Berlin 2009

The Brandenburg Gate on Pariserplatz, with the US Embassy bordering it on the left. The first day of my trip and my first stop. I was still adjusting to the time zone and woke up at 4:30 am, so I arrived early before all the crowds.

The Brandenburg Gate on Pariserplatz, with the US Embassy bordering it on the left.

The first day of my trip and my first stop. I was still adjusting to the time zone and woke up at 4:30 am, so I arrived early before all the crowds.

A closer look at the Gate. Originally designed as a symbol of peace and one of four gates around the Prussian capital, it was redesigned as a symbol of victory during the Nazi era.

A closer look at the Gate. Originally designed as a symbol of peace and one of four gates around the Prussian capital, it was redesigned as a symbol of victory during the Nazi era.

The Gate again, later in the morning when the tourists showed up.

The Gate again, later in the morning when the tourists showed up.

The back of the Reichstag building, as seen from Brandenburg Gate. There’s a cobbled line drawn oddly down the middle of the street at odds with the traffic lines. This indicates where the Berlin Wall once stood with the Reichstag on the West side.

The back of the Reichstag building, as seen from Brandenburg Gate. There’s a cobbled line drawn oddly down the middle of the street at odds with the traffic lines. This indicates where the Berlin Wall once stood with the Reichstag on the West side.

The Reichstag building, with it’s glass dome, in all its glory! The four towers at the corners represent the four provinces that came together to form Germany. I took the tour up through the glass dome twice, once in the day and once at night. It gives a great view of the city.

The Reichstag building, with it’s glass dome, in all its glory!

The four towers at the corners represent the four provinces that came together to form Germany. I took the tour up through the glass dome twice, once in the day and once at night. It gives a great view of the city.

I’m really here, they aren’t just pictures I took off Google! This was after I did my tour. When I showed up, crazy early, there was no line. Dem Deutchen Volke means For the German People. A big theme in the Reichstag, like our House of Reprsentatives, is transparency in government, which is really important to the Germany people after the Nazi era.

I’m really here, they aren’t just pictures I took off Google! This was after I did my tour. When I showed up, crazy early, there was no line. Dem Deutchen Volke means For the German People. A big theme in the Reichstag, like our House of Reprsentatives, is transparency in government, which is really important to the Germany people after the Nazi era.

The carvings all over the building are really beautiful.

The carvings all over the building are really beautiful.

View from the glass dome. Right next to my head is the Hospital Charite, one of the biggest and oldest teaching hospitals in Europe. It’s 200 years old, was where Berlin Black Plague victims were treated, and was where Robert Koche did his work and discovered the causitive organism for TB.

View from the glass dome. Right next to my head is the Hospital Charite, one of the biggest and oldest teaching hospitals in Europe. It’s 200 years old, was where Berlin Black Plague victims were treated, and was where Robert Koche did his work and discovered the causitive organism for TB.

More views from the glass dome.

More views from the glass dome.

Inside the glass dome is a mirror cone that directs natural light into the chamber where the Bundestag sits. The whole thing is crazy eco friendly.

Inside the glass dome is a mirror cone that directs natural light into the chamber where the Bundestag sits. The whole thing is crazy eco friendly.

Me with the mirror dome. From here, you can look down into the chamber where the Bundestag sits. They weren’t in session when I was there.

Me with the mirror dome. From here, you can look down into the chamber where the Bundestag sits. They weren’t in session when I was there.

Outside the Reichstag is a memorial to the members of congress who spoke out against the Nazi party and were subsequently killed. Each slab lists their name and the date they died, as well as where. There’s about sixty of them, most of them died in concentration camps.

Outside the Reichstag is a memorial to the members of congress who spoke out against the Nazi party and were subsequently killed. Each slab lists their name and the date they died, as well as where. There’s about sixty of them, most of them died in concentration camps.

