Europe is a construction site

Pariser Platz
Originally uploaded by amsterboy.

I just got back from Berlin. I l-o-v-e it. I was there for a seminar by the IJP which is an exchange programme for German journalists who want to work abroad and for foreign journalists who want to work in Germany. Excellent work. Met some absolutely fab people.

When we were having lunch and watching the view you see in the picture, I remembered an essay by Günter Grass about Berlin that I read as a part of my studies on German culture at the university. In the essay Grass stated that if you want to know what Europe of today is about, look at Berlin. I think it is an excellent statement. Just watch the picture:

- evidence of division still exists (Brandenburger Tor)

- capitalism is present with full power (Potsdamer Platz in the background)

- difficult history is looming in the back (Holocaust Memorial) or carnevalised (the U-shape pictures of Berlin after the war, a popular place for posing)

- the entire place looks like a construction site

p.s. Bought a digital camera so more and more of the photos I will be using will be taken by me.