To start out, I learned a lot about the Second World War, Cold War, Iron Curtain, and the hardships that the Germans experienced in Berlin from the end of WWII to the fall of the Soviet Union. With that knowledge, when I got to see the wall I truly felt the inspiration induced by its destruction. I can't stress enough how frustrated I am I only got to see the wall for 20 minutes. I will return to see it again, and in deeper detail. When we first arrived I noticed the mural of the East German soldier jumping over the premature wall (of only barbed wire) to escape to the West. I did a report on this photo in Intro to Photography my freshman year, so I understand its gravity and really respect the moment. Upon arrival, I noticed how slowly the others were moving along the wall, and given only 20 minutes, I walked ahead to see as much of the wall as possible. To me, the wall is an astounding tribute to the persistence, struggle and accomplishment of democratic means in Europe. With its destruction came the unionizing of millions of people, and beginning of a new era for Germany, and all of Europe. Also, I feel like it is a recent enough event of European history that I can relate and appreciate its meaning. The wall interests me more than any other monument, church, statue, river, memorial or arch I have ever visited (which is a lot). The artwork is personal, profound, meaningful and inspiring. The differences between the east and west sides of the wall are still noticeable, and to be able to understand and witness that recent history was truly amazing. I thought that it would just be a quick visit and I would move on and not think to much of it like other parts of my trip, but I can't stop thinking about its gravity, many of the murals I have seen before and understand, or I could piece together from what I learned in AP Euro last year. The eastern side is the one with most of the artwork, since the eastern Germans felt the oppression of the U.S.S.R. and entrapment of the wall with an even greater passion than the western Germans. I only got to see about 40 murals on the western side, but each one was an artistic and historically significant piece. I will return to Berlin in my lifetime. I want to travel along the entire distance of the main wall and spend time analyzing and understanding the expressions of each mural. So watch out Berlin, you haven't seen the last of me.

Looking down the Iron Curtain, for ~35 years this line separated millions and marked an era of threats, now it shows the success of Democracy, the beginning of peace in Germany and the reunion of a powerful nation.