EINSTEIN=E=MC^2 (Part 2)

The exhibit known as the Einstein Museum is to be found at no. 5 Helvetiaplatz which is the address of  the Bern History Museum. 

The Einstein House visited in Part 1 of this post is situated at no. 49 Krammgasse, on the opposite side of the River Aare.  It is one tram stop from Bern's landmark clock - the Zytglogge - which was at the time of my visit hidden behind scaffolding and undergoing cleaning and maintenance. 

L'escalier aux mille miroirs

In an area of 1,000 sq m lavishly staged memorabilia, written records and film documentaries describe Einstein's life and at the same time illustrate the history of the 20th century. Films, animations, experiments, and a virtual journey through the cosmos explain Einstein's theories in a clear and easy-to-understand way. An audio guide in 9 languages is available to the visitor. 

It was time that defeated me. I had two hours but I still felt I was rushing through the exhibition. I would say that one should set aside at least three hours to take it all in.

No visit would be complete without an Einstein quotation to take away. I jotted down this one: Suspicion is the mother of perception. 

And this telling one from Elsa, his wife:
I wish you had my worries! 

The quotes were on the covers of a couple Time magazines; from 1929 and 1930 respectively.

Munich 1880 - 1894

As a passionate beer drinker I was pleased to learn some cheery beer drinking history - the Einstein family's electrical firm was first firm to illuminate the famous Munich October Beer Festival with electric lights.  (I bet you can win yourself a pint down at the pub with that one Northsider Dave! - we're very educational here you know!)

But things were about to change.

Princeton 1933 - 1955

The time came when the Germans decided they didn't like Albert Einstein and his ilk, even though the family were part of their beloved Munich Beer Festival.

It was in Munich, and through his tirades in the town's Bierkellers and the streets that a certain Herr Hitler, a man who had renounced his Austrian citizenship, came to the forefront of German politics, and eventually into power with a classic false flag operation headed by friend Göring - the Reichstag Fire. 

Albert Einstein went to America.  His final act was to sign the Russell-Einstein Manifesto for Peace which he did seven days before he died.

Here I am sitting with Albert Einstein. We are waiting for the bears. There are four bears in Bern. Mum, dad and their two cubs. Maybe they have names but if they have I have no idea what they are. I forgot to ask the nice lady who showed me a sleeping bear on her monitor.

I wonder if Daddy Bear is called Albert?

In the museum I enjoyed counting muons.  They come from outer space and are very tiny and make sparks in a dark box when they arrive. They are real ETs!  I saw that 10,624 muons had entered  the dark box (I think since 9am). Another trap for the muons is somewhere on the Jungfraujoch. Because it's much higher than Bern more muons can find it. 15,914 was the reading on the counter.

Einstein does not have a grave. His ashes were scattered at an undisclosed location. Princeton is likely.