Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall is the single most important symbol of Germany's former division. We were fortunate to still have seen the wall two years before it was torn down in 1989.

The Berlin Wall was a long barrier separating West Berlin from East Berlin and the surrounding territory of East Germany. Its intent was to restrict access between West Berlin and East Germany.

During the Wall's existence there were around 5,000 successful escapes into West Berlin; 192 people were killed trying to cross and around 200 were seriously injured. Early successful escapes involved people jumping the initial barbed wire or leaping out of apartment windows along the line. These quickly ended.

Other successful escape attempts included 57 people who escaped through a 145 metre long (475 feet) tunnel dug by West Berliners, on October 3, 4 and 5, 1964; and two escapes made by sliding along aerial runways (one by two men, one by a family). One man drove a very low sports car underneath a barricade. One of the last escapes occurred when two men flew fixed wing ultralights across the Wall to rescue their brother.

The most notorious failed attempt was by Peter Fechter who was shot and left to bleed to death in full view of the western media, on August 17, 1962. The last person to be shot trying to cross the border was Chris Gueffroy on February 6, 1989.

Lower left photo shows cross markers where bodies of people who have unsuccessfully escaped were buried.

Photo above right, is the Brandenburg gate. The Brandenburg Gate is a triumphal arch (a structure in the shape of a monumental gate, usually built to celebrate a victory in war), the symbol of Berlin, Germany. Located on the Pariser Platz, it is the only remaining one of the series of gates through which one entered Berlin.

Capernaum

Synagogue, Capernaum

Capernaum is located 2.5 miles from where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee. It was a customs station on the way to Damascus and the residence of high Roman officer.

As Jesus was not understood in Nazareth, and first attempt on HIs life was made here, He turned his back on his city went to Caparneum and made it His second native city.

Capernamum then became the centre of His activities for about 20 months. Here Jesus preached to the people and manifested His goodness and omnipotence by by many miracles.

Capernaum is the home of St. Peter. Hesus taught here in the synagogue (shown in the photo), delivered a man of an unclean spirit and healed Peter's mother-in-law. Here, He also healed the centurion's servant and the palsied man when he was let down through the roof, raised Jarius' daughter from the dead, healed the woman who had an issue of blood, as well as two blind men, and the son of a noblemen, and multitude of others.

Jesus cursed the city of Capernaum for being ungrateful. Today it is no more than a heap of rubble beside the lake shore. One important edifice left is the now famous Capernaum synagogue.

Sukkienice, Crakow (Poland)

Sukkienice, Cracow

The Cloth Hall
Sukiennice

The Main Market Square is dominated by the great Cloth Hall at its centre.

Originally designed in the 13th century during the reign of Prince Boleslaw the Bashful. At first they were simply stone shops with lanes in between.

In the 14th century, during the reign of King Casimir the Great the Cloth Hall was rebuilt. A stone building with a Gothic roof was erected. The entrance to this led to arcades built from bricks which remain unchanged to the present day.