The manhole covers in Berlin show the city skyline! You can see the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Tower, the Berliner Dom, and several others I never quite identified, though I think the Radio Tower is in there too…

The manhole covers in Berlin show the city skyline! You can see the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Victory Tower, the Berliner Dom, and several others I never quite identified, though I think the Radio Tower is in there too…

The Holocaust Memorial, next to the Brandenburg Gate and the US Embassy. About 260 concrete blocks create and scary maze that blocks out light and sound. The number doesn’t have any meaning.

The Holocaust Memorial, next to the Brandenburg Gate and the US Embassy. About 260 concrete blocks create and scary maze that blocks out light and sound. The number doesn’t have any meaning.

This is what it looks like when you get down into it. You can’t tell if there are any people near you and all the sound of the city is blocked.

This is what it looks like when you get down into it. You can’t tell if there are any people near you and all the sound of the city is blocked.

Across the street from the Holocaust Memorial is a Dunkin’ Donuts. Some things are universal in the world it seems : Starbucks, McDonnald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and KFC weren’t hard to find. Also, the street name is AWESOME.

Across the street from the Holocaust Memorial is a Dunkin’ Donuts. Some things are universal in the world it seems : Starbucks, McDonnald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King, and KFC weren’t hard to find. Also, the street name is AWESOME.

This is Humbolt University, with a statue of Humbolt in the foreground. I’d have more pictures of myself in all of this, and I did ask lots of people, but most people favored getting pictures of my feet than pictures of the buildings. This is where Einstein taught and Max Plank studied.

This is Humbolt University, with a statue of Humbolt in the foreground. I’d have more pictures of myself in all of this, and I did ask lots of people, but most people favored getting pictures of my feet than pictures of the buildings. This is where Einstein taught and Max Plank studied.

Across the street from Humbolt University is the Bebelplatz where the famous Nazi book burning took place in the middle of the square.

Across the street from Humbolt University is the Bebelplatz where the famous Nazi book burning took place in the middle of the square.

There’s a plaque in the square to commemorate the book burning. The quote on the left is from 1926 from Heinrich Heinie, “If you burn books today, you burn people tomorrow.”

There’s a plaque in the square to commemorate the book burning. The quote on the left is from 1926 from Heinrich Heinie, “If you burn books today, you burn people tomorrow.”

Under the Bebelplatz is a memorial to the book burning: an empty library, all the shelves left blank after their contents were destroyed. There’s a window in the square to look down at the empty shelves.

Under the Bebelplatz is a memorial to the book burning: an empty library, all the shelves left blank after their contents were destroyed. There’s a window in the square to look down at the empty shelves.

Statues of Friedrich II across from Humbolt University.

Statues of Friedrich II across from Humbolt University.

The National Library, closed to the public, but with a beautiful courtyard inside with a fountain and tall, ivy covered walls. It was mostly under construction, like a lot of Berlin.

The National Library, closed to the public, but with a beautiful courtyard inside with a fountain and tall, ivy covered walls. It was mostly under construction, like a lot of Berlin.

Under der Linden, a long beautiful boulevard stretching from Brandenburg Gate to Humboldt University. This was originally a bridal path for Prussian kings, now a main shopping strip in Berlin.

Under der Linden, a long beautiful boulevard stretching from Brandenburg Gate to Humboldt University. This was originally a bridal path for Prussian kings, now a main shopping strip in Berlin.

Friedrich der Grossen, or Old Fritz was one of the early Prussian kings who helped make the country a military and intellectual powerhouse in Europe. The base of the statue shows scenes from his life.

Friedrich der Grossen, or Old Fritz was one of the early Prussian kings who helped make the country a military and intellectual powerhouse in Europe. The base of the statue shows scenes from his life.

Me and Old Fritz!

Me and Old Fritz!

The Neue Wache, a memorial to the victims of war and tyrrany. The statue is of a grieving mother holding her son. It’s in a guard tower next door to Humboldt University and looks like every other classical beautiful building but inside it’s cold and dark and the city noise is cut off. I couldn’t capture the sheer SIZE of the space but it’s utterly dwarfing and leaves a mark.

