Communist Berlin

Heinrich continued his exploration the next day. He visited a part of Germany that used to be called East Germany. There is a very large public place called Alexanderplatz. On the square there is a tall clock that goes around in a circle. On top of the clock is a model of the solar system. The clock goes around in a circle and has a map of the world. One can see what time it is anywhere in the world.

In Europe the time in the afternoon keeps counting after noon. 1:00 is 1300, 7:00 in the evening is 1900. Heinrich wanted to find out where it was 5:00 in the world.   He didn't look for the 5 because that would be the morning. Instead he found 1700.

Near the platz is the tallest structure in Berlin. It is called the Television Tower. It is a large broadcasting station with an elevator inside. It goes to the very top where there is a rotating restaurant. While one eats they can watch the entire city turn beneath the tower.

During his visit Heinrich noted a statue of a Russian Soldier in a small park. It was a monument to soldiers that fought in Berlin at the end of World War II. The German people however, really disliked the Russians and they had to build a wall around it. Otherwise people kept trying to damage the statue.

Heinrich found another remnant of the old communist past of Berlin. When the city was divided there were guards that kept people from leaving the Eastern part of the city. Before they could cross the border a guard would check their papers and then stamp a visa card. Heinrich found a souvenir stand with a guard that would stamp a souvenir passport. It was fun to pretend he had to cross the old border.