A random street performer at Alexanderplatz put on a great show, escaping from a “Houdini-style” outfit and entertaining the crowd. This is a composition from a series of photographs of the event. Enjoy!
The Escape Artist
deutschland
U2 Concert at the Brandenburg Gate
* 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. *
Me & Niall with 2 of the 10,000 free tickets that were gone in under 2 hours.
The U2 concert last night was brilliant. So much so that 7 songs left us screaming for more, and wishing that we had more time to hear, dance, and sing along with them more. I heard on the news this morning that pretty much everyone critic-wise thought that U2 stole the MTV European Awards show – even though they were not presenting – the 10,000 of us at the Brandenburg gate who got to see them live – well, let’s just say I think we all agree with the critics – even though I’ve not seen the “replay” of the awards show yet, though I did read that u2 won Best Live Act last night (well deserved if the 7 songs were any indication of a full length concert).
Thank you to Picapp for the above photo
Despite starting about 30 minutes late (due to rain and logistics issues) – the band was warmly welcomed on the stage. U2 opened with the song “One”, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Bono wished Berlin a very Happy Birthday, which was all the more poignant because over his head, we had been watching (on the Brandenburg Gate in lasers) the Gate “divided in 2” with the hammer and sickle on one side – and the stars on the other. Under it, on each of the columns of the Brandenburg Gate were covered in images of nuclear weapons – all of which faded into the words “ost” and “west” – and then into the words “one love” and “freedom”. For me, considering that we were standing on a spot where 20 years before, Freedom was still but an idea and a hope – it literally brought tears to my eyes. 20 Years ago – This WAS communist Germany…. how far life has come since then.
The rest of the songs were well fitting of the tone –
‘Magnificent’
‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’
‘Get Up, Stand Up’ with Jay-Z
‘Beautiful Day’
‘Vertigo’
‘Moment Of Surrender’
Thank you to Picapp for the above photo
Despite the “advertised” 4 songs, we wound up with 7. In addition, at one point, Bono noted that he wanted to say hello, and introduce the “mayor” of NYC. Niall and I looked at each other and went WTF? Bloomberg? Why would Bloomberg show up to a U2 concert… and about that time, Jay-Z hopped on the stage and did a brief rap about how we couldn’t keep building “walls” and how because of walls, genocides in Europe, Serbia, Rowanda, and Darfur were continuing.
The parting words / last song – Moment of Surrender was great. Once again, Bono made a point to say that it’s time to remember that in many places, the fight for Freedom and Democracy is stll going on. Effectively, the point of the speech / song was that we support them, and that we can’t take what we have for granted.
Freedom on the Brandenburg Gate – Pariser Platz side – former “Soviet” owned territory.
For more of my photos from the night, you’re welcome to check out My Flickr Set.
Unity Day Marionettes
* 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.