History Comes Full Circle: Berlin Before and After the Wall - SPIEGEL ONLINE - International

Why depressed? I would have gone in a heartbeat. Did get to go in the 90s

I made it over to the east once while stationed in Berlin. It's something I'll never forget. I purchased a blanket, a handmade ballpoint pen, and a few moore small things that I could carry. We went as a group of 10 in fall of 88. I wanted to go back (not knowing of course) to buy some crystal drinking sets and gold leaf China sets. It was dirt cheap, but really good quality stuff. Well of course I never made it back to the Eastside since it came down a year latter. I was really disappointed that I didn't get to buy the really good stuff, but oh well. I made up for it by being at Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate on November 9, 1989. I was off duty that day and as soon as the news broke, myself and a few others took off and headed down to the action before the orders came down to stay way from the area. I was gone all day and all night into the nest day, just enjoyed the history making moment.