BERLIN DIVIDED: HOPE OVERRIDES WALLS

The famous Berlin TV tower - meant as a demonstration of socialist superiority over the West - had its place in local humour. The citizens of East Berlin used to joke: "Hopefully this 'show-off latern' will topple over one day, so that we can take the lift straight to the West".

What the East Germany's Socialist leaders praised as an ‘anti-fascist protective barrier’ was a good reason for many GDR citizens  to risk their lives: An impressive example is the escape of the Profahl family, who took their 8-month-old baby with them to break through the barrier at Checkpoint Charlie at 60 km/h in a fully loaded lorry.

This guided tour sheds light on the political and social reality in front of and behind the Wall: The local's creativity and adaptability was the antithesis to the Soviet determination devoted to the Wall as an increasingly impregnable "modern border". 

Our route is paved with eye-opening contrasts - not only between the political systems of the world powers that met in Berlin, but also between the architecture of the past and the present, which reflects the prevailing philosophies of eras in formal language.

On this tour, you will...

* see important sites of the division of Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie, the border crossing hall and sections of the Berlin Wall

* be amazed at the cat-and-mouse game played by the secret police and GDR citizens: daring escape attempts were tried to be prevented in ingenious ways

* find out what ulterior motives characterise the cityscape of East Berlin,

* hear quaint stories from the everyday life of East and West Berliners,

Duration: 1.5-4 hours (we're flexible - let us know what suits you!)