The Neue Wache, a memorial to the victims of war and tyrrany. The statue is of a grieving mother holding her son. It’s in a guard tower next door to Humboldt University and looks like every other classical beautiful building but inside it’s cold and dark and the city noise is cut off. I couldn’t capture the sheer SIZE of the space but it’s utterly dwarfing and leaves a mark.

The glass and steel roof of Potsdamerplatz. It’s like a cone but off center. A free-standing structure, like the dome of the Reichstag.

The glass and steel roof of Potsdamerplatz. It’s like a cone but off center. A free-standing structure, like the dome of the Reichstag.

The outside of Potsdamerplatz and its big U Ban station.

The outside of Potsdamerplatz and its big U Ban station.

The front gates to the KeDeWe, one of the largest (and most scary organized) department stores in Berlin, closed for the evening.

The front gates to the KeDeWe, one of the largest (and most scary organized) department stores in Berlin, closed for the evening.

The KeWeDe is organized by floor into section. There’s a men’s wear floor, a women’s wear floor, and a floor for specialty foods like chocolate. Lots of chocolate. I bought lots of truffles, including the Berlin Truffle with a stamp of the Brandenburg Gate on it.

The KeWeDe is organized by floor into section. There’s a men’s wear floor, a women’s wear floor, and a floor for specialty foods like chocolate. Lots of chocolate. I bought lots of truffles, including the Berlin Truffle with a stamp of the Brandenburg Gate on it.

Berlin loves bears (ber being the word for bear in German and the city standard having a bear on it) and there are figures of bears with their arms over their heads all over the place, painted in different ways. This doctor bear was outside an optomitrist office.

Berlin loves bears (ber being the word for bear in German and the city standard having a bear on it) and there are figures of bears with their arms over their heads all over the place, painted in different ways. This doctor bear was outside an optomitrist office.

My closest train station on Wittenburgplatz. It was beautiful and old with tile mosaics in a style from the 1920s. There were two bakeries and a big flower shop inside. All the train stations were clean and without graffiti, I was really surprised to find.

My closest train station on Wittenburgplatz. It was beautiful and old with tile mosaics in a style from the 1920s. There were two bakeries and a big flower shop inside. All the train stations were clean and without graffiti, I was really surprised to find.

The other side of the train station.

The other side of the train station.

The Theater des Westens, near my hotel, really pretty.

The Theater des Westens, near my hotel, really pretty.

A closer shot with me in it.

A closer shot with me in it.

The Ludwig-Erhard-Haus in the distance, which houses the Chamber of Commerce and Berlin Stock Exchange, and the Kant-Dreieck building, a funky tower with a big sail on top. There was some weird architecture in Berlin.

The Ludwig-Erhard-Haus in the distance, which houses the Chamber of Commerce and Berlin Stock Exchange, and the Kant-Dreieck building, a funky tower with a big sail on top. There was some weird architecture in Berlin.

The Gendarmenmarkt with Friedrich Shinkel’s Konzerthaus, a big beautiful theater and concert hall. It’s flanked on either side by the twin…

The Gendarmenmarkt with Friedrich Shinkel’s Konzerthaus, a big beautiful theater and concert hall. It’s flanked on either side by the twin…

Deutscher Dom and…

Deutscher Dom and…

Franzosische Dom.

Franzosische Dom.

In front of the theater is a big statue of Friedrich Schiller looking very dashing, even though I don’t like philosophy.

In front of the theater is a big statue of Friedrich Schiller looking very dashing, even though I don’t like philosophy.

In an auto mall off Under den Linden I found THIS. Oh my god. It’s the Bugatti Veyron, fastest road car in the world at 254 MPH, costs 1000000 euros. It’s an engineering marvel and I would DIE to touch one. And I was two feet away! I snuck inside while no one was looking just to be able to BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS IT, yes I am that lame, do not judge me.

In an auto mall off Under den Linden I found THIS. Oh my god. It’s the Bugatti Veyron, fastest road car in the world at 254 MPH, costs 1000000 euros. It’s an engineering marvel and I would DIE to touch one. And I was two feet away! I snuck inside while no one was looking just to be able to BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS IT, yes I am that lame, do not judge me.

