The Fall of the Berlin Wall - 1989.......

............2014 is a historic year for Berlin. It marks the 25th anniversary of the most significant event in recent German history: the Fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. To remember the day, many exhibitions and events have taken place.

Along the former course of the Berlin Wall a new temporary Berlin Wall has been built with thousands of illuminated balloons.

To the strains of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the presence of guests of honour and eyewitnesses at the Brandenburg Gate and at six other locations, the white balloons were released into the skies last night.

Germans freed the balloons one after another to symbolize the breaching of the barbed-wire and concrete-block wall by crowds of protesters on that distant November 9.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - who played a key role in bringing down the wall - is among those travelling to Germany for the commemorations.
The 83-year-old will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and greet crowds at the former Checkpoint Charlie border crossing.

Meantime, the Berlin Staatskapelle orchestra played "Ode to Joy," the anthem of the European Union, from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, though the release of the balloons completely stole the show.

Anni and I were there in 1990 and had the experience of going through what had been Checkpoint Charlie - there was still a guard there and armed troops lined the railway tracks - it was all a bit intimidating. I managed to get a little piece of the wall and still have it today! It seemed very exciting at the time.

Today started off dull and damp but the sky is clearing and there are now patches of blue - Temperature reads 45Deg F.

Have a great day.