Tag: berlin

Movin’ On Up…To the East Side

© 2019 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

The wall.

For you and me, it could be the barrier between our bedroom and the hallway.

For Germans, during the years between 1961 and 1989, it meant something vastly different.

The Berlin wall was a heavily guarded, concrete barrier, that divided Germany both physically and politically during the Cold War. Constructed by the German Democratic Republic, it remained until its demolition in November 1990 after the reopening of the border in 1989.

There are many of my colleagues who remember the division of their country and more importantly, when the wall came down. One friend tells me that each time she comes back to Berlin, she still get emotional when she sees the portions of the wall that remain, reminders of the years of separation from her family.

Today, the wall is a large draw for visitors to Berlin, eager to see the physical barrier that split families and friends. There are quite few locations where the wall can be seen in the city, including Mauerpark, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial, Schlesischer Busch Watch Tower, Potsdamer Platz and the longest remaining stretch at the East Side Gallery located on Mühlenstraße. Having visited the wall on a few occasions, it is always surprising to see how narrow it really was. I guess I always thought that its height and depth was what deterred people from scaling it and defecting to the other side, however, the guards and their machine guns were the real obstacle.

A few years ago, while on a tour bus, we had driven down Mühlenstraße and I was mesmerized by the brightly painted longest span of the wall. Why it had taken me so long to return, I am not sure, but on this trip to Berlin, I was going to take advantage of the sunny afternoon.

Arriving at the East Side Gallery, I decided to start at the part of the wall nearest to the Oberbaum Bridge, the iconic double decker bridge that crosses the River Spree (note to self, come check out this beautiful bridge on another trip to the city!).

At the start of the wall, there is the Berlin Wall Museum, located on the second floor of the Pirates of Berlin building, a great place to start your exploration of the history of the wall.

This museum, founded on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie (November 2014), highlights why and how the wall was built and how Germans, both East and West, suffered; how this aberration changed people’s lives. There are many historical facts, exhibitions, film clips and photos and a portion of the museum that commemorates the dead who died on the wall during its twenty-eight years of existence.

Mikhail Gorbachev had announced the founding of the museum on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie in November 2014 in Berlin. A part of the museum is dedicated to him, as he is a trigger and guarantor of change and a peaceful revolution.

After my departure from the museum, I headed to the start of the wall and made my way down its length, taking the time to examine each of the one hundred and five murals painted by artists from all over the globe. Possibly the largest and longest lasting open-air gallery in the world, originated in 1990, the murals document the time of change when the wall fell and the jubilation that those affected by its presence experienced.

Though some of the paintings have suffered from exposure to the elements, the heritage protected landmark still draws over three million visitors every year. Work has been conducted to restore over a third of the murals and the effort continues.

Any visit to Berlin should include a stop at one of the remaining portions of the wall. The East Side Gallery is highly recommended for its artistic renditions of the joy felt around the world when the wall came down. Head first to the museum, walk the wall’s length and even check out the backside, filled with graffiti…the perfect place to enjoy both the river and an important historic landmark marking the reunification of Germany.

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East Side Gallery

  • http://www.eastsidegallery-berlin.com/
  • Address: Mühlenstraße 3-100, 10243 Berlin, Germany
  • Hours: 24 hours
  • Admission: free
  • Getting There: Nearest U-bahn stations, Warschauer Straße, Schlesisches Tor, Jannowitzbrücke

The Wall Museum

  • https://thewallmuseum.com/
  • Address: Mühlenstraße 78-80, 10243 Berlin, Germany
  • Hours: 1000-1900, daily
  • Admission: Adults, 12,50€, Students, 6,50€, Groups of 10 persons or more, 9,50€, Children up to 7 years, free
  • Getting There: Nearest U-bahn stations, Warschauer Straße, Schlesisches Tor, Jannowitzbrücke

A Cathedral? Not Really.

© 2018 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

When walking along the river Spree, there is one building that dominates the skyline.

The Berlin Cathedral.

