Historic Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie

White guard shack in the street.

McCheckpoint  Charlie

pieces of the Wall

Golden Else

Brandenburg gate in the distance.

Brandenburg Gate, American Embassy to the right.

Memorial to Jews killed in World War II

TV Tower is tallest in EU

The World Clock

Bundestag

Central column of dome are mirrors.

tall building is hospital where TB virus was discovered

It's a great view of Berlin from here.

Interior art of destroyed church.

Canopy over the Sony Center.

buildings under the Sony Canopy.

Do dogs ride free ?

Historic Berlin.  What an old and new city at the same time.  I guess as an American, my interest focuses most on the recent past, ie WWII, the Wall, the reunification of East and West.  

The U Bahn station at Kochstrasse reminds us that this is Checkpoint Charlie.  You can see the white guard shack in the middle of the street.  And above my head a sign reads "You are leaving the American sector."  A ceremonial American soldier stands guard.  As we look back from the Russian side of things, we can see the golden arches in the sunshine luring us back.  I had to included this advertisement I saw on an adjacent building about non-profits as I know many of my readers will appreciate it. Pieces of the Wall that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989  are seen at certain parts in the city.  The victory column with the golden sculpture of Victoria with a laurel wreath, referred to by the Berliners Gold else stands on top.  If you look in the other direction, you see the famous Brandenburg Gate. Next to the Brandenburg Gate is the American Embassy.  And next to the American Embassy is a monument area remembering the deaths of Jews throughout Europe in World War II.  We take a quick trip on the U-Bahn to Alexanderplatz.  Behind the yellow tram in the next picture, you can make out a very, very tall tower.   It's called the TV tower and it is the tallest structure in the European Union.  Also in this platz is something called the World Clock.  You can tell what time it is all around the world by just walking around it.  Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is the Reichstag or Bundestag building.  It is the current seat of the German Parliament.  It was pretty damaged during the war by bombs.  The exterior has been salvaged but the interior is all new and a new dome has been built on top.  It is an excellent spot to see the whole city.  Next door to the Bundestag is a memorial to all the Sinti and Roma people killed by the Nazi's. We see a familiar name in the stone:  Auschwitz.   A church dedicated to Kaiser Wilhelm is left standing in its half destroyed condition to remember the scars of war.  Many beautiful buildings have been built in Berlin and it does show itself to be the economic powerhouse of Europe.  The picture that looks like a tent canopy is over a building set called the Sony Center.  The final shot is for animal lovers.  Berlin transportation system is dog friendly.  On a leash or course.  There's still more to come about my trip to Berlin...the museums.