Veyron!

Veyron!

This is the Schlossbrucke, the bridge connecting West Berlin and Museum Island (totally name for a theme park) with statues of Nike and Athena on it. It’s more architecture by Friedrich Schnikel, whose work is all over the city and really beautiful. The rest of the bridge was under repair.

This is the Schlossbrucke, the bridge connecting West Berlin and Museum Island (totally name for a theme park) with statues of Nike and Athena on it. It’s more architecture by Friedrich Schnikel, whose work is all over the city and really beautiful. The rest of the bridge was under repair.

The Berliner Dom, a Protestant cathedral on Museum Island. The picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s absolutely HUGE. On the tour I took, we went up to the edge of the massive dome, right where the copper starts, for a view of the city and the angels carved there.

The Berliner Dom, a Protestant cathedral on Museum Island. The picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s absolutely HUGE. On the tour I took, we went up to the edge of the massive dome, right where the copper starts, for a view of the city and the angels carved there.

The alter in the cathedral with confessional screen. No flash was allowed, so the pictures weren’t the best. The stained glass shows scenes from Jesus’ life. All of this was badly damaged in the bombing in WWII and had to be rebuilt.

The alter in the cathedral with confessional screen. No flash was allowed, so the pictures weren’t the best. The stained glass shows scenes from Jesus’ life. All of this was badly damaged in the bombing in WWII and had to be rebuilt.

A better shot of the alter. I was present for noon service and so got to hear…

A better shot of the alter. I was present for noon service and so got to hear…

The organ played. While the rest of the cathedral was damaged in the war, the organ was oddly spared. It’s the oldest one of it’s size in Europe.

The organ played. While the rest of the cathedral was damaged in the war, the organ was oddly spared. It’s the oldest one of it’s size in Europe.

The angels from before, all of them playing music. This one has a conductor’s baton.

The angels from before, all of them playing music. This one has a conductor’s baton.

The Altes Museum, next door to the Berliner Dom.

The Altes Museum, next door to the Berliner Dom.

Inside the Altes Museum, rather than the bust of Nephrititi as was promised I found a hall of Greek gods, including Asklepios and Hygenia, god and goddess of healing and medicine holding the snake staff we’re familiar with.

Inside the Altes Museum, rather than the bust of Nephrititi as was promised I found a hall of Greek gods, including Asklepios and Hygenia, god and goddess of healing and medicine holding the snake staff we’re familiar with.

The Rotes Rathaus, or Red Town Hall.

The Rotes Rathaus, or Red Town Hall.

The Neptunbrunnen, in front of the Red Town Hall. It has Neptune, sitting in a big clam shell supported by really pissed looking mythological aquatic creatures, surrounded by four nymphs. Each nymph represents one of the main rivers in Germany, like the Rhine.

The Neptunbrunnen, in front of the Red Town Hall. It has Neptune, sitting in a big clam shell supported by really pissed looking mythological aquatic creatures, surrounded by four nymphs. Each nymph represents one of the main rivers in Germany, like the Rhine.

Statues of Marx and Engle, big wigs in Communism, at the center of the appropriately named Marx Engle Forum on the edge of East Berlin near the Red Town Hall and the Berliner Dom. The passage from West Berlin, with its Protestantism and Museums, and East Berlin, with its Communism, is am almost palpable clunk.

Statues of Marx and Engle, big wigs in Communism, at the center of the appropriately named Marx Engle Forum on the edge of East Berlin near the Red Town Hall and the Berliner Dom. The passage from West Berlin, with its Protestantism and Museums, and East Berlin, with its Communism, is am almost palpable clunk.

Mural sculpture behind the stature of Marx and Engle, also of a Communist theme though I don’t see it.

Mural sculpture behind the stature of Marx and Engle, also of a Communist theme though I don’t see it.

Marx and Engle looking out towards Alexanderplatz and East Berlin.

