Friedrichsbrucke over the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

“Berlin combines the culture of New York, the traffic system of Tokyo, the nature of Seattle, and the historical treasures of, well, Berlin.”

Hiroshi Motomura

Schlossbrucke (Castle Bridge) over the canal of the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

“The Berliners are unfriendly and reckless, gruff, and bossy. Berlin is odious, noisy, dirty, and grey; roadworks and congested streets wherever you go – but I’m sorry for everyone who does not stay here.”

Anneliese Bödecker

Obervaumbrucke crossing the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Albert Einstein

Jungfern Brucke (Virgins Bridge) over the River Spree Canal in Berlin (Germany)

There was a custom that the bride had to cross the bridge before the wedding. If the bridge creaked, the lady's virginity was probably not in good condition.

Legend of this bridge from 

which it owes its name.

Bridge across the Eberswalder Street in Berlin (Germany)

Where do you find a man that you're needing?
You'll find him in the heart of Berlin.
Love is all the food he'll be feeding.
Love is where you'll start in Berlin.

Locked beneath the lines in (his) wide streets,
on Kurfürstendamm you'll begin.
Hold him in the dark of the sidestreets.
Everything is yours in Berlin

Lyrics from Berlin

by Heide Bruhl

Eberswalder Strasse Bridge in Pankow, Berlin (Germany)

Entschuldigen Sie ist das der Sonderzug nach Pankow-
Ich muss mal eben dahin
Mal eben nach Ost-Berlin
Ich muss da was klärn mit eurem Oberindianer
Ich bin ein Jodeltalent und will da spieln mit 'ner Band
Ich hab 'n Fläschen Cognac mit und das schmeckt sehr lecker
Das schlürf ich dann ganz locker mit dem Erich Honecker
Und ich sag: Ey Honey ich sing für wenig Money
Im Republik-Palast wenn ihr mich lasst
All die ganzen Schlageraffen dürfen da singen
Dürfen ihren ganzen Schrott zum Vortrage bringen
Nur der kleine Udo nur der kleine Udo
...

Lyrics of Sonderzug nach Pankow
from Udo Lindenberg

Bösebrucke in Berlin (Germany)

“Twenty thousand people cross Bösebrücke, fingers are crossed, just in case”

In the song Where are we now?

By David Bowie

Oberbaumbrucke crossing the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

"Little in life is uglier than a city at war with itself. Sunday witnessed the latest battle Berlin has waged against itself when representatives of the districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg met on the Oberbaumbrücke bridge to pelt each other with food and foam-rubber clubs. The event held almost every July since 1998 is known as Wasserschlacht, or "water fight," but the weapons are more primitive and disgusting than the name would suggest. Indeed, what started out as a battle fought with flour and water has grown to include eggs, fruits and vegetables... "

Newspaper Der Spiegel

July the 28th, 2008

Bridge over a pond in the Park of the Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin (Germany)

Soon I must leave you, my Berlin.
Must again travel into the desolate cities.
Soon I shall sit on the distant hill tops.
In dense woods carve your name.
Farewell, Berlin, with your bold fires.
Farewell, your streets full of adventures.
Who has known as much as I have of your pain.
Saloons, you, I press you to my breast.

Poet Alfred Lichtenstein

Obervaum Bridge crossing the River Spree in Berlin (Germany)

Ich brauche keine fernen Alpen
Ich brauch kein Haus mit Pool am Meer
Ich brauche auch keine Diamanten,
denn alles was ich brauch hab ich schon hier

Wasser aus der Spree
Wasser aus der Spree nanana

Mein Schicksal liegt in deinen Händen
Ja ich weiß ich bin verloren
Wie oft hast du mich schon betrogen
und wie oft habe ich dir danach verziehen

Wasser aus der Spree
Wasser aus der Spree nanana

Song by Berlin band Trikot

Glienicke Bridge over the Havel River between Berlin and Postdam (Germany)

"That's all that happens, Smiley thought; one little man walks across a bridge"

Excerpt from Smiley's People 

about the exchange of spies

during the Cold War

John Le Carré

Glienicke Bridge (Bridge of Spies) over the Havel River between Berlin and Postdam (Germany)

"Cuando me nombraron de nuevo corresponsal en Alemania, en el verano de 1996 y después de unos años en la redacción central, el puente de los espías mantenía todo su encanto y nos hizo ilusión instalarnos allí. No duramos mucho,el muro en las mentes llegó a ser tan insoportable o más que el muro de hormigón armado."

Excerpt from Diario de un Muro

José María Siles

Oberbaumbrucke across the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

Berlin ist eine Stadt, 

verdammt dazu, 

ewig zu werden, 

niemals zu sein" 

Berlin is a city 

condemned forever 

to becoming 

and never to being

Karl Scheffler

Friedrichsbrucke (Frederics Bridge) over the Spree River in Berlin (Germany)

In allen Brücken, drunter uns die Zille
Hindurchgebracht, ertönten die Signale
Gleichwie in Trommeln wachsend in der Stille

From the poem Berlin

Georg  Heym