Though this amazing structure is commonly known as a cathedral, it actually only holds the status of a parish church for the Protestant community.  Its beauty truly surpasses others within the once-walled city, but it is its history that really sets it apart.

Once the court church to the Hohenzollen dynasty, the rulers of Prussia and later, the German Emperors, this fifteenth century church had its humble beginnings as the chapel of the new royal city palace.  As time progressed, it was deemed a collegiate church…a Domkirche (cathedral church).  Though it was not the seat of the bishop or the central church of a diocese, it continued to be known as the Dom Cathedral.

From the early nineteenth century, the church was transformed from a court church into a neo-classical building by architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.  As time progressed and monarchy changed, several designs were proposed for a new church.  By 1888, Emperor Friedrich Wilhelm II, finding the church too modest, insisted on a new design which would reflect on the monarchy’s power and prestige.   After many designs were presented and rejected, it was architect Julius Carl Raschdorff’s palatial conception that was selected to compete with St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London.

The church’s construction began in 1894 and a short eleven years later, the new church was consecrated.

The Second World War was detrimental to the church with it sustaining much damage.  After years of neglect, restoration work began in 1975 with a full-fledged rehabilitation beginning in 1993 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, which had divided the city since the war.

Churches are my passion and I have seen many during my travels.  I have to admit, however, as you walk up to this one, it is one of the most impressive with its massive center dome and the smaller two flanking it.  With its new golden cross (2008) glittering in the sun, the Lustgarten Park situated in the front, filled with tourists lounging in the sun and the fountain reflecting multicolored hues…it is certainly a place that would lure anyone of any faith.

After paying my admission, I donned my audio guide earphones and entered the the first stop on the tour, the Sermon church.

Wow.

There is not much more that I can say that can adequately describe the interior of the Sermon church.  Filled with bright light emanating from the large windows and reflecting from the gilded adornments, the church is a sight to behold.  My reaction was to turn three hundred sixty degrees in order to take in everything, from the sandstone pillars and figures of the four great reformers, Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli and Calvin to the reliefs depicting the lives of the Apostles that decorate the walls above the statues.  The mosaics with beautiful portraits of the evangelists were especially breathtaking.

The chancel takes center stage and my eye was initially drawn to it as it sits high above the congregation and is surrounded by glass paintings representing the Nativity, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.  The altar, made of white marble and onyx presides before the gilded Apostles’ Screen designed by Friedrich Schinkel.  The beautifully carved pulpit to the left of the chancel is also particularly noteworthy.

Turning to the left side of the church, the great Sauer organ was galvanizing with its massive size and artistry.  Installed during the building’s construction, it is the largest preserved organ in its original state and is considered to be the largest in Germany with 7269 pipes and 113 registers.

The main focus, however, was the gilded cupola with its large windows and colorful mosaics near the apex.  The second dome on the site, after Emperor William II deemed the first too small, is the highlight of the Sermon Church with a height of 225 feet and a diameter of 100 feet.  Standing in the center of the church I admired the best view of the dome…absolutely mesmerizing!

Venturing outside of the Sermon church’s main area, I took notice of the crypts located under the organ gallery.  Though there are many others within the cathedral, these are the burial sites of Kurfürster Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg, his wife Kurfürstin Dorothea, German Emperor, Friedrich III and Kurfürster Johann Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg.

Opposite the organ gallery, I ventured into the Baptismal and Matrimonial Church.  The entrance, flanked by ornate sarcophagi and created by sculptor Andreas Schlüter, led to a barrel vaulted church.  This more intimate space, was adorned by an altarpiece, The Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit, considered to be one of the most significant pieces of artwork in the cathedral and an organ built by the Potsdam company Alexander Schuke, the first to be built after the Second World War.

Heading upward on the Imperial Staircase, I walked slowly, inspecting the multicolored marble and the stone from the Lahn region used in construction as well as the unique candelabra and ceiling crowns.  Adorning the ceilings and wall spaces are paintings displaying stories from the life of Jesus Christ and parables.  Take note of the “Nazareth” painting hanging opposite the staircase.  The original, by Albert Hertel, was lost during the war, however, this reconstruction was painted by Brandenburg restorer and painter Ekkehard Koch.

