A tourist tradition exists in Berlin, namely taking ones photo next to a "Berliner Baer" in front of the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate).
I have a photo of myself next to such a bear when I was about 10 years old, at the gate at the end of "Under den Linden", and I wanted the same for Alex and Simon.
Alas, when we arrived, we were witness to what appeared to be the tail end of a major battle between two bears!
At first, we thought it was some sort of show, put on for the tourists. But then one of them pulled off his bear head, and fully started socking the other bear in the arms, chest and head!!! It was a full-on bear brawl, while terrified tourists stood by in shock, some filming the bizarre event as it unfolded.
Needless to say, the boys were somewhat wary of having their photo taken, even once both bears calmed down (it seems anyone can dress up and hang out there, asking for tips in exchange for a photo opp, and these two were infringing on one another's territory or something to that effect).
Luckily, we found a third bear a little closer to the actual gate, and convinced Simon to have his picture taken with the nice, calm bear and with Mommy!!!
I have a photo of myself next to such a bear when I was about 10 years old, at the gate at the end of "Under den Linden", and I wanted the same for Alex and Simon.
Alas, when we arrived, we were witness to what appeared to be the tail end of a major battle between two bears!
At first, we thought it was some sort of show, put on for the tourists. But then one of them pulled off his bear head, and fully started socking the other bear in the arms, chest and head!!! It was a full-on bear brawl, while terrified tourists stood by in shock, some filming the bizarre event as it unfolded.
Needless to say, the boys were somewhat wary of having their photo taken, even once both bears calmed down (it seems anyone can dress up and hang out there, asking for tips in exchange for a photo opp, and these two were infringing on one another's territory or something to that effect).
Luckily, we found a third bear a little closer to the actual gate, and convinced Simon to have his picture taken with the nice, calm bear and with Mommy!!!
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