Berlin has a strange feel to it. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, other than it left me thoughtful and uneasy, though inspired by the architecture and the memorials. After seeing all of the photos, you could argue that we should have been left spinning by the sheer velocity of our sightseeing. But it wasn't that. It might have been the idea that with a basic sense of direction and a calm demeanor you can fit right into the daily life of Berlin like a cog in a machine. Cities should be more intricate, more confusing to the senses, and full of surprises. Berlin is just too... organized. On the surface, at least.
Marc and I navigated Berlin with ease (the transportation is clean, efficient, and intuitive), which really contributed to the amount of sightseeing we were able to accomplish. Our list included: the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of Terror, Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Dome, Unter der Linden, the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), Potsdamer Platz, Neue Wache, Deutscher Dom, Alexanderplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, and the Holocaust Memorial. The photos here are just a sample of our time there.
Berlin, Germany
May 2010
The Berlin Cathedral is stunning, and its location by the water made it über-appealing to me.
Easily one of my favorite things that we did in Berlin was the Reichstag Dome. The lines were relatively short because we waited until the very end of the day to visit. We were also rewarded with a spectacular sunset blanketing a panorama of Berlin with soft orange light.
That's me, top right ^
Below is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Only the field of Stelae is shown, but equally evocative and powerful is the Information Centre beneath the concrete slabs.
Can you see the Reichstag and the top of the Brandenburg Gate in the background above?
At Topography of Terror, an outdoor museum built on the land that housed the Gestapo. the Reich SS Leadership, and many more important Nazi institutions.
Next time, I'd like to get further off the beaten track, focus more on the cuisine, and make an honest attempt to learn some basic German. Next time...
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