Years ago I spent a few days in Berlin. I remember the impressive Pergammon Gates in all their displaced splendor. I remember a precious jewelled statue of St. George striking a sparkling jewelled dragon with his spear. I remember visiting Checkpoint Charlie with a girl from Heidelburg and her Nazi mother, repentent of the war. I know the wall was down and remember the map of the Ringstrasse. I remember the Lindon trees on the big avenue leading from Brandenburger Tur. I remember the English bookstore called Shakespeare and Company.
This time, I am looking forward to seeing the newly created Museum Island and the "Tiergarten" Zoo. I wonder if it will be like Schonbrun's, with fancy houses for the animals, or if it will be big and open like the NY Zoo? I think the city will be big and noisy, and the metro easy to get around in. I think the wall will be even harder to find. I think there will be even more tourists, and cars. Maybe less German and more English?
I hope there are big parks to wander in, and fancy water fountains to drink out of. I hope there is not too much traffic, and that people still ride bikes. I hope there is interesting street food and summer concerts. I hope that we can eat ice cream in the parks. I hope there are birds and animals to watch. I hope the pollution is not too bad.
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