HAMILTONS ABROAD & AT HOME: Europe 2010: Berlin, Dresden, Paris

Berlin - October-November 2010

It was a delight to return to Berlin. We spent a month there in 2000, sharing in the city’s celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the reunification of Germany following decades of division between West and East.

On this visit we were not there on the days when the 20^th anniversary was celebrated, but we did see many new signs of the unified city. The manager of the hotel where we stayed told us that they do not talk of west Berlin or east Berlin any more. They choose not to repeat this language of the past. They just refer to the northern, or eastern, western, or southern parts of the city.

On this trip to Berlin we returned to sites that we had explored 10 years earlier plus many new ones. We observed that the eastern part of the city has many buildings that have been restored to their former beauty, and there are also many new, modern buildings. The so-called “no man’s” area on the eastern side of the wall that used to separate the city now exhibits this movement to modernity with new and beautiful buildings.

One of our special pursuits during this visit was to follow the path of sites that are remembered for their relationship with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and martyr of the Nazi era. We also had the opportunity to visit the American Church in Berlin (a sister church of the American Church in Paris). Plus, on the same Sunday afternoon, we attended the United Methodist Church of Berlin. Of course, we also revisited some of our favorite restaurants remembered from our previous time in Berlin.

We traveled to Dresden by train. We saw a dramatic change in Dresden from 10 years earlier. The terrible destruction caused by the bombing of British and US air forces has, at last, been overcome with tremendous energy and investment. It is now, once again, a beautiful and welcoming city. The highlight for us was our visit to the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). This famous Lutheran Church, a city symbol, was turned to rubble by the bombs and firestorm at the end of World War II. The communist regime that ruled for over 40 years left the pile of rubble. When the communist government fell, the population of the city demanded that their church be rebuilt. This project was undertaken, and contributions were sent from all over the world, especially from Britain (as German contributions helped to build the new church at Coventry). The rebuilding project became a powerful act of reconciliation between Germany and Britain. The new church was completed in 1995. Many of the original stones were used, and the plans of the former building were followed very closely. We were there for the 5^th anniversary of the 1^st service held in the newly built sanctuary. It was an exciting celebration. (see pictures below)

Next, we took the train back to Berlin; then, we flew on to Paris. We love Paris, after living there for nearly 2 years, so our return to the city was very special. We spent about 10 days there on this visit, Thus, we had the opportunity to worship on 2 Sundays at the American Church in Paris. It was a great time for us, and we got to visit with numerous friends in the church. Please see the previous blog entries on Paris for more information about some of our experiences in this great city.

Pictures from Berlin

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Berlin - Old and New

(I believe that you can click to enlarge any picture for better viewing)

Altar of Kaiser Wilhelm Church - statue of Jesus is over the altar

American Church in Berlin - is in eastern part of Berlin in a poor neighborhood. Congregation is very diverse and English language.

Stained glass windows in the American Church

TV tower built by communist government in East Berlin. Can be seen from almost all parts of Berlin. When sun is shining on the top of the tower, it shows the form of a cross.

This was very disappointing to communist leaders but delighted Christian people.

Closeup of the tower top - with the visible cross.

Sign for the English language United Methodist Church in Berlin. There are also a number of German language United Methodist Churches in Berlin.

Altar area of the United Methodist Church.

A lengthy preserved section of the Berlin Wall - now a protected park.

Don with a slab of the Berlin Wall

Nancy standing by the wall. Note that it is plain. That is the way it was

on the East Berlin side of the wall. This picture also shows the height of the wall relative to

the height of a person.

A modern painting on a section of the original Berlin Wall. Artists from all over the

world have been invited to present art that is appropriate to the history of the wall

and the pursuits for peace in the world.

A part of another modern painting on the wall.

A sign for the wall memorial. Today the Western Berlin side of the wall is,

truly, a gallery of inspirational art. It is a 1.3 km long section of the Berlin Wall.

Sign for the famous Pergamon Museum. This museum is in the eastern part of Berlin and was, thus,

unavailable for people outside of the East to visit. It is a magnificant museum. Many items were removed and hidden during World War II and during the communist era. Now these items have been returned; the museum has been totally restored.

Nancy (taking a picture) near an ancient stone mural from an ancient royal Assyrian palace.

The Reichstag - the house of parliament. The original Reichstag was set on fire by the Nazis as a part of their takeover of the government of Germany. The building was further destroyed by bombs in the latter days of World War II. It has been rebuilt and restored according to original plan - except for the very modern dome - with its tremendous amount of glass. One can look out over the city and can also look down into the parliament.

Don and Nancy inside the Reichstag dome. We were listening to the digital narrative about the Reichstag.

The flag of united Germany with a view of Berlin

The famous Brandenburg Gate. It stood right on the border between West and East Berlin but was shut off for almost all traffic. Now it is busy with traffic once again with no check point and no barriors.

The Bonheffer home in Berlin. It was the home of Dietrich's parents, and Dietrich lived here for many years. He continued to have a study in the home, and he was arrested here by the Gestapo, sent to prison, and was eventually hanged by the Nazis at Flossenburg Concentration Camp. Today the home is carefully preserved in honor of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Tours are available, and numerous seminars and workshops are held here. Bonhoeffer's office is just as he left it when taken away by the Gestapo.

A plaque on the Lutheran church where Pastor Bonhoeffer led a confirmation class for "troubled" boys. "In this church taught and confirmed - 1932.

This is the church where Bonhoeffer taught the confirmation class. This is especially remembered because Bonhoeffer undertook the challenge to work with a group of boys who were "difficult to manage." Bonhoeffer was working on his doctorate at the time, but he became committed to the challenge to teach and love those boys. The church was in a low income and rough area of the city. Bonhoeffer had great success with these boys, and some of them remained close friends for years.

A part of a railway that is preserved as a memorial to the thousands of Jews who were deported to prison camps on this rail line.

A memorial plaque near the railway - gives a date - 24 September 1942. On this particular day 100 Jews were deported from this site. There were many plaques like this one, each with the date and the number of jews deported on that date.

Another plaque, this one remembers 19 October 1942 and 962 Jews were were deported from this site on that day.

An old photo of Jews lined up waiting for a deportation train to take them to a prison camp, though they were probably uncertain about their destination.