Sunday, November 8, 2009

20 years ago the wall fell....

Tomorrow, November 9, Germany is celebrating the fall of the wall between East and West Germany. Yes, it's been 20 years!! It's so hard to believe. The TV stations are full of reports on experiences before and after the fall.... some real horror stories about what some people went through in former East Germany. And the culture shock during their first days in the west! And their expectations.......

Today there are still some "walls", still psychological borders in the way of thinking and living. We in the west are still paying a percentage of our pay to help build up the new States. But now they are often in better condition then the west! Now, finally, the government is realising this and that money will go where it's needed, whether East or West.

The biggest problem in the east is the high unemployment and lack of jobs... many young folk going to the west where jobs earn more. But it's getting better.

I visited West Berlin once before the wall fell, flying to and from it with Pan Am airlines. Since then I have been to Berlin a number of times, as well as other former East cities like Leibzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Weimar, Eisenach, Schwerin, etc. Once I even took a tour with my car for a whole week... all by myself. It was fun, and interesting.

I really should get some of my photos from that trip scanned... I'm waiting for my desktop to come back from my computer guru. I'm still having "adjustment" troubles with my mac!

I didn't do much this weekend. I have so much that needs to be done, but I just couldn't get my butt moving. So I messed with my computer and was just generally bored instead of taking advantage of the free time. *sigh* Oh, well.....

Dorrie

4 comments:

  1. i was very interested in your observations of what has been going on post fall of the wall. very informative. I hope to visit you again now and then

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  2. I remember when the wall fell. Hard to believe so much time has passed already.

    Have a great week.

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  3. I remember this like it was last week instead of 20 years ago,lol! I was 46 years old at that time. Now what was I doing....I know....I was working!!! Good ole days. :)

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  4. And lets all hope the remaining "walls" of ignorance and prejudice and hate etc all come tumbling down worldwide soon! Hope you and yours are doing great!

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