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| The Brandenburg Gate |
We woke up Friday morning at our conference hotel. Lulu's business was over - we had one more day in this marvelous city. After breakfast - we packed our bags - got a one day pass for the transportation. We dropped our bags off at the main station - and started walking the city. We had until 6 PM to see as much as we could.
We have been in Europe 27 days - and except for rain two nights while we slept - it has been dry and sunny. Weather has been 70s.
Pop hit - West of the Wall - talked about lovers meeting in freedom across the wall.
We walked from the train station to the Reichstag - the German Capitol. We walked along the busy boulevards - the Bradenburg Gate - the US Embassy - the Museum Island - and the Berlin TV Tower.
We rode subways - trams - buses - and surface trains. Everything is covered by the 7 euro day pass. The system here is much different than that in London. Here - there are no turnstiles - no ticket collectors. You just walk on and walk off trains - buses - trams. You better have a ticket in your pocket though. Inspectors will hop on the train - and check. If you do not have a validated ticket - you get a summons - which is 60 euros. I was checked once - and luckily I had my ticket. In London - you have a card - with credit on it. Each time you go through the turnstile - you swipe your card. I think I still like the London system better - but this is not bad. You can buy weekly and monthly passes. A single ride is 2.50 euros.
We had lunch downtown at a sidewalk cafe - right in front of the Berlin Tower.
The Berlin TV Tower was built in 1965 in East Berlin for radio - television - telephone communications. It is 1200 feet tall - taller than the Eiffel Tower at 1060 feet - and the Washington Monument at 555 feet. There is a restaurant near the top - a bar - and an observation deck. The restaurant spins once an hour. It is located at the Alexander Plaza - the heart of the city.
Next - we hopped a tram and visited some of the outskirts of the city. Former East Germany is very different than former West Germany.
We visited the campus of Humboldt University. Two years ago - Lulu spent three months here on a DAAD Scholarship to study at Humboldt.
Berlin was the capital before World War II. After the war - the Allies moved the capital to Bonn. In 1991 - when Germany reunited - they brought the capital back here.
At 6 PM - we boarded our train home to Darmstadt. We took the high speed train to Frankfurt - then a local one to Darmstadt. Then we took a cab home about 11 PM.
REICHSTAG - This was the capital of Germany before the war. In 1933 - someone set it on fire. Hitler used it as a distraction to take over the government. After the war - it sat in East Germany - a destroyed hulk. After the wall went down - they renovated and moved the government back here.
BERLIN TV TOWER - This 1200 foot high tower has become a symbol of the city.
The Berlin Cathedral was heavily damaged during the war. It is restored now. It could use a power wash.
HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITY - It is often called the German Harvard. Lulu had a 3 month scholarship to study here.
THE SPREE RIVER - it runs right through Berlin. In some places the Berlin Wall was along this river. Now river cruises highlight the Spree.
Everybody knows that 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis. Also 20 million Russians died in the war. But many other minorities were targets like the Sinti and Roma. Some would call these people gypsies. They were persecuted because of race. Also gays were targeted.
I found this trailer right down by the Bradenburg Gate.
Downtown was preparing for the World Cup. They have big public viewings downtown - lots of fun. These Coke cans had heroes on.
The US Embassy - at the Brandenburg Gate - just West of the Wall.
This cute little tour van had a 2 cycle engine. It smoked and roared like a chain saw.
A school group at the Brandenburg Gate
TRABANT - in East Germany you owned a little plastic bodied car with a 2 cycle engine. It smoked - chugged along in a cloud of smoke.
MERCEDES - Same year in West Germany - you had the beautiful Mercedes. Communism and Capitalism - face to face. No wonder people were killed trying to climb the wall from East to West.
The Altes Art Museum.
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