Marx and Engle looking out towards Alexanderplatz and East Berlin.

The TV tower off Alexanderplatz and the pride of East Berlin. It’s still the tallest structure in the European Union. Built during the Soviet Era to show how advanced they were.

The TV tower off Alexanderplatz and the pride of East Berlin. It’s still the tallest structure in the European Union. Built during the Soviet Era to show how advanced they were.

Alexanderplatz with the World Clock, another show of technical advancement from the Soviet East Berlin, showing the time throughout the world on the rotating colored section with a model of the solar system on top.

Alexanderplatz with the World Clock, another show of technical advancement from the Soviet East Berlin, showing the time throughout the world on the rotating colored section with a model of the solar system on top.

Also on Alexanderplatz is this massive and very pretty fountain.

Also on Alexanderplatz is this massive and very pretty fountain.

Back near my hotel and KeDeWe is the Berlin Sculpture and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, mostly destroyed during WWII but left as a memorial to the horrors of war. A new church, the odd octagonal building next to the church, was built of blue glass.

Back near my hotel and KeDeWe is the Berlin Sculpture and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, mostly destroyed during WWII but left as a memorial to the horrors of war. A new church, the odd octagonal building next to the church, was built of blue glass.

The Berlin Statue, as seen from beneath.

The Berlin Statue, as seen from beneath.

A closer view of the church and it’s new counterpart.

A closer view of the church and it’s new counterpart.

Mosaics from the ceiling of the church, one of the few parts that were restored.

Mosaics from the ceiling of the church, one of the few parts that were restored.

Mosaics from the walls.

Mosaics from the walls.

And the other wall.

And the other wall.

Across the street is a marketing sceme that would never work in America. (The blue sign says Fitness First for Ladies)

Across the street is a marketing sceme that would never work in America. (The blue sign says Fitness First for Ladies)

The Jewish Museum in Berlin. I was surprised that the permanent exhibit has very little from the Holocaust, less than the German History Museum. It focused more on the history of the Jewish community in Europe since the middle ages. The BUILDING itself, the architecture, focuses on the Holocaust. It’s a scary place to be. You feel isolated, lost, cold, confused. It’s…sobering.

The Jewish Museum in Berlin. I was surprised that the permanent exhibit has very little from the Holocaust, less than the German History Museum. It focused more on the history of the Jewish community in Europe since the middle ages. The BUILDING itself, the architecture, focuses on the Holocaust. It’s a scary place to be. You feel isolated, lost, cold, confused. It’s…sobering.

Me at Checkpoint Charlie! It’s a replica of the original, seen from the US side as you can tell from the Russian soldier on the sign.

Me at Checkpoint Charlie! It’s a replica of the original, seen from the US side as you can tell from the Russian soldier on the sign.

The famous sign at Checkpoint Charlie.

The famous sign at Checkpoint Charlie.

This is a fried fish chain that has a Jesus fish as a logo. I was deeply amused.

This is a fried fish chain that has a Jesus fish as a logo. I was deeply amused.

One of many culinary adventures. This was one of my breakfasts. It’s a plate of meat with pickles, onions, and tomatoes. This is HALF of the meat I was given, after I ate as much as I could. The waiter was concerned when I couldn’t finish all the meat.

One of many culinary adventures. This was one of my breakfasts. It’s a plate of meat with pickles, onions, and tomatoes. This is HALF of the meat I was given, after I ate as much as I could. The waiter was concerned when I couldn’t finish all the meat.

More food adventures. You never really know what you’re getting when you can’t talk to the waiter and you can’t read the menu!

More food adventures. You never really know what you’re getting when you can’t talk to the waiter and you can’t read the menu!

The Berlin Zoo, with one of the most diverse collections of animals in the world.

The Berlin Zoo, with one of the most diverse collections of animals in the world.

One of the elephant statues in front of the zoo.

One of the elephant statues in front of the zoo.

The Victory Column, the Siegessaule. The base shows scenes of Prussian war victories that were instrumental in the unification of the country. It sits at the center of the massive Tiergarten and is topped by an image of Victoria, Goddess of Victory.

