whizz us to the city centre. After the obligatory snap shots of the Brandenburg Gate, we were hoping for a view from the Reichstag glass dome, but a terror alert means only pre-booked parties are admitted. Instead we head, in the hot sunshine, to the large stretch of remaining wall, now called the Eastside Gallery, to view the murals.





Some are messages of peace, others cartoons of the political characters of the time, a few completely incomprehensibly "off the wall". A passing convoy of restored Trabants look a fun way to see the sights.
Then we wander off the tourist trail, past heavily graffitied blocks of flats, home mainly to Muslim immigrants, before ending up at the unique tourist draw of Checkpoint Charlie.


We sit for a beer at a streetside stall, pestered by wasps, a perennial city summer problem. Al-fresco diners and drinkers constantly waft them away.
Bikes of all shapes, sizes and states of (dis)repair are everywhere. Most riders are 'as-the-Dutch' i.e. no helmet or special clothing, just normal everyday clothes, plus the full range of riding styles, from the very upright european, to the posing 'look-at-me-no-hands'.

Location:BERLIN