While I was younger I read these books about a girl growing up in an orphanage in former East Germany, who was sent to West Germany to be reunited with her mother, who had been released to West Germany after being imprisioned. I really liked this story about suddenly being in a new enviroment, getting to know ones own mother and keeping contact with old friends. One of the books is called “Treffpunkt Weltzeituhr” and whenever I´m in Berlin I have to go to Alexanderplatz and to the Weltzeituhr (World Time Clock) at least once.
Erected in 1969 the Clock and the “Fountain of Friendship amongst Peoples” soon became a popular meeting place. I always have a kind of strange feeling standing at the clock, it shows all these different cities, which always reminds me of traveling and adventure, and was built in a state, where people were only allowed to travel to a handful of countries.
And there is a second landmark at Alex: the TV Tower! Also know as my personal point of orientation. Whenever I´m strolling around Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg it always shows me the way….