There is one thing I love about Palma and there is also plenty of it in Berlin: street art. You can find numerous murals on the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall. But my favorite place is another historical site. Located in the western part of the formerly divided city you can do a little hike to get there if you like. The former radar station on top of the Teufelsberg (Devil’s Mountain) has long been abandoned by the Americans. And was soon taken over by street artists from all over the world.

The way up leads through the woods, colorful now in late autumn. Once you reach the top a chilly wind contributes to the slightly spooky atmosphere of these remnants of the cold war. Actually, the mountain itself is man made and consists of rubble. British and American military used to control the air traffic to Western Germany from here. And intelligence services spied on Eastern Europe. In the ruins and on the walls of the dilapidated buildings you find all sorts of murals. And the former cafeteria serves as a museum, now.

Unfortunately, they don’t serve coffee anymore. So you better bring your own. Besides the official exhibitions there are plenty of hidden gems to discover. When I glimpsed through a keyhole I caught sight of the technical equipment of the former intelligence apparatus. But I prefer to wander around and gaze at the fancy street art. Where suspiciousness, fear and hostility were at home during a dark chapter of European history, imagination and color attract an international crowd today.