Souvenirs intro

You don't have to walk far down Unter den Linden from Brandenburger Tor to find souvenir shops left and (mostly) right. Scores of coffee table books document the changing face of Berlin and its most scarred and wounded moments in history. The irrepressible cheer of Ampelmännchen figures make for more pedestrian memories of Berlin. Other tiny beings that don't take up much luggage space are the straw and wood figurines of the Erzgebirge that are sold in many tourist gift shops. Most of the ornaments and nutcrackers are meant for display at Christmas.