Love

The word “Love” is written in the center of this picture. When it comes to the love of the Berliners for their city, one main building comes to every-one’s mind: the TV Tower. In this picture you will find the tower twice, symbolizing its special standing for the city of Berlin. Situated close to Alexanderplatz, the tower was built in the 1960s by the government of East Germany to serve as a communication tower, a landmark for Berlin and a symbol of Communist power. It is visible in most of the inner city area. With its height of 368 meters (including antenna) it is the tallest structure in Germany, and the third-tallest struc-ture in the European Union. After German reunification it changed from being a political and national symbol of the GDR and is now one of the important symbols of a reunited Berlin. The original total height of the tower was 365 me-ters, but it rose to 368 meters after the installation of a new antenna in 1997. People say that it was Walter Ulbricht, then General Secretary of the SED, who decided on the exact height of the tower, 365 meters, so that every child would be able to remember it, just like the days of the year. To the embarrassment of GDR authorities, the steel sphere below the antenna produced the reflection of a giant cross. Hence the popular joke, not appreciated by the SED government, that this was the Pope’s revenge on the secular socialist state. US President Ronald Reagan even mentioned the tower and the giant cross reflection in his Tear down this wallspeech on 12 June 1987.The head of the African American woman | center right| symbolizes the diversity of Berlin. She also reminds me of the great Carnival of Cultures that we celebrate in Berlin once a year in May. For four days around the Pentecost long weekend, Berlin cele-brates its cultural diversity at the Carnival of Cul-tures. This very popular event gives the city’s ethnic groups an opportunity to make their cultures more visible. A street parade is held in Kreuzberg on the Sunday of this long weekend – here, thousands of dancers, musicians and other performers offer a colorful display watched by Berliners and tourists from all over the world.The Ferris wheel | top left |is part of the giant New Year’s Eve party held every year on a two-kilome-ter long stretch of "Strasse des 17. Juni" between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. There are live bands, DJs and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Hundreds of thousands come every year. Along the party mile, stands offer drinks and snacks from all over the world. The party continues until the early morning hours of New Year's Day.