On the upper level, there is a museum which offers an architectural history on the cathedral with large scale models of wood and plaster.  Many of these show some of the original designs by Friedrich Stüler, which were never realized.

Heading higher…270 steps…I was able to lay my eyes on some of the best views of Berlin from the dome.  Fascinating statues lined the wide balustrade and I could see famous landmarks such as City Hall, the Humboldt Forum, Museum Island and the television tower.

My final stop was on the lower level of the cathedral, which is the burial place of the Hohenzollern dynasty who ruled Prussian since the Middle Ages and the German Empire from 1871 until 1918.  Though the most important kings and emperors are buried near their favorite castles in Berlin, the immense space is lined with beautifully carved tombs and statues from the influential family.

My visit completed, I made my way from the cathedral back into Lustgarten Park.  Facing the building, I stopped and gazed up at the domes, my eyes drawn to the spot where I had stood just before.  Equally impressive from the outside and the inside, the Berliner Dom is one of the most stunning churches I have visited.  An amazing place of history and architecture, it ranks high on the lists of attractions in the once divided city.  It now acts as a place which brings people together…a place of worship and a place of tourism.

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Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)

  • https://www.berlinerdom.de/en/
  • Address:  Oberpfarr- und Domkirche zu Berlin, Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin
  • Hours:  Monday through Friday, 0900-2000, Saturday, 0900-1700, Sunday, 0900-1200
  • Services:  Sundays and public holidays, 1000, Communion Service and Children’s Service, Sundays and public holidays, 1800, Service with Sermon and Hymns, Saturdays, 1800, Vespers, Monday through Saturday, 1200, Midday Worship, Monday through Friday, 1800, Evening Worship (Thursdays as Evensong in English and German)
  • Admission:  Adults, €7.00, Children, €5.00

 

The New Guard

© 2018 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Sometimes you set out to find landmarks.   Sometimes they find you.

As I was walking across the river onto Unter den Linden, I came across an intriguing structure.

Drawn in by its classicist style fronted with a row of columns and a gable frieze, I walked closer to inspect the sandstone-colored building topped with the goddess of victory.

Stepping onto the portico, I peered inside the dimly lit interior, anxious to see what significance this building had.

In the center, illuminated by the light of an aperture above is a mother embracing her dead son.

The statue, Mother With The Dead Son, by Käthe Kollwitz is extremely touching  in its simplicity, honoring those victims of war and tyranny in Germany.

Originally a memorial designed by Prussian master builder, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, his first work in Berlin, the New Guard (Neue Wache) building was designed to honor those who died in the Napoleonic Wars and the Wars of Liberation.  The structure also served as a guardhouse for the royal guard until the end of the monarchy in 1918.

In 1931, a memorial for the fallen soldiers of the World War was created here by Heinrich Tessenow, however, it was severely damaged by bombings during the Second World War.

After restorations in 1960, the building has come to serve as a memorial to the victims of fascism and militarism.  An eternal flame was placed in the center of the structure and in 1969, the remains of an unknown soldier and an unknown concentration camp prisoner were buried here, marked by a commemorative plaque.

Today, you can venture here any time of day to pay homage to those who gave their lives during wartime as well as inspect an important piece of sculpture.  Try to visit on Wednesdays, when the Great Guard of Honor gathers in front of the memorial to march the length of the facade.

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Neue Wache

Under the Dome

© 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Many wait for weeks to secure a reservation to the Reichstag in Berlin.

We talked our way in!

Let me explain…

A friend of mine, Vadim, showed me a historic photograph, taken on May 2, 1945 by Yevgeny Khaldei, of two Soviet soldiers raising the flag of the Soviet Union atop the Reichstag building during the Battle of Berlin on May 2, 1945.  Regarded as one of the most recognizable images of World War II, I remembered seeing it before, but never realized that it had been taken up on the Reichstag.

