Saturday afternoon, we took the U-Bahn to Kottbussertor station, which brought us within a short walk to the Kreuzberg Museum. There we met with Gökçen Demiragli, who told us the history of Kreuzberg, explaining that starting with the Huguenots this neighborhood in Berlin has always been one of transition, with new waves of immigrants moving in and leaving their imprint on the district. For the past 50 years, the Turkish population in Berlin has left its impression on this neighborhood that is now again in a transition phase, as young, upwardly mobile couples as well as students are moving in and again changing the face of the neighborhood.
During our tour of Kreuzberg, we witnessed a Turkish wedding party (video to follow in next post); walked along the path of the Berlin Wall, that had walled in this part of West Berlin on three sides; enjoyed the park that has sprung up where the Berlin Wall used to stand; visited a mosque; had a wonderful meal in an authentic Turkish restaurant.
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| Göçken meeting us at the Kreuzberg Museum |
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| Explaining the history of Kreuzberg |
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Immigrants to Kreuzberg come from all these countries.
Can you identify them all? |
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Color coding for the map
Religious refugees, 18th Century; Employment seekers, 19th Century; Refugees after 1945;
Guest workers in West Berlin, 1961-1973; Guest workers in East Berlin 1970-1989;
Refugees since 1950 |
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| In the Kreuzberg Museum |
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| 1970s new construction |
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| Discussing Kreuzberg with Göçken in Kreuzberg |
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| Eis 36 - the third-best Eis shop in Berlin |
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| Older house with newer deco in Kreuzberg |
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| Against Nazis - Antifaschist Area |
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| Bethaniendamm -- the Berlin Wall used to stand in this area |
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| Bethaniendamm |
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| Markers along the road where the Berlin Wall used to stand |
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| Remnant of the Berlin Wall |
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| Children's Farm in the middle of the city |
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| Göçken explaining the Childrens' Farm to our group |
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| Encouraging composting at home: in German and Turkish |
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| Rabbit -- outside and inside |
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SO36
Earlier the zip code for this part of Kreuzberg, today a night club |
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| Mosque |
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| Choose your own main dish! |
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| Eggplant kabob |
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| Tomato salad with onion and peppers! Tasty! |
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| Tea at the end of the meal |
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| Changing trains in the underground |
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Ich bin ein Berliner
Berlin inventions known the world over |
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| Reflections of the Sony Center |
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| Sony Center |
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| Sony Center |
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| Berlin is when you don't know if you're in or out... |
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| Berlin is when it's said harsher than it's meant. |
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