Cast your mind back, if you’re old enough, to 1989 to David Hasshelhoff singing on top of the remains of a toppled Berlin Wall. While you cannot credit the “Hoff” for the falling of the Berlin Wall- that was due to an ill-prepared government minister- you can say that he ushered in an era in which freedom of expression began to re-emerge from under the heavy boot heels of Soviet Rule in East Berlin.

The East Side Gallery is a 1.3km stretch of the Berlin Wall which still stands today. Its ironic that this once oppressive and stark symbol of a totalitarian regime is now a colorful canvas for peace and democracy. It showcases over a hundred artworks by artists from around the world. It does take considerable effort to look at all the works and it’s best to visit on a cool day rather than on a hot and humid one, which we had the pleasure of experiencing this past August.

If you are ever in Berlin I highly recommend paying a visit. Go for the artwork but stay for the history.

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