Caroline in Edinburgh not only writes extremely well but gives unique insights into Berlin, which she apparently loves as much as it do:

Author: caroline_edinburgh
Date: 11/13/2007
Here's a link to my trip report in case it gives you any ideas - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34614269

Too kind, PalQ ! I have nowhere near your breadth of knowledge, though.

Topping on request of AA Frequent Flier

PalQ, you really don't need to do this to prove your point. It's quite obvious you're right.

logos, you are right - should not even respond to such drivel. I'll take a deep - breath! Thanks for the comment to chill.

TEMPLEHOF AIRPORT DOES CLOSE

A few weeks ago or so the last flight left Berlin's Templehof Airport, made famous for being where planes of the Berlin Airlift in the 1950s landed.

An airport practically downtown it suffered from its cramped location.

Yet as i described above in a post Templehof is so unique - from its antique yet awesome main terminal to its poignant history.

I have not heard what exactly will be left but i'm sure terminal building will be saved as some kind of museum.

The great real estate of the runways though i think will help meet Berlin's burgeoning population.

I'm sorry I never got to see it as an airport.

Unfortunately I don't think we'll manage Berlin this year (I'd really like to visit every year, to see each year's new 'hang' at the Sammlung Hoffmann), but hope to go next spring for the Biennale.

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL (MAUER)

Berlin is gearing up to remember the heady cerebral days 20 years ago when the dread infamous Berlin Wall suddenly opened up and Ossies or East Berliners flooded through it into previously forbidden fruit of West Berlin. All of Germany and all of the world celebrated that momentous occasion.

And Berlin officials are staging several special exhibits and events to mark the occasion:

ALEXANDER PLATZ - In the heart of old East Berlin this huge square will have, thru Nov 9, 2009 an open-air exhibition highlighting what Berliners call The Peaceful Revolution - displays will depict the changes in the city after the Wall fell.

And another exhibit will highlight different sectors of the city - like the smashing new Hauptbahnhof (central train station) and Potsdamer Platz - one of europe's largest urban renewal projects that sits right where the Wall once ran, making Potsdamer Platz, one a vibrant hub of pre-war Berlin, a no-man's land.

On Nov 9 - the date the Wall fell there will be lots of performances, music and a street fair as well as re-enactments of key historical events.

How do you pronounce "Palenque"?

Otzi - "Pah-lane-key" - from the Mayan ruins in Yucatan

EUES MUSEUM RE-OPENS AFTER LONG RENOVATION BUT TO CONTROVERSY OVER...

the bust of Queen Nefertiti - the museum's star attraction. But this 3,500 year-old limestone-and-stucco bust of a wife of a pharaoh is causing controversy with Egypt claiming the bust was illegally taken out of Egypt in 1913 - Germany and the museum disputes that and maintains the bust was obtained legally. Seems both sides have murky claims as per the NYTimes article below.

In any case the re-opening of the Neues Museum, after decades of renovation to repair damage inflicted in WW 2 to the Museum Island complex of museums in the historic heart of Berlin. A world-class museum, the Neues Museum is a must sight on any Berlin tour - even the exterior of the museum is awesome, with its Neo-Classical facade dominating Museum Island.

And once inside the visitor's eyes are instantly rivetted on its star attraction - the old Queen's bust (NYtimes says) perched alone in a domed room that overlooks the length of the museum"

A 3500-Year-Old Queen Causes a Rift Between Germany and Egypt ...
Celebrations of the reopening of the Neues Museum in Berlin have been marred by a dispute over a 3300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/wo...t-germany.html

Anyone been to the new Neues Museum?

No but thanks for the tip. I had no idea it had been closed for so long !

We are now hoping to return next July now they seem finally to have settled on dates for the Biennale - http://bb6.berlinbiennial.de/index.php?lang=en.

Tacheles Under Threat

The iconic and weird Tacheles Artists' Center described somewhere above is under threat of being evicted from their big old building in the heart of Berlin's Mitte - developers eyeing this prime prime property are, of course, the cause of Tacheles' potential demise - and Berlin will lose one of its most unique and interesting sights - more after i find the recent NYTimes article talking about all this.

That would be a shame. We plan to visit when we are there in November. We did not have time last year.

Talking about the largest remaining stretch of wall - the East Side Gallery described far above - recent news reports have alarmed many Berliners as plans to demolish this stretch of wall, smack along the banks of the river running thru Berlin - to 'tear down that wall' as Ronnie Raygun once famously said when looking over it back in the Cold War days when it separated commie East Berlin and East Germany from West Berlin - a gruesome border wall to keep Ossies - as East Germans are called - in and not flee to a much more prosperous West Berlin.

Anyway plans surfaced that a developer wanted to tear down that wall and put up condos, offices, apartments etc in a new complex with a nice riverside location.

When the plans surfaced thousands took to protest the plans and to save the largest stretch of Berlin Wall remaining - wishing to have it left as a poignant reminder of those Cold War days in a divided Berlin. If it goes then nearly all vestiges of the infamous Berlin War will be gone, with just a few slabs remaining at isolated locations.

Though some Berlin officials may wish to do away with anything redolent of those awful days many locals want it left as is as a testimony to those times when Berliners on both sides of the wall suffered from its presence.

Here's hope that the East Side Gallery - the long long stretch of Berlin Wall along the Spree River remains as is - graffiti and all - the East Side Gallery gets its name from the many murals painted on it by artists from all over - many are now sold old that they are detiorating - some thing they should be restored others think that the wall should revert to looking like the drab cement-panel original wall.

See in today's NYToimes some of the East Side Gallery wall has been removed - to make way for a road to access some new development - so it seems not all of the wall is to fall down but some already has - sparking protests.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle10423196/

Tells about yesterday's surprise demolition - 4 slabs of wall demolished - at least removed - perhaps they will be put up somewhere else?

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT JEWS EXHIBIT AT JEWISH MUSEUM DRAWS OUTRAGE BUT IS VERY POPULAR

An exhibition entitled "Everything you always wanted to know about Jews" exhibit in Berlin's Jewish Museum has caused a stir, even amongst some Jews.

Dubbed the "Jew in a box' exhibit, the exhibit features a live Jew sitting in a box who answers questions about Judaism.

The exhibit has been extremely popular and s scheduled to run thru this August.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...questions.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22558907

Controversy has marred the opening of Berlin's new Barbie House, dedicated to the iconic doll of the same name!

Thank you, <b>Palenque</b>, thank you.

You've enriched Berlin for how many readers since 2005?.
Wish I had access to your insight before my first trip, but now I get to return.

Thank you!