Jaunted

This guardhouse between the American and Soviet sections of Berlin, which saw all kinds of East-West standoffs and escape attempts during its heydey from 1961 to 1989, is now a modern replica. Every day, rain or shine, the busloads walk by the Subway restaurant and the "Snack Charlie" deli to snap a photo (for a fee) with actors portraying allied military personnel.

After the wall came down, the original guardhouse was moved to a museum and the watchtower and other historical structures were knocked down in order to make Friedrichstraße the modern thoroughfare it is now.

If you ever find yourself being uncontrollably pushed down the street towards the Checkpoint, rolled up in a sweaty, anxious mob of Leica-toting Louisanians, we recommend you stop, drop and roll. Return at night, when the streets are empty but well-lit and safe. And don't neglect to walk a block east down Niederkirchnerstraße to an actual section of the Berlin Wall still standing. It is—like Checkpoint Charlie and a glass of cold beer with a Döner Kebab—better at night.

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