Berlin Day 2 Germany

Stay: Berlin as per last night

We spent a lovely day exploring parts of Berlin by bike. Our first stop was the Siegessaule- Triumphal Column built to commemorate the victory in the Prusso-Danish war of 1864. The gilded figure on the top represents victory. 

On the base there are friezes made from melted down canons depicting battles and a beautiful mosaic which shows the founding of the German Empire in 1871. 

We paid €3 each to walk up to the observation terrace which offered some great views of the city. Before going up the stairs there was great display about the tower and other great German and World structures. 

View of the Brandenburg Gate

We then rode through the  beautiful and green Tiergarten which was once a forest used as a hunting reserve. Its hard to imagine that after WWII there were no trees left at all. Exiting the garden we came across the the unusual building of the Philharmonic Hall. Built in the 60's the exterior looks like a circus tent! On this spot there was a war memorial about how the Nazi's euthanized Physciatric patients, people with disabilities and those who were unable to work...so difficult to understand. 

Our next stop was Potsdamer Platz which had been a wasteland only several years ago.  Now it boasts splendid modern buildings and as we had a coffee we spied the second PWC building we have seen in Berlin. It is tallest in this square and even has an observation terrace. We continued on our ride and came acrose the Topographie des Terrors museum which is free to visit. During the "Third Reich" it was the headquarters of the Secret State Police and the SS. The building no longer exists but part of The Wall is still here and a very comprehensive display documenting the history of the Nazi's, Hitler and their persecution/murder of millions of people. Again it is very confronting and its hard to imagine how people can treat others so.... 

Not far away was the notorious border crossing between the American and Soviet sectors, Checkpoint Charlie. Mark relived his visit here in 1976, where he was detained on the Eastern side as he had grown a beard since his passport photo and the guard wanted him to shave it off before letting him go back through. Mark refused and sat there until the guards changed! Luckily the new guard was not so difficult and approved Mark's border crossing...phew! We spent a bit of time reading the information on billboards along the street about the history of the border and of the many successful and failed escapes.  

The security of No mans land between the 2 walls.

People tearing down the wall. Blocks have been laid where the outer wall had been.

Then it was off to the Reichstag for our 1:45pm pre-booked appointment (on their website) of the Dome. The visit is free but due to security reasons, they want you to register your name and DOB at least 2 hours prior to the visit. This morning this was the only time available for today even though it is open from 8am to midnight! so its very popular. After security scans on our bags and ourselves we were ushered into the building and a lift to the base of the dome where we were given audioguides (for free).  We walked along the spiral ramp listening to some facts about the parliament, the dome and various land marks of Berlin we could see. The 360 mirrors funnel daylight into the chamber below and it uses the air rising from the chamber to heat the building. 

(Sorry for all the selfies!)

View of Brandenburger Gate, the American Embassy and Guggenhiem design in babk lobby.

View of the gardens and Triumph Tower in the distance.

After our visit we actually went back to Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum as we had to rush earlier to get to our appointment. By now it was 5pm and time to get back to Bluey..there is only so much you can take-in in a day!

I think Mark would prefer the other mode of transport...the good old Trabi!