* This is part of a series on the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – and my attempt to document the events of the weekend, where 20 years before, a peaceful revolution brought about a big change which helped to end the cold war, and bring about a new Europe. Many more of the events are in the full flickr set here. *

Back in October, between the 2nd and the 4th, there was a huge event known as Unity Day. Beginning at Berlin’s city hall and moving throughout the city, celebrations were designed to celebrate the re-unification of Germany (19 years ago) as it related to the beginning steps taken 20 years ago (with the fall of the Berlin Wall). As a part of the celebrations, the city hired a group from France – the “Royal de Luxe” – to bring over to giant Marionettes (some 50 meters high) to walk through the Brandenburg gate, along Unter Den Linden, and then back again – climbing on board a ship to head back to France. It was a “modernized” tale about a young girl from East Germany, who is seeking her Uncle who was in West Germany – and finds him after years of separation. As the Giant Puppets search for each other, they passed lots of landmarks (and hundreds of thousands of parents and children) along the way.

I saw them on the last day, after they’d “discovered” each other, climbed (ok were attached to a crane and gently lowered down) to an awaiting barge – where they could promptly float off into the “sunset”, to live happily ever after.

You can find more on the puppets themselves and the newspaper article at: The Local

For even better pictures – I have to point to my friend, Andie’s blog -“the Giants are Coming” where he actually got photographs of these giant beasts “walking” through the city, handlers “on swings” in tow.