The Ampelmännchen have, since the reunification of Germany, become one (if not the only) of the few symbols of Communist German to have survived and prospered. They were the East German pedestrian traffic light symbols during communist rule.
Nowadays they are cherished and beloved by Germans both from West and (especially) the East.
After seeing these "männchen" in their natural environment and engaged in their day to day activity, you may be tempted to take one home with you. Unfortunately there exists no 'adopt and ampelmännchen scheme' as yet, to remove them from their habitat could cause trauma not only to them but their entire tribe of 'signalized crossings for non-motorized traffic' so what is an ampelmännchen aficionado to do???????
Luckily there is an answer and it is to be found on Karl Liebknecht Strasse number 5, the Ampelmann Shop.
Here with out fear of reprisal you can buy, to your hearts content, virtually ANYTHING with the ampelmännchen symbols on them. From bags to t-shirts to footballs to earrings to ice trays to postcards and everything in-between.
If you can imagine an ampelmänn on something, they probably have it here.
If like me you are a bit of an ampelmänn- spotter (to coin a phrase) there is no better place in Berlin to go to get your fix.
Its open from 9h30 till 20h00 and no-one will look at you funny if you turn up at 8h00 and wait patiently outside in the freezing snow........... read more