The Berlin Wall, the ‘iron curtain’ that divided East from West Berlin from 1961 on, had to prevent the mass exodus of East German citizens to the West. In 1963, John F. Kennedy visited the city and spoke during is famous speech the words “Ich bin ein Berliner“, to underline the U.S. support for the people in West Berlin who feared occupation by Soviet Union controlled East Germany.

It is estimated that until 1989, when civilians in East Berlin started to destroy the wall, hundreds of people died while trying to cross this barrier in the hope of a better life.

East and West Germany were finally reunited in 1990. Only a few short parts of the wall were left standing as memorials, amongst which the East Side Gallery on my photo.

Estragon: Let’s go.

Vladimir: We can’t.

Estragon: Why not?

Vladimir: We’re waiting for Godot.

(…)

Estragon: What do we do now?

Vladimir: I don’t know.

Estragon: Let’s go.

Vladimir: We can’t.

Estragon: Why not?

Vladimir: We’re waiting for Godot.

Estragon: (despairingly). Ah! (Pause).

En Attendant Godot – 1949, Samuel Beckett. (Foto taken in Lisbon).

The 16^th century Belém Tower in Lisbon at the shoreline of the river Tagus. Originally built as a fortress but during centuries mainly used to lock up political prisoners.

Nowadays, the tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the important role it played in the maritiem discoveries by Portugal.

7th of July 2011: “Photo of the Week” by Barcelona Photobloggers.

Hidden deeply in the Catalan Pyrenees, in between peaks of three kilometres high, the Valley of Núria can be found on almost 2,000 metres above sea level. Only accessible by a cable train or walking; no roads go there.

Today the valley´s main reason of existens is being a ski resort. Nevertheless it has a great history as being a destination of pilgrims.

Catalan autonomy

Although it is now hard to imagine, but in 1931 in the sanctuary of the virgin of Núria the Catalan Statue of Authonomy was drafted, as a design for the constitution of Catalonia. It’s aim was to grand the area more authonomy.

The happiness did not last long: a few years later general Franco took the power and changed Spain during 36 years into a dictatorship. Everything Catalan was forbidden. Only after his death in 1975 Catalonia was given more oportunity to create it´s own caracter, but the wounds are still noticible.

Nevertheless, the mountains and it´s animals do not appear to be bothered a lot by the bloody facts of history. Together with the clouds literally touching the landscape, it is a thankfull area for photography.