Jaunted

These days, visitors take their picture in front of the Brandenburg Gate, follow the bricked path in the street nearby which marks the wall's former location, and try to chisel more off of the portions in Potsdamer Platz. Thankfully, we figured out a way to experience the history of the wall free from the bus tour crush and the temptation of further chipping away at the thing.

After taking the obligatory Brandenburg gate photo, make your way east straight down the street Unter den Linden. You can look up at the facade of the Hotel Adlon, where Michael Jackson once dangled his baby out of the window, and pass by the American and British embassies. Take a right onto Wilhelmstrasse, and walk several blocks south until suddenly the wall itself appears on your right.

This block-long portion of the wall, located on Niederkirchnerstrasse between Wilhelmstrasse and Stresemannstrasse near the site of the old Gestapo headquarters, has been gated off from grabby fingers and sits free of souvenir stands. While the street is a popular one for tour buses, they have no choice but to drive by while you enjoy an interlude with history.

When you can't get President Reagan's famous line of "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" out of your head, that's when you can thank us. Go at night to really experience the gravitas of the barrier; where is a violin playing a sad song when you most need one?

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