Berlin
May 5, 2011
Berlin is the single most grafitti-soaked city I have ever been in. I keep expecting to see graffiti on restaurant menus. I swear I saw graffiti on a baby. The Berliners do seem to like their graffiti.
Had a terrific day following young Kevin the Tourguide’s advice on fun neighborhoods to explore. I went to three of them, all in old East Berlin.
Then I grabbed a bite and went on to more touristy stuff – I do have photos to get, after all.
I revisited the Jewish Holocaust Memorial. It’s impressive yet a bit troubling that the city of Berlin didn’t seem the feel the need to erect one until – wait for it – 2003. Seriously? Wow.
I also found the easily-overlooked memorial to the homosexual victims of the Holocaust. Some people may not know that thousands of gay men were sent to the camps along with other targeted groups – Jews, gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and members of other “undesirable” groups. The memorial was unveiled in 2008. It’s underwhelming, but I’m still glad it’s there.
I then took a stroll down to the busy commercial district of Potstamerstrasse and saw the godawful boring 3D movie Thor. Jesus what a dull movie. But then, I think most supehero movies are dull, dull, dull. The list of comic book movies I like is rather small:
Superhero Movies That Don’t Make Me Gag
- Superman (1978)
- Superman II (1980)
- Superman Returns (2006)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- Spider-Man (2002)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- Iron Man (2008)
After the movie I took a stroll through the Tiergarten to get pictures of the monumental angel statue Siegessäule (1873) that was featured in that beautiful but boring movie Wings of Desire. 
