Berlin 20 - 21 May

Berlin surprised us with its beautiful architecture, both modern and excellent reconstructions since World War 2. Our guide, Vivian, was a very funky young woman who commented on all aspects of life there, from the nude sunbathers glimpsed in the Botanic Gardens to the nightlife.

Vivian told us that the blue pipes seen overhead in many parts of the city are temporary and designed to drain swampy ground in construction sites. 80% of Berlin was destroyed in World War 2.

En route to Checkpoint Charlie, we saw the 2711 concrete blocks which is an installation people walk through with different levels and turns, titled Memorial  to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Bernice at Checkpoint Charlie

At the Berlin Wall is an avenue called Topography of Terror, which was not on our itinerary. The pipe on top was shiny asbestos so those trying to escape fell back into East Germany.

Vivian persuaded this policeman to let the bus park outside Gropius Bau, a reconstructed exhibition hall next to the Wall.

 Gropius Bau was built in 1881. Some details from its façade are shown below.

Gendarmenmarkt is a beautiful square which includes the restored 1821 Konzerthaus, German Cathedral (now housing an exhibition of German Parliament history) and French Cathedral (Huguenot museum). The two churches were built in 1701 and their domed towers added by 1785.

German Cathedral

Konzerthaus and French Cathedral

Apollo, lord of the Arts, with 2 griffins atop the Konzerthaus

 

Altes Museum of Antiquities

Brandenburg Gate 1791

Ministers' offices

The Humboldt Forum is a large-scale museum project in Berlin, Germany, which will have its seat in the reconstructed Berlin Palace, located on the Museum Island. It will incorporate two existing museums, the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art.

Humboldt Forum to open late 2019

Museum Island above and below

River Spree

 

Reichstag 1894

The Victory Column was built in 1873 to celebrate Prussia's victory in the Franco-German War.


Below is the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church known as the Hollow Tooth.  It is on the main swanky street of Berlin, Kurfürstendamm, popularly called Ku Damm.  We bought our new computer nearby.