2 Ways to Celebrate the Fall of the Berlin Wall

11/6/09  Print This Post Print This Post    1 Comment      Written by Carlo Alcos
  • Stumble It
Berlin Wall 1989

Photo: VivaoPictures

If you’re in Berlin on 9 November this year, here are a couple ways to celebrate the Fall of the Wall’s 20-year anniversary.
Festival of Freedom

An oversized set of falling dominoes to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall will punctuate Berlin’s Festival of Freedom on 9 November 2009. The temporary wall covers 1.5km and runs past the front of the Brandenburg Gate. The dominoes, 2.5 meters tall and weighing 20kg each, were hand painted in colourful fashion by schoolchildren.

The wall from West Berlin

Photo: Jim Linwood

A live concert will also provide some entertainment. I couldn’t determine if David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff will be performing, but Bon Jovi definitely is. The festival is set to end with a fireworks display.

The Mauer Mob

British artist Martin Butler’s latest project, “Mauer Mob 2009: Recreating the Berlin Wall”, will temporarily “recreate” the wall using humans instead of concrete and barbed wire. He is looking for 33,000 participants to cover the 46km route (which is segmented into 330 sections).

According to the New York Times, over 9,000 people in social media circles have already shown interest, while the Mauer Mob website shows the number committed approaching 6,000.

If you’re in the area, this would be a fantastic way to participate on the day.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you haven’t already, make sure you head over to Paul Sullivan’s commemorative photo essay, Berlin 20/20: A Photo Tour of a Reunited City.

My wife and I haven’t yet decided how we will celebrate the event here in Melbourne. How will you?


  • Stumble It

About the Author

Matador ID: vagabonderz

Carlo (not Carlos) is a contributing editor of Matador Trips. An ex-Vancouverite who calls the world his home, he is currently living in Melbourne, trying to crack the code to sustain the vagabonding lifestyle with the least amount of work possible. Follow him at his blog here...I mean, here.

1 Comment... join the discussion!

  • joshua johnson replied on November 6, 2009

    i am eight watching the TV with my folks. People cry and swing hammers and pry with crowbars. My mom tells me ‘this is a very important day.’

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply

Leave a Comment

Jump To Category:



Explore the Community


Latest Community Blogs

  • Lunch in the big city and I have a mini-bottle of Henessey. Craned neck and a spittoon of a fountain at Union Square whe...
    » posted on 8 February 2010
  • If I were a man, I would describe this country as thus: Egypt is a beautiful woman with everything left to mystery – a...
    » posted on 6 February 2010
  • If you are in New Zealand on a travelling holiday try to catch the More FM Winery Concert Tours somewhere along its way...
    » posted on 7 February 2010

Popular Stories on Matador

The Dude Abides: The Meaning of 'The Big Lebowski' Ten Years Later

... 

30 Funny Travel Quotes To Make You Smile

A collection of classic travel quotes to sharing lighth... 

The 50 Greatest Travel Books Of All Time

... 

8 Incredible Survival Stories

Eight of the most amazing tales of survival ever writte... 

Hostel Sex: A Practical Guide For Backpackers

Getting it wherever a backpacker can...... 

Top Gadgets To Travel With In 2010

With newer, ultralight, razor-thin, lightning-fast, adv... 



Focus



Editor Blogs