Berlin: Between the wall and Holocaust

Today was the day to pay our due to the remnants of wars--WW2 and the cold war. Since Brandenburg Gate was closed for the stage which is being set up for a concert this weekend, the next logical stop for the picture-hungry tourists was the Holocaust Memorial, just half a block south.

It's a somber display of concrete blocks. We saw the photos before, but one doesn't grasp the immensity of it until he's there. People climb the blocks to take pictures (until they're chased down by the security).

The somber ocean of concrete coffins is only matched by the even more somber display of photographs and lists of Nazi attrocities in the museum underneath the monument.

One can't move around Berlin without being reminded at every point about the wall. Its shadow still looms dark over this vibrant town. After being reminded so often of its existence, we decided to see it with our own eyes. I know it's ridiculous to attribute such characteristics to an inanimate object, but that barrier radiated evil. Even now, clearly only an exhibit in a museum, it still evokes a feeling of unease.

I couldn't begin to imagine how it was for Berliners to live next to such a raw wound on their collective soul and their town.

Well, all that brooding about the cold and hot wars made us hungry. Time Out guide for Berlin has a neat section with restaurants for cheapskates who like to eat good, so we followed it to Knofi.

I can only describe it as a tapas-like bar for Middle Eastern food. Here are 5 delicious "knofetti" ("tapas) we had - too rich for detailed description, but believe us when we say they're delicious.