Day 39 - Berlin

This city is very busy with cars, buses, trams, and tourists.  The population is 3.6 million, swelled by many, many tourists.  The biggest danger is the possibility of being run down by a speeding cyclist who has little regard for pedestrians.  Although there are bike paths, they ride amongst the traffic, on the footpaths, across the plazasand do not seem to obey the road traffic signals.

There are many fountains, waterways, parks, and statues, in addition to very attractive buildings.

Today was spent using our ticket for a "Hop On/Hop Off" tourist bus with headsets which adjust to many different languages.  This was a very good way of familiarising ourselves with the places of interest in the city.  The ticket lasts for 48 hours, so we could use it again tomorrow.

The Berlin Wall was built in August 1961 to prevent those from East Germany crossing to the West.  It was demolished from June 1990 although movement from East to West remained difficult for some time.  More than 574 died trying to escape to the West, but 5,075 were successful in escaping across the wall.

"Checkpoint Charlie" was the name which the Allies' gave the illegal crossing through the wall during the Cold War from 1961 between Soviet Union and America.  The remnants and memorabilia are now preserved in a museum.  Reunification of Germany finally occurred in 1990.

The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th Century arch which was built between 1788 and 1791 as an entry to a boulevard to the city palace of Prussian monarchs.  It was severely damaged in WWII, and subsequently restored between 2000 and 2002.  It is often a site for major historical events.  The gate represents a symbol of tumultuous history but also of unity and peace.

A memorial recently constructed in memory of the Jews who lost their lives during Hitler's reign.

World renowned Brandenburg gate.

Siegessaule Monument.

Berlin is well advanced in its reconstruction since the war.  Scenes like this are common with an old bridge over the river Spree in the foreground, and new buildings and river landscaping at the rear working together to make a pleasant mix of old and new.

The notorious "Checkpoint Charlie".

The U.S. Army at Checkpoint Charlie.

The only remaining section of the Berlin Wall.

Photo showing the locals removing the wall in the first few days of dissolution.

Some buildings were not bombed as this one shows, but 70% of the city was destroyed during the Berlin bombings.