Garden of Exiles

This afternoon I visited the Jüdisches Museum, an excellent exhibition about the history of the Jewish people, from two thousand years ago to the present day. The new part of the building was designed by Daniel Libeskind, with three "axes" - continuity, holocaust and exile. The axis of Exile leads out into this garden where 49 concrete stelae are laid on slanting ground, with Russian olive trees planted on top as symbols of hope. Walking around the uneven ground gives a sense of unsteadiness and disorientation which the architect meant to mirror that felt by emigrés to a new land.

As I photographed these young people in the garden of Exile, I couldn't help but think of all the young people who voted, maybe for the first time, in our elections. We are in a new landscape today, and it feels unsteady and disorientating to many. I hope that the growing political engagement of young people will bring hope to our country's future.

Also today, I walked along the River Spree, to the East Side gallery where artists have painted on a long stretch of the Wall, and across to the western bank, into Kreuzberg. Then up to Checkpoint Charlie, which is one of the most touristy parts of Berlin. Only 18,600 steps today !