| Berlin, Germany |
Upon arriving at Berlin's Tegel Airport on 7 September we were met by our local guide who
by bus took us to our hotel, the NH Mitte. The hotel is very conveniently located on
Leipziger Strasse near the corner of Friedrichstrasse, which puts us within easy walking
distance of many of Berlin's leading tourist attractions.
by bus took us to our hotel, the NH Mitte. The hotel is very conveniently located on
Leipziger Strasse near the corner of Friedrichstrasse, which puts us within easy walking
distance of many of Berlin's leading tourist attractions.
Next morning we went on a two-stop bus tour: our first stop was at the Gendarmenmarkt, a
square bordered by classic buildings; our second stop was at a remnant of the Berlin Wall
which for about three decades divided Berlin between East and West. The rest of the
morning we got glimpses from our bus of the exteriors of Berlin's leading tourist
attractions, such as the State Opera House, the Cathedral, Brandenburg Gate,
Charlotenburg Palace, and some of the principal boulevards. Our German guide did a great
job of providing us with the background of what we were seeing.
square bordered by classic buildings; our second stop was at a remnant of the Berlin Wall
which for about three decades divided Berlin between East and West. The rest of the
morning we got glimpses from our bus of the exteriors of Berlin's leading tourist
attractions, such as the State Opera House, the Cathedral, Brandenburg Gate,
Charlotenburg Palace, and some of the principal boulevards. Our German guide did a great
job of providing us with the background of what we were seeing.
This neo-classic building we saw at the Gendarmenmarkt is
typical of the many we saw in Berlin. Many were severely
damaged during World War II but were restored.
typical of the many we saw in Berlin. Many were severely
damaged during World War II but were restored.
Berlin's famed Brandenburg Gate
In the afternoon Virginia and I visited the large but sparsely decorated Huguenot church
before walking for several blocks on Unter den Linden, an attractive very wide boulevard
with many shops, restaurants and bars.
before walking for several blocks on Unter den Linden, an attractive very wide boulevard
with many shops, restaurants and bars.
Our walk down Unter den Linden took us to Humboldt University. At the University we saw
an interesting memorial to the Nazi's book-burnings in 1938, At the same outdoor plaza we
had the good fortune of coming across a large "peace-justice-brotherhood" type of
international meeting/demonstration conducted in English and filmed for an internet website.
an interesting memorial to the Nazi's book-burnings in 1938, At the same outdoor plaza we
had the good fortune of coming across a large "peace-justice-brotherhood" type of
international meeting/demonstration conducted in English and filmed for an internet website.
A nonconformist near Humboldt University. His
skirt originally was the fabric-part of an umbrella.
skirt originally was the fabric-part of an umbrella.
The monument at Humboldt University memorializing
the burning of banned books by the Nazis in 1938.
the burning of banned books by the Nazis in 1938.
After observing the goings-on at Humboldt University for about half an hour we went to the
nearby Berlin Historical Museum which does a good job of presenting German history. It is
housed in a classic building with a modern annex.
nearby Berlin Historical Museum which does a good job of presenting German history. It is
housed in a classic building with a modern annex.
Part of he exterior of the Berlin Historical Museum
showing a small section of the original building and the
spiral glass-enclosed stairway of the new annex.
showing a small section of the original building and the
spiral glass-enclosed stairway of the new annex.
Near the Berlin Historical Museum we visited a large
war memorial building in which was this lone display of a
mother grieving for her fallen son --- all very moving.
war memorial building in which was this lone display of a
mother grieving for her fallen son --- all very moving.
On the next page you will find described and illustrated our group visit to the Pergamon
Museum followed by our cruise on the Spree River. That same afternoon on our own we took
another interesting walk in central Berlin. Below are examples of what we saw.
Museum followed by our cruise on the Spree River. That same afternoon on our own we took
another interesting walk in central Berlin. Below are examples of what we saw.
At Berlin's Guggenheim Museum we found this exhibit of wolves flying
through the air, hitting a glass wall, and falling to the ground. The
"wolves" were created artificially and their "fur" was made of dyed
wool. Strange!
through the air, hitting a glass wall, and falling to the ground. The
"wolves" were created artificially and their "fur" was made of dyed
wool. Strange!
An incongruous scene: an artist on a busy
street corner working on a painting depicting
a leafy country scene, Available for sale.
street corner working on a painting depicting
a leafy country scene, Available for sale.
We also took a relaxing walk through part of the Tiergarten, a large restful park in central
Berlin. Leaving the Tiergarten we came to the Sony Center, which consists essentially of a
circle of multi-story buildings with the central plaza covered by a high transparent roof.
Around the plaza are theaters, shops, bars, and restaurants (including several "outdoor"
restaurants under the transparent roof).
Berlin. Leaving the Tiergarten we came to the Sony Center, which consists essentially of a
circle of multi-story buildings with the central plaza covered by a high transparent roof.
Around the plaza are theaters, shops, bars, and restaurants (including several "outdoor"
restaurants under the transparent roof).
Here you can see the interesting way in
which the roof of the Sony Center is
supported.
which the roof of the Sony Center is
supported.
Partial view of the Sony Center, Berlin.