The stars of Berlin: Ampelmännchen

Red Light, Green Light

But it's getting hard to find reminders of the Communist times. The West lost no time in consuming the East; consequently, some are feeling a wave of nostalgia — or Ost- algia — for the old days of East Berlin.

The Ost-algic Herr Ampelmännchen assures Berliners it's okay to move ahead

In recent local elections, nearly half of East Berlin's voters — and 6 percent of West Berliners — voted for the old Communist Party. One symbol of that era has been given a reprieve. As you continue along Unter den Linden, look at the DDR-style pedestrian lights, and you'll realize that someone had a sense of humour back then. The perky red and green men — Ampelmännchen — were under threat of replacement by the far less jaunty Western signs. Fortunately, the DDR signals will be kept after all.