The Victory Column, the Siegessaule. The base shows scenes of Prussian war victories that were instrumental in the unification of the country. It sits at the center of the massive Tiergarten and is topped by an image of Victoria, Goddess of Victory.

A status of Bismark in the Tiergarten.

A status of Bismark in the Tiergarten.

The Schloss Bellevue, the German equivalent of the White House sitting in the Tiergarten. It’s beautiful and big and surrounded by guards and a moat.

The Schloss Bellevue, the German equivalent of the White House sitting in the Tiergarten. It’s beautiful and big and surrounded by guards and a moat.

McDonald's in Germany. It actually looks tasty! That’s a bagel covered in seeds of some kind with tomatoes and chicken and their McCafe looks like a coffee, not a milkshake.

McDonald's in Germany. It actually looks tasty! That’s a bagel covered in seeds of some kind with tomatoes and chicken and their McCafe looks like a coffee, not a milkshake.

A piece of the Berlin Wall in its original state, protected under lock and key from Wall Peckers at the Topography of Terror exhibit on the site of the headquarters of the SS. The rest of the Wall is gone, except for…

A piece of the Berlin Wall in its original state, protected under lock and key from Wall Peckers at the Topography of Terror exhibit on the site of the headquarters of the SS. The rest of the Wall is gone, except for…

The East Side Gallery! A 1 mile stretch of Wall that is the biggest open air gallery in the world. It really isn’t that tall and isn’t more thick than my hand. The scary thing is that it didn’t need to be. The Wall was actually two walls separated by a no-man’s-land with guard towers and patrols. It was…daunting and scary to see the sheer length of it.

The East Side Gallery! A 1 mile stretch of Wall that is the biggest open air gallery in the world. It really isn’t that tall and isn’t more thick than my hand. The scary thing is that it didn’t need to be. The Wall was actually two walls separated by a no-man’s-land with guard towers and patrols. It was…daunting and scary to see the sheer length of it.

Another painting from the East Side Gallery.

Another painting from the East Side Gallery.

The Franziskaner-Klosterkirche, a Franciscan monastery from 1250. It was badly damaged during WWII.

The Franziskaner-Klosterkirche, a Franciscan monastery from 1250. It was badly damaged during WWII.

A statue from the front of the monastery, Christ removing his crown of thorns and climbing down from the cross.

A statue from the front of the monastery, Christ removing his crown of thorns and climbing down from the cross.

The Alte Stadtmauer, the only remains of the medieval city walls. Taken after dark with a newly discovered camera setting! I tended to go and go and go, even after it got dark.

The Alte Stadtmauer, the only remains of the medieval city walls. Taken after dark with a newly discovered camera setting! I tended to go and go and go, even after it got dark.

The Schloss Charlottenburg, the summer palace of the first Prussian queen, Sophie Charlotte, built in 1699. Most of it was destroyed in WWII (see a theme?) but rebuilt to its former glory.

The Schloss Charlottenburg, the summer palace of the first Prussian queen, Sophie Charlotte, built in 1699. Most of it was destroyed in WWII (see a theme?) but rebuilt to its former glory.

A closer shot of the palace. It was built on the style of Versailles. The statue at the front is Sophie’s loving husband Friedrich I, who bought her the palace and wanted to remind her of him even when he was away.

A closer shot of the palace. It was built on the style of Versailles. The statue at the front is Sophie’s loving husband Friedrich I, who bought her the palace and wanted to remind her of him even when he was away.

The Schlossgarten, the gardens behind the palace. By the time I took this photo, my camera battery was dying, I only had 9 Euros left in my pocket with no way to get more, and was mind numbingly tired. But it was the trip of a lifetime!

The Schlossgarten, the gardens behind the palace. By the time I took this photo, my camera battery was dying, I only had 9 Euros left in my pocket with no way to get more, and was mind numbingly tired. But it was the trip of a lifetime!

The end!

The end!