Berlin

I arrived in Berlin this morning about 11:00 am and waited at the airport until the rest of the tour arrived a 3:15 pm. Everyone made it fine and we met our tour guide, Al Hargreaves at the airport. Everyone is very nice and had no trouble with any of their flights. We boarded the luxury tour bus and took a lightening tour of Berlin with our East German tour guide Sylvia.



The group listening to our tour guide

Berlin is a fascinating city, and our short tour did little more than whet our appetites to return to this historic place. I will say that a tour bus is NO way to tour. (Personal opinion) Is seems bizaar to sit behind dark smoked glass gazing out at the city passing by. Every alley reveals a gorgeous building or inviting park, but poof, you pass it by. I have very much enjoyed our walking tours last week with patient and knowledgable Christoph. We truly had the opportunity to SEE and experience the places we visited. Enough whining, on with the tour.

Pictures from behind the glass are garbage, so I did not bother. We did see several parks, monuments, historic buildings etc. flash by. Use your imagination.

Eventually we arrived at a the Bebelplatz where were supposed to take in the sites. Alas, a huge event was underway and we were not able to see the square. However, here is a pic of a HUGE Catholic Church (St.-Hedwigs-Kathedale)

St.-Hedwigs-Kathedale

Back on the bus and off through winding crowded streets to the Brandenburg Gate. Look, a statue, oh, I missed. Oh, what a beautiful par..... oops, off we we go. Isn't that a gorgeous....darn, that bus is in the way. Wow, did you see the architecture on that church,... or was it an office building. Oh good, the bus is stopping so we can get off.

Finally we are at the gate where we hear about the political and historic significance of the Gate. The Berlin Wall snaked just outside this gate and was a significant symbol of power.


The Gate and Fountain

The wall was fortified outside the gate because it was believed that the Americans, if they ever tried to tear down the wall, would come through the Brandenburg Gate. As our tour guide noted, such a notion is ludicrous since army generals seldom select a convenient funnel through which to direct their troops.


The Brandenburg Gate


Note the tall communications tower that served East Germany



The Fernsehturm built around 1965 by the GDR
Note what is formed by the late afternoon sun on the ball- Yes, a cross


I did not get a picture of it, but there was a tourist gig where everyone sat around a square bar. Under every seat are bicycle pedals. Everyone buys a beer, and then helps pedal around the square while drinking beer. Brilliant!


We then walked through the Holocaust Monument which sits nearlyu in the shadow of the Brandenburg gate. Designed by designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold the 4.7 acre site is dominated by huge square blocks. Set in an undulating valley the stones each represent a number of persons killed in the Holocaust. The architect received some criticism for commemorating all the victims of the holocaust rather than just Jews who died. It is a moving and strange experience. People were taking thier pictures, strolling, eating lunch, and just lounging. One couple spent several minutes having their photo taken while they kissed. Love on the Holocaust plaza. But then again, love is what we need more of these days. Where better to share a loving embrace than in the middle of the place where hate paraded so proudly, a death ruled so absolutely

The Holocaust Monument