Berlin, Germany

Berlin

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Berlin, city of contrasts, a confluence of historic and modern, brilliant and stark, flourishing and forgotten. This multicultural city, considered a haven for artists and international residents, has been growing since the federal government of unified Germany moved from Bonn to Berlin in 1999. It is a wonderful city to explore on foot, with its distinctive architecture and abundant outdoor cafés.

Waste

Religion

Nutrition

Transportation

Self-expression

Courtyards

Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz is a large pedestrian plaza in East Berlin. This square has existed for hundreds of years, originally as a livestock market; it was named Alexanderplatz during a visit by the Russian Czar Alexander in 1805.

The television tower near Alexanderplatz is the tallest structure in Berlin, standing at 1,209 feet. This is the second-tallest tower in all of Europe.

Socialist statue in front of a department store.

Please don't ask what is going on here.

Chancellery

The chancellery, sometimes called the "washing machine" thanks to its shape and windows, is a work of modern art. The lightness and openness of this building are meant to symolize the transparency of today's German government.

War Remnants

Some buildings in Berlin are still marked with bullet holes.

The Berlin Wall, of which only small pieces remain, existed from 1961 through 1989. 165 km long, the wall separated the city of Berlin into two: the Federal Republic of Germany, controlled by Western powers, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), occupied by the Soviets. Around 100 people were killed trying to cross from East to West Berlin.

The "United Buddy Bears 2003" is a display of decorated fiberglass bears near the Brandenburg gate, promoting international understanding and tolerance. Each of the 123 bears represents one country, painted by an artist from that country.

GDR vs. West Berlin Architecture

Charlottenburg Palace

The oldest Prussian palace in Germany, construction began in 1695 and lasted until 1790. The first section of this palace was constructed from 1695-1699 as a summer home for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Elector Frederick III. It now contains some 70 rooms, a mausoleum, and an expansive, manicured garden.

Landwehrkanal

This tree-lined, 12 km canal is delightful to stroll or bicycle along. Parks and cafés abound, and a Turkish market lines the canal in Kreuzberg every Friday.

Olympic Stadium

This stadium, built for the Olympics of 1936, is one of the few remaining examples of Nazi architecture. Although Hitler had intended to impress the world with the greatness of the German athletes, Jesse Owens, African-American son of an Alabama sharecropper, stole the show with four gold medals. The Olympic stadium is still used for soccer and other sporting events.

Potsdamer Platz

Potsdamer Platz, once a bustling commercial center, was destroyed by allied bombing in WWII, with the little that remained flattened when the Wall went up in 1961. Since the 1990s, new construction has given the area an ultra-modern feel.

Spandau

The ancient town of Spandau has cobblestone, pedestrian-only streets. Chartered in 1232, Spandau officially became part of Berlin in 1920 and is now engulfed by the city on all sides.

Zitadelle

The Spandau Zitadelle is a 16th century fortress, surrounded by a moat, overlooking the town of Spandau.

Riechstag

The Reichstag, home to Germany's parliament, was built in 1894, but a fire in 1933 destroyed the dome and much of the interior; WWII damaged the building further. Renovation began in 1958, but the glass dome, open to the public, wasn't built until after the country's reunification in 1989.

Havel River

Along the Havel River, one encounters castles poking out of the dense forests, towns, industry, bridges, beaches, and the most subtle locks (a water level difference of only a few inches) I've ever seen.

Niederfinow

Niederfinow is a "ship lift", serving the same purpose as locks. This impressive structure on the Oder-Havel Canal was built from 1907 to 1914, and reaches a height of 60 meters.

Additional Berlin Architecture

Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)

Comments

That's me...

What a pity for me!!!
The very first internet-active lady I know of, was visiting Berlin (for real),
collector of Pi stuff,
great inventor of ACME Nerd Suppressant (see http://eveander.com/nerd/, it does work!!!),
and much more (yes, I was a secret admirer some 6 years ago),
in one word: the (in)famous Eve A. Andersson was visiting Berlin, and I didn't know it.

Eve, we might have met at the Landwehrkanal... where I like to ride bicycle on sunny afternoons!

Anyway, all the Berlin pictures are great! Most places I know by myself, they are well shot.
I hope you also had a stay that nice here!

Many greetings,

-- Eberhard (Physicist from Berlin)

P.S. "The Garden of Eden" hopefully won't go away! I found no more links to it...

-- Eberhard Koehler

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