Vadim, a Russian by birth, wanted to visit the site of this picture, an important point in Soviet history, symbolizing the victory of the USSR over Germany.   Checking the Reichstag website and discovering that visits were allowed by reservation only, he also discovered that the only reservations available for the next day were much earlier than our scheduled arrival.

Deciding to fill out the reservation form despite not being able to make the time slot and applying for a party of five, he included a note explaining that we would not actually be arriving in Berlin until much later…”Would it be okay to use the reservation later in the day?”  Though he received a confirmation, it was apparent that it was auto-generated and no one had actually read his comments.

Later in the day, we made our way to the Reichstag, confirmation in hand, not really expecting to be allowed admittance.  Approaching a security official, we explained our situation and we were allowed us inside to speak to another official.

Security entrance.

First hurdle down…our foot was in the door.

Relating our story once again, we were shocked when the official returned, after checking with another person of authority,  and informed us that we would be allowed inside.  YES!

“Passports please.”

What?  No one told us that we needed to bring our passports!  Explaining that we did not realize that passports were necessary, we offered our drivers licenses.  Thankfully, this was acceptable!

Second hurdle down.

As the official checked off our names, it was apparent that Vadim had made up our birthdays (I love him…he thinks I am eight years younger!).  Crossing off the registered dates, surprisingly, he corrected each and uttered no complaint…until…the last name.  One of the women registered to visit was not present…instead, another had come in her place.

A look of frustration crossed his face and I think we all half-expected to be thrown out of the building.  Again, he left the table to speak with his superior.

We all thought, “This is where he returns with a big, fat, German NO”. “Nein!”

As he returned to his chair, he looked down at his manifest, crossed out the erroneous name, wrote in the replacement and directed us to the security checkpoint.

We were in!

Now what?  Honestly, I have to admit that aside from knowing that this was a historic building, we really did not know what we were going in to see.  After ascending to the roof and receiving our complimentary audio guide, we headed out to the dome to find out.

The Reichstag building was opened in 1894 and was modeled after the Memorial Hall in Philidelphia to house the Imperial Diet of the German Empire.  After being severely damaged by fire in 1933, the building was abandoned for its original intent, as the parliament of the German Democratic Republic (the Volkskammer) met in the Palast der Republik in East Berlin and the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany (the Bundestag) met in the Bundeshaus in Bonn.  The building was further damaged by air raids and during the Battle of Berlin in 1945, it was captured by the Red Army.

Although an attempt was made in the 1960s to refurbish the building, a full restoration was finally completed after the German reunification on October 3, 1990.  At the culmination of the project, the building once again became the meeting place of the Bundestag.

As we entered the large dome which sits atop the Reichstag, we admired the 360-degree views of Berlin while ascending the steel ramps that curve upwards to the top of the dome.  Our audio guides continued to give commentary, but changed from the history of the building to the surrounding landscapes and buildings in the city.  At the top of the dome, the opening allows for ventilation and there is seating available for those wishing to take a rest and enjoy the views.

The main hall and debating chamber of the Bundestag could be seen through the glass enclosure beneath the mirrored cone at the center of the dome.  This cone directs light into the Riechstag, increasing energy efficiency and giving visitors a view of the parliamentary proceedings when in action.  Reservations can also be made to witness a pleinary session from within the chamber when available.

 

Visiting the Reichstag dome is something that all should try to accomplish while in Berlin.  Although we were extremely excited that we were able to gain entry to this historic monument, I do wish that we had been a little better informed.  One of the items of interest, that I realized later that we had missed, was the cyrillic graffiti left behind by Soviet soldiers after the seige in 1945.  This historical defacing has been carefully preserved and can be seen during visits to the Reichstag.

I guess we will have talk our way in again on a future visit!

