European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 03, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse East Blos a three decade Monument to political Absurdity and human perseverance it com i Iio a hit let ill Ipi i avd no v i m d ii ini1" Iron Home nil a Tup 1 m irs in t Ama de the la nil in that m u in nov. I 1 the Sank on i .1 Luvelt in .1 Imit in Cost Balm s nondescript is Duni District. The two Hast berliners had just used the h rain Wall s new Bernau Street crossing to go West for the first time in decades. They talked quietly marvelling at their Pood Fortune. One struck up a conversation with the Man next to her. Concentrating hard on each word i she would not forget the first i Erson i Ever talked to in the West the two women were among the hundreds of thousands of laughing weeping l ast Ier Muns Llcy Hong into West Berlin that Day. Many dumbfounded by the hitter irony of suddenly being permitted to irely stroll streets that they had Long been allowed to v Lew. But not touch. But that is Berlin a City where Irons and Absurdity Are a backdrop of even Day life. That was never More True than in Ivy j. The year the omm Mats opened their Borders. Take the Wall for example it supplies ample irony even in its gradual destruction b the chisel wielding souvenir Hunters the germans tall Lnier Pechler Wall woodpeckers. Long a Monument in communism. It quickly became a .1 my s hipped my it is i Wall Fri in a l the will Al i Ciu do to i Wall Lor i. Re in. Iii ii. h . I in lli.,ii. Ii a a soil n Lii ii \ Pecl . Che Wall a i ii ii i h the real Demic had i in Long . I he significant Het Iii Wall i,,i. Hall 111 november in densely a idea ital Al like Wei dog. Where Peop Vin a slime s Uhro ton id \ tit her in. A Lor the first time Siniue 1 r � 1 nobody Irir inc i.iil1 in arc Are no subway or Tram stations near ilu1 Vainous landmark Cyl thousands of impatient Beelmers and expectant news Media types kept an irregular \ digit Lor More than six weeks ami1, in atm us opening. When the Gale finally opened dec 2?. And the Clouds singed Forward to the new step toward peace. Several people were in juice in the crush i Urt ice. The Opportunity to emos the Fate at close Range won t last Long. The l ast germans intend to remove the famed Juad Nga figure i Victory Riding a horse drawn Chantl atop the Gate in january to refurbish it. The Quadriga once faced West but the t Asl germans turned the horses and Chariot around when the c old War was in full Frost. Many West hurl Mars were outraged though some considered it fitting to see horses backsides when looking toward the communist ruled l ast. Regardless of the attention focused recently on the famous Portal it is the Wall that truly defines Berlin. After Giddy revellers started knocking holes in the Wall a Long series of Western politicians diplomats Rock stars news Aru Hor people. Religious Uil leaders and other celeb ties arrived to peer eastward to enough the apertures and a Gaggle dutifully ecu us d us. Lino my. My these v it is Ici uld seen i just he fun Beiler sep. By mini their. It Ourse. Even by torn nov. 4. But Trie c Elehna is who i athe cd to. H the to Iii Janan ti.nntnit1 fade it a thu i rus an Tanvas also Vudi Ltd Omni ent in its a Anu in Iba. Sense the Beihn Viall t lit l1 1 resembles the great Wall of Luna. It is an Nman Tiv Lecoum Able of Uleie animosities. I Entile r of n. Poke it Tinli Tistl i n i Aff i la 3,1990 a stars Anc stripes special report Page 9
