The main reason for the trip was to present IBM's new product the Audio Visual Connection (AVC) to an international group in Belgium.
At the end of the two-day meeting Diane & I rented a Citron and headed for Germany to visit the very spot in front of the Brandenburg Gate where President Reagan spoke those unforgettable words, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
On November 9, 1989, The East Germans opened the gate and allowed people to pass through.
We wanted badly to see and be part of this huge event. We drove two days to get there. It was incredible people were celebrating everywhere including sitting atop the wall. The Brandenburg gate was still under police control. We were told the only way into the East German side was to go to Check Point Charlie, which we did. We drove through the very controlled checkpoint parked the car and walked around the mostly desolate town. I remember in the window of a sporting goods store there was one set of skis for sale. They looked to be 1940s’ish.
We change money at a bank, but couldn't find anything to buy. Just to spend the money I bought a pair of socks - I still have them. Upon crossing out of the East German side we stopped to watch a group of Boy Scouts with their leader chipping off parts of the wall for souvenirs. Of course the wall was still there, covered with graffiti on the west side and entrepreneurs were spray-painting more graffiti, waiting for it to dry and then chipping off chunks to sell to the tourists.
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall from East Berlin Tower
Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-3
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-4
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-5
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-6
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-7
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-8
Berlin Wall Entrepreneurs-9
Berlin Wall Chips 2
Berlin Wall Chips 1
Berlin Wall Diane found a hole
Berlin Wall Boy Scouts
Berlin Wall_bob
Check Point Charlie
Berlin Cathedral Diane
Berlin Cathedral flea _mkt
Berlin Cathedral Reflection2
Berlin Kaiser Wilhelm
Berlin Wall Thanks Gorby!