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Tom LeRoy | all galleries >> Galleries >> Berlin > Checkpoint Charlie
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6-Jun-2014 T.A.LeRoy

Checkpoint Charlie

Berlin, Germany

Checkpoint Charlie was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. (Wiki)

It has now turned into a Tourist Trap and mere circus. It is very commercialized with fake soldiers charging money for people having their photos taken with them.
The "soldiers" do not even have accurate uniforms on but probably most will not notice or care.

Despite the artificial atmosphere of the Checkpoint, it is a great feeling to be able to pass by and reflect on the tension this gateway had not so very long ago.

The Wall Museum, next to Checkpoint, is well worth visiting.
Having been there before, we saved this and other Museum visits for a separate trip in Winter.

Sony α7R ,Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS
1/100s f/5.0 at 32.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time06-Jun-2014 10:16:26
MakeSony
ModelILCE-7R
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length32 mm
Exposure Time1/100 sec
Aperturef/5
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

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Graeme13-Jul-2014 08:23
An excellent candid shot of the mock up soldiers and thanks for the information as well Tom. V++
Being Me11-Jul-2014 03:14
It is good to preserve history, lest we forget but it's always sad to see it done commercially. V
woody3408-Jul-2014 06:41
I love it, big and bold ..and why not ..it was quite a time in history...V
barbarajoy08-Jul-2014 05:55
What a tacky scene, so well captured by you, McDonalds and all!! I especially like your perceptive description. We all need to understand what this particular place meant, not so long ago either. Well done, Tom, as usual!!
Raymond Ma08-Jul-2014 05:42
I see Checkpoint Charlie is overrun with modern day retail now. I still remember
not so long ago that the wall came down and it was unbelievable. Such a whimsical look at this historic spot. V
thchang08-Jul-2014 03:54
An impressive image! Good job! Vote!!
Gill Kopy08-Jul-2014 03:51
How much has changed - and a MacDonald's on the spot !! Good catch of the exuberant soldiers ! V
Sam Rua08-Jul-2014 03:23
Lol. Nice capture of this tourist magnet, Tom.
Dennis Hoyne08-Jul-2014 02:25
I remember when the wall was put up, You captured this spot so well, Tom, especially with the McDonalds in the background. Times do change.
Frank Brault08-Jul-2014 01:29
A marvelous image that captures the circus atmosphere. Sad to see such consequential history trivialized. Glad there is a good museum for those interested in the past. V
bill friedlander07-Jul-2014 23:46
Interesting how this very important bit of history has been turned into a circus. Terrific reporting work. V
Karen Stuebing07-Jul-2014 20:43
A wonderful capture of this historical place and what it has turned into. I am old enough to remember the Cold War and this looks happy to me. V.
Chris Spracklen07-Jul-2014 20:27
A fine shot and nice story, Tom. *V*
Walter Otto Koenig07-Jul-2014 20:22
Lots of interesting details here. Who would have thought that there would be a McDonald's years ago. "V"
Tom Munson07-Jul-2014 19:33
Great candid.
Bryan Murahashi07-Jul-2014 18:18
Nice shot of this historic spot, but the tensions are now gone with the McDonald's in the background;-) V
Ceya07-Jul-2014 16:55
Nice shot, interesting information! A really thoughtprovoking capture, thank you for the explanation. V
Neil Marcus07-Jul-2014 14:45
What surprises me is there is nothing in the entire scene that indicates it is in Germany.
globalgadabout07-Jul-2014 13:24
a stark contrast from a visit here in the 1980s...looks as if people, and dollars, flow freely here now..
joseantonio07-Jul-2014 13:09
I still remember the first time I crossed the checkpoint: it was back in 1987 and went for a day trip to Eastern Berlin....V
Jim Coffman07-Jul-2014 12:37
A very nice capture,Tom! This is so neat!
Ted Aanensen07-Jul-2014 12:37
Terrific, the American Flag and a "Big Mac" all within 100' my what we export!!
Colin Storey07-Jul-2014 12:35
Tacky tourism takes over everywhere. Very nicely taken image of this famous place though. v
Raymond07-Jul-2014 12:01
It's actually sad to see ... but then again, it's the same story with the Great Pyramids, the Great Wall of China or any other historic places. The pursuit of the almighty dollar is universal ...
LynnH07-Jul-2014 11:39
When I first looked at this street scene (before I read your narrative), I thought... what a strange, circus-like place. Too bad it has become such a tourist-trap, but I suppose we have to remember the real meaning like you mentioned. Great shot. Funny and sad. V
Yvonne07-Jul-2014 11:00
Reflecting on a sad time in history Tom.. v
Isabel Cutler07-Jul-2014 10:52
So appreciate these pictures of Berlin. Such an incredible contrast to the gray drab sadness we reluctantly turned over our passports and visited with our limited allowance of 20 marks in 1975, spending it in a restaurant where residents didn't want to talk to us and shied away.
Guest 07-Jul-2014 10:47
Excellent reporting on a garish scene with its special history. V
Ika Zinka Eferl07-Jul-2014 09:37
Nice street image!V!
Zeeby07-Jul-2014 07:40
Very cool! V
Gerard Koehl07-Jul-2014 07:27
Superbe. V
Shmuel Halevi07-Jul-2014 07:24
Cool restoration of this historical checkpoint.
Helen Betts07-Jul-2014 07:05
Took me a minute to figure this out! Excellent capture of a historic place. V.
Long Bach Nguyen07-Jul-2014 07:01
great candid and next to Mc Donalds
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