After a good night’s sleep we set off to explore Berlin. Again with the help of a local, we were able to purchase tickets and navigate the trains.
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Today’s visit was a very thought provoking walk through WWII history. Although we pretty much know our own history during the war, reviewing it where it happened makes it more real.
First stop was the Reichstag, seat of Germany’s parliament. During WWII the Reichstag building was bombed several times. As a nurse, Peggy was truly moved to learn that a gynecological institute was established in its ruins and several hundred babies were born here. (It’s also a stark reminder of what is happening in the Middle East on a daily basis.)After the reunification of Germany, the Reichstag was renovated and topped with a glass dome. It is open to the public for climbing to the top. The glass dome is said to be symbolic in that the German citizens can actually look through the dome and see their legislators at work beneath them and below them. (Since it was a rainy day, we decided against the climb.) Despite the gloomy day, the Reichstag and other buildings, new and old, were quite impressive. So far in our travels, Berlin has the most 20th century buildings – evidence of the damage it suffered during WW II.
From the Reichstag, we walked to Brandenburg Gate. Along the way to the Brandenburg Gate, we passed a well done and peaceful memorial to the Roma and Sinti people and all Gypsies who were targeted as part of the Nazi ethnic cleansing. Add paragraph 5 about Jewish Memorial here.Upon completion in 1792, the Brandenburg Gate was a symbol of peace as well as a toll collection gate. Over the years it’s significance evolved. “By the mid 19th century” it became “the symbol of Berlin” and was the site of triumphant celebrations. When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, Brandenburg Gate was isolated in the “prohibited zone” and was a symbol “of the division of Berlin and the entire country. “
In our walk, we also encountered the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, . Above ground are a series of concrete rectangular blocks of varying sizes and heights and the ground undulates leading one to feel like they don’t know where they are. Below ground are the “names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims, obtained from the Israelimuseum Yad Vashem.”
We then went on to Checkpoint Charlie As we walked on our way to Checkpoint Charlie, we followed the path of the Berlin Wall. Along the way, we saw the Berlin Wall Memorial that contains pictures of the construction of the wall and the isolation of East Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie has a replica of the American gate complete with U.S. military police dressed in period uniforms. Across the street from Checkpoint Charlie is a multimedia exhibit called the Black Box which provides a lot of history of the wall, it’s construction, Berlin’s isolation, the airlift that provided food and medical supplies to West Berliners for 11 months in 1948-49 and finally, the destruction of the wall 28 years later.
Then we treated ourselves to cappuccino and tea and honest to goodness German apple strudel. We began our Berlin bus tour until it was time to “hop off” and make our way to Stone Brewery for a tour. It was a small group and great fun. (We were told the German tours are quite full.) The beer was good too. The brewery is located in an old gas company building in an industrial area. It was worth the train and taxi rides. Some of the restaurant decor/layout, especially the outdoor patio, is similar to the Escondido location. It was a great end to the day.