Berlin: A Summary

Reflections on a shopping plaza

 I am going to cop out a bit here. What follows are some photos that help to explain our time here. 

Looking up from Potsdam Square

Brandenberg Gate

Check point Charlie Instructions

The new roof to the Reichstag

Deborah,Catherine and Hugh at the top of the new dome of the Reichstag

Next door to our hotel is a fabulous chocolate shop, this is the Reichstag!

Looking up in the Tower at the Jewish Museum

Subway from the airpo

The subway from the airport was well organized and probably paid for the 5 day pass we got! This picture shows their new trains which appear as if they are 1 car !!

Knut was the first Polar Bear born in captivity at the zoo, he was immediately rejected by his mother and raised by his care givers. We have seen numerous bear statues, which may or may not be related to this factoid!

Deb with the bears

The holocaust Memorial

The history of Berlin is not complete without the Nazi era. There are 1700 stones, there are various paths through them. It is a little strange as shadows give a different light and if you are not careful you will trample little children playing tag!

Not captured in my photos are the number of cranes. Building is certainly going on !The Berliners divert services during construction as imaged here.

Diverted pipes around a construction area

What it looks like now for about 1000 M

One of the more famous depictions on the wall

The wall and it's history is everywhere. It creates an emotion with me. I am angry we in the west did very little to stop this partition. I grieve the 138 lives lost in the killing area. I wonder what kind of government keeps it's citizens trapped. The atrocity of dividing this city with concrete and guns, the desecration of landmarks such as the Brandenberg gate and Reichstag haunt. I have a difficult time keeping it all in perspective. Nevertheless it is the city's history and some images follow which offer a description , but do little to help understand.

Art on the wall

The walls path, a few meters behind the Reichstag and in front of the Brandenberg Gate

Artists rendition of a defector!

Well we are now in Berlin. The travel by Easy Jet is designed for much younger people, very inexpensive but long lines, no seats in the waiting are and cramped seats. The price very reasionable however the time from downtown to downtown close to that of train travel. Remarkably train tickets are 2-3 times more expensive. I am beginning to understand why!

After landing we  bought a discount travel card for the transit and various museums. Now, three days into our visit I can tell you it was worth it!

We have reviewed all of Deborah’s travel suggestions and visited 7/10 of the destinations!

Our day starts with a meeting in the “situation room”, usually over a cappuccino and a muffin. We decide on an attack strategy of a museum or other public display. We synchronize watches, read the map twice  and set out!

Day One: We did the the Pergamon Museum, followed by the US Embassy and Check Point Charlie. We also say the Reichstag from afar. Not bad for a few hours!

Day Two: We had coffee in the Gendarmie Square, a few blocks  from the hotel. A tribute to Berlin assimilation of religion and and a beautiful venue.

We met with Catherine’s posse and toured the Reichstag and followed up with a dinner. So nice to see Catherine’s friends from Hull, mature, articulate, directed and passionate!

Catherine spent the night with us , filling us in with all the issues of the experiences in Italy and her future plans.

Day Three. We returned to the Museum Island only after heading to East Berlin by mistake, assuming that a subway stop with “museum “ in it was on the museum island! Nevertheless, we made it to the “New” museum which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Next we took the train to view about 1,000 meters of preserved wall, with artists displays on them. Frankly some of the art was a little too abstract for me!

Day 4: We spent over 3 hours at the Topography of Terror, a no holds barred history of the SS and Gestapo. The presentation was well organized and the history a harsh reminder of the fragility of freedom. From my perspective there were a bunch of people who got away with murder, life sentences commuted etc, etc.

We then went to the Jewish Museum, a fantastic new building with no right angles. Again a lot of information and we were both happy for a cold drink at 5:30 pm.

Day 5: More touring with a stop at the History of Berlin exhibit. Consistent with all the displays here beautifully done, well organized but a long process to see it all. There was a tour of a 1974 bunker, designed for 3500 people to stay underground for 2 weeks. There were bunks everywhere, rudimentary bathrooms and food prep, and only designed for 2 weeks. There were 16 of these built, enough for 56,000 people, less than 2% of the population, first come first in. Not particularly comforting!

We also toured Posdam Square, 16 billion Euros has been invested on a site left fallow for 25 years. It is spectacular! I have no idea on the return on investment.

Tomorrow is a 0430 wake up and 0700 flight to Amsterdam. We then hop a BA flight to Heathrow. A Donovan report will follow, he swims the 100 free in 48 hours.

A positive message in art