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The Reichstag Building

  • https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/registration/245686
  • Address:  Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
  • Hours:  Daily from 0800 until 2400 with last admission at 2200.  Closed all day on December 24 and after 1600 on December 31.  Also, the dome will be closed from March 13-17, July 17-21 and from October 9-13 for cleaning and maintenance.  The roof terrace will still be accessible.
  • Admission:  free with admission (by reservation) every quarter of the hour
  • Registration requests must be submitted online with a complete list of participants.  The following information is required for each person:  surname, first name and date of birth.   For those who have not booked in advance, you may register at the service center near the Reichstag Building.  If any free spots are available, you will be issued a booking confirmation.  You can also register to visit with the next two days.  Registration requires first and last names and date of birth.  Identification matching reservations will be required for admittance.
  • Getting There:  Bus number 100 and the M41 both stop at the  Reichstag.  The nearest U-Bahn station is the Bundestag.  The Reichstag is also a short walk from Berlin’s main rail station, Hauptbahnhof.

Remembering the Fallen

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Several Soviet Memorials are located in Berlin, erected to commemorate its fallen soldiers.

As we drove through the city, on the way to our hotel, we passed one of the memorials, the Tiergarten.

A colleague of mine, of Russian descent, was very excited to see that the monument was not far from some of the other landmarks we had planned to visit later that day.  Having been to Berlin a few times before, I was actually surprised to see that it was located just down the road from the Brandenburg Gate.  Maybe I had seen it and did not realized its significance or maybe I was asleep during the bus tour, but I was excited that I would be able to visit something new and share it with someone that it meant something to.

After our visit to the Brandenburg Gate, we headed west on Strasse des 17 Juni (17 June Street) and found ourselves at the entrance of the memorial which is located in the Großer Tiergarten, a large public park and a place where Adolf Hitler had plans to build Welthauptstadt Germania.  Impressively flanked by two Red Army ML-20 152mm gun-howitzer artillery pieces and two T-34 tanks, the notable monument, a curved stoa, is topped by a towering statue of a Soviet soldier, whose arm is in a position to symbolize the Red Army’s putting down of the Nazi German state.  A Cyrillic inscription under the soldier translates into “Eternal glory to heroes who fell in battle with the German fascist invaders for the freedom and independence of the Soviet Union”.

My friend, reading as we walked, explained that the monument was erected to commemorate the 80,000 soldiers of the Soviet Armed Forces who died during the Battle of Berlin in April and May 1945.  It was constructed  in 1945, within a few months of the capture of the city, and built from stonework taken from the destroyed Reich Chancellery.

As we walked to the rear of the property, we discovered an outdoor museum which highlighted the memorial’s construction and offered a look into the city’s other memorials.

Though the memorial has special meaning to those such as my friend and the many who make pilgrimages from various Soviet countries, there are those, however, who still oppose the monument.  The structure has suffered at the hands of vandals and has earned some harsh nicknames, such as “Tomb of the Unknown Rapist” which references one of the various crimes committed by the Soviet occupation troops.

The Tiergarten was a surprise for me.  Not one of the major attractions of Berlin, I had not planned to include it in my day, however, I was excited to learn more through my visit with my Russian friend.

As we walked the property, admiring the tanks, a bunny hopped out from the bushes.  A short while later, a fox surprised us as he emerged from the same bushes.  Was the fox searching for the bunny?  Though the fatalities of the war ended many years ago, this was a reminder of how things once were…when there were those who were pursued and killed…

Though there are two other Soviet memorials in Berlin, commemorating the fallen, Treptower Park and Schonholzer Heide, make sure to check out the oldest and most conveniently located…Tiergarten.

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Soviet War Memorial (Tiergarten)

 

 

 

 

Brandenburger Tor

© 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe is the Brandenburger Tor, or Brandenburg Gate.

The first time I ever laid eyes on this magnificent piece of architecture, it confirmed my presence in Berlin.  Yes, I knew I was in Berlin, but standing before it…well, I was really there!

Built between 1788 and 1791 on the orders of the Prussian King, Frederick William II, by Carl Gotthard Langhans, it was the key entry point to the city, marking the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel, the former capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Located in the western part of the city center, the gate stands near the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament, and is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which leads to the Royal City Palace.  Though most of Berlin was destroyed at the end of the war, the iconic gate survived, albeit with heavy damage.  Though East and West Berlin attempted restoration, once the wall was erected, access to the gate, located in East Berlin was eliminated.

