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| Clinton to undress Berlin's famous diva |
| 2002-10-03 |
| A diva will be disrobed in the centre of the German capital this evening, assisted by the former US president Bill Clinton who is being flown in for the unzipping ceremony. In a huge fireworks and champagne extravaganza, Berlin's 18th-century Brandenburg Gate, dubbed "the diva" by locals, is to be revealed to the public for the first time in more than two years, following an extensive facelift. Munich stuntman and fashion designer Willy Bogner plans to begin the ceremony by arriving in a hot-air balloon, abseiling on to the gate and unhooking a silk drape covering the Quadriga, a bare-breasted goddess of victory and peace who rides a chariot pulled by four horses on top of the gate. Then he will give Mr Clinton the signal to open the 21-metre long zip running down the monument, allowing its slinky robes to slide to the floor. Ofewgawdsake. I used to live there, and he used to be my president... I'm so embarrassed... The unveiling of Germany's most famous monument will be witnessed by hundreds of politicians, celebrities and members of royal families from around the world. "It's a striptease in stone," Mr Bogner told Die Welt. "We have been practising it for weeks and I just hope the weather holds." "But we're trying to keep it dignified..." The unveiling will form the centrepiece of celebrations to mark the 12th anniversary of German reunification today. City officials hope it will finally give Berlin the natural centre it has desperately lacked since the city was reunited on October 3 1990, and will reclaim the monument from its associations with Nazi brownshirts who marched through its six portals. The Berlin Wall went right behind the Brandenburger Tor, a matter of feet. The West Berliners could see Victory's butt but not her face. I considered that kinda symbolic at the time... Thanx to Steve for this one. I think... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 I did not have sexual relations with that statue. |
| Posted by: PJ 2002-10-03 20:18:20 |