2303 - Berlin, Germany

Bridget (I think) is a nurse and was born in East Berlin in the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany. East Berlin, if you aren't familiar, was one of four sectors of Berlin that the United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union occupied after the Second World War. The four countries administered Berlin together until the Soviets decided to leave the group. East Berlin became the de facto capital of East Germany from 1949-1990.

Berlin was separated by a wall from 1961-1989. East German soldiers had shoot to kill orders for anyone caught in no man's land.

On 3 October 1990, Germany reunified into one country again which meant Berlin also became one city again. Since reunification, Germany has poured a lot of money into the former East Berlin side to try to bring services and infrastructure up to German standards. There is still a visible difference in architecture on the east and west sides of Berlin. East Berlin still has evidence of war damage.

Among the older generations, they use sometimes derogatory terms to describe someone from the east side or the west side. If you were Ossi "from the east," you would be stereotyped as lacking ambition, having a poor work ethic, and was chronically bitter.

If you were Wessi "west," you would be stereotyped as arrogant, selfish, impatient, and pushy.

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3227 - Mölln, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Mölln is a small city of about 20 000 located in northern Germany. The Elbe-Lübeck Canal flows through the town, and there are eight small lakes that surround the city. It was founded in the 12th century and was a part of the Old Salt Route. Salt that was produced in the salt mines of Lower-Saxony was shipped to the Baltic Sea. Till Eulenspiegel, a legendary trickster known for exposing vices and provoking thought, is said to have lived in Mölln the last year of his life. He apparently died of the plague in 1350, but his existence has never been proven. Mölln has several monuments dedicated to him.

3322 - Hamburg, Germany

Happy birthday to me! What a lovely handmade card from the sender. Beautiful penmanship. Am Rothenbaum is the site of the main court of the German Open Tennis Championships. The International German Open has been played at the Rothernbaum since 1892, making it Germany's longest running tennis tournament. The current stadium was built in 1999 and can hold 13 200 people.

3232 - Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal North Pierhead Light was built in 1882. There were nine keepers of the light until 1897. It was redesigned in 1903 and is 12 meters high. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was started in 1872 and wasn't opened for large-scale watercraft until 1890. The canal is 2.1 kilometers long that goes from Sturgeon Bay in Lake Michigan to Green Bay. There are no locks on this canal. The canal was sold to the United States government in 1893 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the canal.

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