Angela Merkel preferred scheduled sauna bath to watching Berlin Wall fall!
6 Nov 2009, 1443 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

* Education Directory * Exam Results * Who is Who * Information *Tutorials * Articles * Quote * Classified

Berlin, Nov. 6 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has revealed that she was not part of the frenzied East German crowd that poured through the newly opened border to witness the historic fall of the Berlin wall, instead she was taking her scheduled sauna bath.

On the night of 9 November 1989, after work, Merkel headed to the sauna with a female friend, as she did every Thursday.

"The atmosphere had been tense for days, I thought something was going to happen, and had heard the announcement on television that the borders would open," the Guardian quoted Merkel, as saying.

"But it was Thursday, and Thursday was my sauna day so that's where I went - in the same communist high-rise where we always went," she added.

Many easterners rushed to the border anticipating that it might be sealed as suddenly as it had opened, the report said.

"I figured if the wall had opened, it was hardly going to close again, so I decided to wait," she said.

"My family always had this in-joke that when the wall fell, we'd meet in the Kempinski in Berlin and eat oysters. We've still not got around to doing that - not that I'm a great fan of oysters," she added.

After the sauna, Merkel and her friend went for a beer before finally joining the crowds heading west at the Bornholmer Bridge later that night.

Merkel, who was a 35-year-old physicist when the wall fell, said she had been "astounded" by the arrogance of one West German politician, Otto Schily, "who said we Ossis [slang for East Germans] were only coming over for the bananas."

"Of course, we were fascinated by Mediterranean fruits because we hadn't seen many before, so I was astounded by this arrogance."

Merkel recounted that she used her "welcome money" given by the West Germany government for practical items. "You needed money to go to the toilet, or to get a cup of tea - it was November and it was cold. I thought it was a very practical idea - regardless of the millions it must have cost the government." (ANI)

Related Latest

Snoop Dogg opens Wall Street trading Helena Bonham Carter doesn't like watching her own films Sarkozy's claims of demolishing Berlin Wall challenged Sarkozy recounts how he chipped away at Berlin Wall with a pick axe Angela Merkel preferred scheduled sauna bath to watching Berlin Wall fall! Watching your own victory gets competitive juices flowing: Study Jay-Z learnt to perform live by watching Bono Margaret Thatcher saw Berlin Wall's fall as German threat to peace, stability U2 to mark fall of the Berlin Wall with free gig Archaeologists uncover ancient Roman bath in Syria

Related Latest

US to give crucial information on Headley-Rana accomplice's 26/11 role to India Restoration of Mughal road in J-K heads towards completion China wants a Chinese version of Tibetan Buddhism, says Dalai Lama Cultural heritage of Manipur showcased in Sikkim Green Park stadium's scoreboard, the only manually operated scoreboard in India Dalai Lama hopes PM will discuss Tibet issue with the U.S. leadership 3 injured in fire at Jodhpur's handloom showroom White House prepares for first state visit by Manmohan Singh Bamboo fencing on Nainital's hillside roads to prevent mishaps Indian Navy vessel on solo circumnavigation of world reaches New Zealand

• US to give crucial information on Headley-Rana accomplice's 26/11 role to India
• Restoration of Mughal road in J-K heads towards completion
• Cultural heritage of Manipur showcased in Sikkim
• Green Park stadium's scoreboard, the only manually operated scoreboard in India
• White House prepares for first state visit by Manmohan Singh

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights