Does everything become an advert?

[Andy Hamilton]

Some of you might remember when check point Charlie was in operation, it has now just become a tourist attraction. There were two soldiers dressed in US army uniforms but speaking in German poising for photos there last weekend.

The thing that I found stranger was the business that have popped up around there - here are two of them.



and then directly opposite where the gate from east to west was.

[hamster]

That's... odd. Not sure having ice-cream/coffee there would strike me as a 'fun' thing to do. But then perhaps some travellers are less discriminating...

(Incidentally, if you're interested in East Germany, go and see 'Das Leben der Anderen/Lives of Others' - it's amazing!!)

[Andy Hamilton]

That's... odd. Not sure having ice-cream/coffee there would strike me as a 'fun' thing to do. But then perhaps some travellers are less discriminating...

(Incidentally, if you're interested in East Germany, go and see 'Das Leben der Anderen/Lives of Others' - it's amazing!!)

I am very interested in East Germany and that film has been recommended by East Germans too. I really liked good bye lenin as well.

[Wombat]

In answer to your question, mate, from my experience, YES!

Nev

(PS Loved the photos!)

[Millymollymandy]

Where's the German words? Everything's very Anglicised/Americanised! (oh and with a bit of Italian thrown in!)

[Thomzo]

Where's the German words? Everything's very Anglicised/Americanised! (oh and with a bit of Italian thrown in!)

That was what really surprised me about Beijing when I went there a few years ago. They had more McDonalds that London (or so it seemed). Everything was just so americanised.

Zoe

[Cheezy]

Tell you what it's changed since I was there in 1994!.

It was just a grubbly shed with a load of East Germans selling those big Russian flat topped military hats and fur hats with ear flaps. (which was odd cos it was 40 deg C at the time!)

I had never seen so many cranes in all my life.....now I know what they were doing

[Andy Hamilton]

Tell you what it's changed since I was there in 1994!.

It was just a grubbly shed with a load of East Germans selling those big Russian flat topped military hats and fur hats with ear flaps. (which was odd cos it was 40 deg C at the time!)

I had never seen so many cranes in all my life.....now I know what they were doing

they are still selling them!

I was there last in 2004 and it has changed a lot just in that time, in some places it is almost as if the line of the wall has been erased. They are still bulding a lot in what was no-mans land. In fact in one part there was an old building in the way so they just stuck it on wheels and moved it.

[contadino]

Given the infamous nature of Check Point Charlie, maybe you should be asking "Are there depths that nobody will plumb to market their products?"

[Andy Hamilton]

Given the infamous nature of Check Point Charlie, maybe you should be asking "Are there depths that nobody will plumb to market their products?"

Indeed! I thought it in very bad taste which is why I thought I would post it.