As you stand before the gate, its most notable feature is the Quadriga, the statue which depicts the goddess of victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses.  The statue remained in place for over a decade before Napoleon decided that the statue be dismantled and shipped to Paris.  Remaining in storage until 1814, it was returned to Berlin when Paris was captured by Prussian soldiers following Napoleon’s defeat.  When the statue was remounted atop the gate, one change was made…an iron cross was added to represent Prussia’s military victory over France.   During Berlin’s communist era, the cross was removed, but restored in 1990 during the unification of Germany.  Today, the Quadrica grandly sits atop the gate for all to admire.

Many historical events have also taken place at the Brandenburg Gate.

When Hitler came to power in 1933, he was treated to a torchlight procession through Berlin which passed under the gate en route to the presidential palace.

Thirty years later, in 1963, after the Berlin Wall was erected, former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, delivered one of the most famous addresses of his presidency, to a crowd of more than 120,000 gathered near the Brandenburg Gate.  Most people remember this speech for Kennedy’s one phrase, “I am a Berliner” as they do for former President Reagan’s speech, also at the Brandenburg Gate, where he challenged Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” in 1987.

Today, you can view a commemorative plaque which lies across Eberstrasse, which was unveiled at the 25th anniversary of Reagan’s historic address urging for peace.

 Although there are many landmarks that I have visited throughout Europe… London Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, Roman Coliseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa…I have never been moved by one so much as this, remembering its historical significance.  Counting the bullet holes still remaining in the columns, the feelings that it invokes is indescribable. Though the Brandenburg Gate has undergone restoration over the years, it appears that construction of the subways line beneath the city and the heavy trucks that regularly make deliveries nearby have caused more cracks to appear in this amazing structure.  It is such a shame to think that one day, it might not be here.
Visit while you can…
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Topography Of Terror

© 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Though it came tumbling down in 1989, parts of the Berlin Wall still  stand as a testament to the Cold War era.

One such stretch of the wall is located appropriately enough at the Topography of Terror, an outdoor and indoor history museum located on Niederkirchnerstrasse, on the site in which during the Nazi regime from 1933-1945, buildings housed the headquarters of the Gestapo and the SS.  During Allied bombings in 1945, these buildings were destroyed and the ruins demolished after the war.

The Berlin Wall ran along the south side of the street, previously known as Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse and separated the American and Soviet zones.  Here, adjacent to the Topography of Terror, the longest outer segment, still remaining, can be seen both from within the museum’s grounds and from the outside.

Exhibitions marked the museum’s beginnings on Berlin’s 750th anniversary in 1987.  Shortly after, the cellar of the Gestapo headquarters, a gruesome site of  torture and execution, was located and excavated.  The site, covered at the time with canopies, was turned into an open-aired memorial and museum and detailed the history of repression under the Nazis.  Today, a permanent open-aired museum informs visitors of the timeline of the Third Reich, from Hitler’s rise, to the fall of Berlin, through the use of statistical information, anecdotal clips, photographs and architectural remnants.

Both fascinating and sobering at the same time, the Topography of Terror is worth a look, if not for the information, but for an up-close and personal look at the historical barricade.

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Topography Of Terror

  • http://www.topographie.de/
  • Address:  Niederkirchnerstraße 8, 10963 Berlin, Germany
  • Hours:  Daily, 1000-2000
  • Admission:  free
  • Note:  Additional sections of the Berlin Wall can be seen at and near the Potsdamer Platz.

Memorial To the Murdered Jews of Europe

© 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

The first time I ever walked down Ebertstrasse in Berlin, the sight of 2,711 concrete slabs on a sloping field was a a sight to behold.  Though I wasn’t sure what I was resting my eyes upon, it was mesmerizing!

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, was designed by Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold and inaugurated on May 10, 2005, sixty years after the end of World War II.

