Want to know what it's like to live in a country where government surveillance is rampant and your every move is tracked? See how fun it is to be watched at Zur Firma, a new bar in Berlin decorated with East German paraphernalia, including an interrogation table and fake security cameras!]]>
John McCain is using Barack Obama's vacation videos against him! Footage of the crowd waiting for Obama in Berlin where he gave a speech last week opens a new campaign ad, which alleges that Obama is "the biggest celebrity in the world" and... thus... unfit to be president?
We're not sure we follow, but no way would 200,000 people line up for Paris Hilton any more (if they ever would have).
Both candidates will be speaking to much smaller crowds today, as McCain visits Racine, Wisconsin and Obama stops in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Then McCain's off to Panama City, Florida for a benefit concert featuring John Rich of Big'n'Rich. Who's the celeb magnet now?
Related Stories:
· John McCain Hosting Billionaires at the Plaza [HC]
· Obama Scorns Your Spandex [Jaunted]
· Obama-mania Sweeps Africa [Jaunted]]]>
Visitors to modern-day Germany are almost 20 years late to catch the Berlin Wall in action. But the structure that divided the city for 30 years and served as a symbol for the Cold War for both sides is visible thanks to the government's GPS tour of where the wall used to be.
Like an art museum audio guide, a "Walk the Wall" device can be picked up at several locations--like the Brandenburg Gate and popular crossover Checkpoint Charlie--and rented by the hour to dispense history lessons at various points where the wall used to stand.
Because it uses GPS, the guides can also tell you if you've strayed too far from the wall and how to get back on track. An iPod tour can't do that!
Related Stories:
· Walk the Wall [Berlin.de]
· iPod Audio Tours Taking Over New York [Jaunted]
· Berlin Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: burnblue]]]>
The newest version of Madame Tussaud's wax museums opened up in Berlin over the weekend, but just seconds in to the new museum's life, a vandal struck: A Berlin man leaped right into the exhibits and tore off Adolf Hitler's head.
The wax figure of Hitler is now being repaired and the management of Madame Tussaud's is adamant that they'll return him to the exhibition. (The museum says market research they carried out before opening revealed that a majority of Germans wanted to have him on display.)
Ripping heads of wax dolls does sound like a nice way to get revenge over people, though. Only we mightn't target Hitler straight out: there's this rather enticing version of Britney Spears to be dealt with first.
Related Stories:
· Madame Tussauds Berlin [Official Site]
· Hitler Will Return [Spiegel]
· Madame Tussaud is a Slave 4 U [Jaunted]
[Photo from Prague Wax Museum: Curious Expeditions]]]>
Well-informed visitors to Berlin this week could've been witnesses to the World Chess Boxing Championships which just finished up, crowning Russian Nikolai Sazhin as this year's world champion chess boxer.
Not up with the ultra-cool sport of chess boxing? Neither were we, but now we know it's literally a combination of boxing and chess. Six rounds of chess (each four minutes long) are alternated with five rounds of boxing (three minutes each), and you can lose the match either by getting into checkmate or being knocked out. At least, that's the simple version.
We are still trying to find out where the 2009 Chess Boxing Championships will be held, but as soon as we do, we're getting into training.
Related Stories:
· World Chess Boxing Organization [Official Site]
· World Chess Boxing Champ Crowned [Escapist]
· Berlin Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: AlexandreHervaud]]]>
It won't take you long to think of a few celebrities who've had trouble dealing with fame. Apparently, the same problems can occur in the world of polar bears. And that's why the biggest tourist magnet ever at the Berlin Zoo, abandoned polar bear Knut, might be taken out of the limelight soon.
Turns out that Knut has gotten so addicted to the adoration of the public that he can't survive without it. For example, the zoo closed for a day recently due to bad weather, and he howled and screamed the hours away until his fans returned. If there are no people near him, Knut becomes distressed and angry.
Some of the staff at the Berlin Zoo are considering sending Knut to a smaller animal park where he gets less attention, but presumably the attention would follow him. Unless he gets smuggled anonymously. If you find a cute (but slightly psycho) polar bear in your backyard soon, let us know.
Related Stories:
· Polar Bear Knut Addicted to Fame [news.com.au]
· Polar Bear Travel: Knut The Movie [Jaunted]
[Photo: Sacred Destinations]
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When we watch old movies depicting New York City in the 70s, we admire a few things, including the imitation leather jackets everyone seemed to have, and the insane amount of graffiti all over everything. Now you can relive an even more intense graffiti culture, says the New York Times, in current day Berlin.
Apparently graffiti art is making a serious comeback in the German capital, with famous tags literally all over the place--in the nice neighborhoods, across sidewalks and up buildings. It's currently the most "bombed out" (read: graffitied) city in Europe.
Young local artists are redefining their own version of "Berliner Strassenkultur" and spraying the place up. Photographer Peter Sutherland says:
It's like everyone grabbed a can of paint at one point and just went for it.
And it's not all amateur hour either. You can spot tags by famous graffiti artists like Os Gemeos and Banksy if you know where to look. Can't get there soon? Here's a closer look:
Related Stories:
· One Wall Down, Thousands to Paint [NYT]
· St. Louis' Dinosaur Tags [Jaunted]
· Icelandic Graffiti [Jaunted]
[Photo: missis_jones]]]>