This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column.
Michael Commane
Greetings from Berlin.
Some weeks ago I was invited to attend Josi and Andreas' 25th wedding anniversary.
I had officiated at their wedding in Berlin. The three of us got to know one another while I was a Catholic chaplain at the universities in Berlin. During one summer break approximately 15 of us set off on our bicycles from Berlin and cycled from Dún Laoghaire to Dingle.
Tempus fugit. There is no ferry service now at Dún Laoghaire and probably of more historical importance there is no high concrete wall surrounding the western section of Berlin.
That former enclave for the 'alternative scene', 'drop-outs', those who refused to do military service, the city to which no Aer Lingus plane ever flew, is now the new German capital, changing its face every day with a bigger, brighter and better infrastructure.
Indeed, before the unification and while it was still under the control of the four powers, theoretically a person could have been shot on sight on the streets of Berlin.
Have you ever found yourself meeting a group of people you have not seen in 25 years? It really is extraordinary.
When I arrived in the hall a man and woman were on the stage introducing people. I immediately recognised Josi but did not know the man standing beside her until I was told it was her husband, Andreas.
And then within the next 10 to 15 minutes his face became clearer. The face, the voice of 25/30 years ago. And so it was with others in the hall: some I recognised at once, others took some time for me to put shapes and names on them.
They are all now in their mid-50s with families and children.
We sat down and recalled events of 25/30 years ago. Some remembered certain events and others had no recollection. Strangely, I had no recollection of being at the wedding 25 years ago but I distinctly remember Andreas fixing a puncture on our arrival in Tallaght from Dún Laoghaire. With promptings, events sprang back to memory, things I had long forgotten.
After the initial introduction, we all moved to the church, where we had a religious service. Andreas is a member of a choir in Berlin and they sang at the service.
It was a lovely, inspiring church service with prayers and music. I have never seen such a religious service in Ireland. Or more accurately said, I have never been at such a service in Ireland.
So much has changed in the city since the Wall came down. But there are those who might say Berlin has lost much of its quirkiness. Before it was tucked away, had few enough visitors and there were always rumours of intrigues and conspiracies.
Before the Wall came down West Berlin paid East Berlin to take its waste. The Eastern communist authorities simply dumped it in the ground and now with no Wall the rubbish the West paid to get rid of is back. In fact, close to Schönefeld Airport there is a hill to be seen - thereunder lies much of the old West Berlin rubbish.
I have been struck by the number of cyclists who do not wear helmets or high visibility jackets.Lllll
Guess what, there is no WiFi on Berlin buses or tubes.
We are toying with doing that cycle again. Yes, we are all older but this time it would be from Dingle to Dún Laoghaire - we'd have the prevailing wind on our backs.
And no doubt the rain and wind would still be a talking point. It was 30 years ago.
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