The “stelae” are approximately 7’10” long by 3’1″ wide, vary in height and are arranged in a grid pattern in rows of 54 going north to south and 87 heading east to west at right angles.  The slabs are not marked, instead an underground “Place of Information” holds the  names of approximately three million Jewish Holocaust victims.

 

The memorial was built on a site known for its historical significance…the area housed Hitler’s chancellery building and a few hundred yards away, to the south, his bunker lies beneath a nearby parking lot.  The memorial is also located near Berlin’s foreign embassies and was also an area that the Berlin Wall was situated.

One of the most powerful landmarks in Berlin, it should not be missed.  Walk through the memorial and just remember…

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Memorial To the Murdered Jews of Europe

  • https://www.stiftung-denkmal.de/startseite.html
  • Address:  https://www.stiftung-denkmal.de/startseite.html
  • Hours:  Daily, 1000-2000
  • How To Get There:  Take the U-Bahn Line 2 or S-Bahn, Lines S1, S2 or S25 and exit at the Potsdamer Platz.  You can also take Bus Lines 100, 200, 347, M41 or M85.

Checkin’ Out Checkpoint Charlie

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“YOU ARE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR”…

was the sign (in English, Russian, French and German) that marked the main entry and departure point at the division of East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

From 1947 until 1991, Checkpoint Charlie was one of the best known border crossings.  It allowed diplomats, journalists and non-Germans to enter East Berlin on a one-day pass, but it is also known for another event in October of 1961.  It was here that U.S. and Soviet tanks faced off angrily…an incident that the world feared would lead to World War III.

Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall signified the division between East and West…capitalism and communism…opportunity and repression…until the wall was torn down on November 9, 1989.   It is hard to fathom how much has changed in Berlin and that it was only 28 years ago that Berlin was still a divided city.

Today, Checkpoint Charlie, it is one of the sights that every visitor should see due to its historical significance.  Although the wooden barrack where the visitors to East Berlin were required to pass through for vetting was removed, a US Army guardhouse and a copy of the original border sign stands in its place.  The original white booth that originally stood here, now resides in the Allierten Museum in Berlin-Dahlem.  The location of the wall can be spied in the roadway where cobblestones now mark the site and photographs of an American and a Soviet soldier stand tall.

Two gentlemen in military uniforms stand facing Zimmerstrasse and give tourists an idea of what entering Checkpoint Charlie would have been like.  Don’t expect them to pose for photos, however, one of them holds a flag and conveniently waves it in front of his face when he spies a camera pointed his way.   They will pose with you for a fee of 3€ and the other soldier will stamp your passport with commemorative stamps, for 2€.

While in Berlin, take a few moments to stop by Checkpoint Charlie and try to imagine how many stood here, trying to figure out a way to the other side.  You can also visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum where you will learn about the Berlin Wall and the many daring escape attempts by East Germans.  An unbelieveable experience!

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Checkpoint Charlie

  • http://www.berlin.de/en/

Bear Hunting in Berlin!

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Throughout the city of Berlin…there are no lions or tigers…only bears!  Oh my!

The Buddy Bears are life-size fiberglass sculptures that have become unofficial ambassadors for Germany and symbols of Berlin since 2001.  Designed by Klaus and Eva Herlitz and sculptor Roman Strobl, the bears were created for an artistic event which aimed to bring art to the streets as other events did in many major cities of the world.

Promoting peace, international understanding and tolerance among nations, cultures and religions, the bear’s raised arms offer friendliness, optimism and quite often a positive mood…think of all those cute selfies!

There are four different designs…standing on all four paws, standing on two legs, standing on its head and a sitting position.  After the initial exhibit, many of the bears were sold at auctions which benefited child relief organizations.

Today, the Berlin Buddy Bears can be found on private premises, in front of hotels and embassies as well as in the foyers of various office buildings.

It is always exciting to be out walking and come across these fantastic sculptures!  If you think they are as adorable as I do and want to seek out some amazingly, unique selfies from the German capitol..I dare you, go bear hunting!

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The Berlin Buddy Bears