My Germany: Day 6 Berlin

We were up early again to catch the bus to explore the area around the Bundestag/Reichstag buildings and the Brandenburger Tor or Brandenburg Gate. There was a queue already for the Reichstag Dome visit so we were only scheduled for the 1.00 o'clock slot. Good thing the Berlin Pavillon cafe/restaurant was nearby so we started the day with rich, delicious apple pie and coffee.

Then it was off to the Brandenburg Gate for lots of photo opportunities - of the historic Gate, of people, of selfies, and of the buildings nearby. The Hotel Adlon gained (more) fame because it was from his room balcony here that Michael Jackson dangled his son! Today it seems more popular than ever with many celebrities staying here for the 64th Internationale Filmfestspiele Berline. We know George Clooney came for this Film Festival but he may have stayed elsewhere. Not that we were on the lookout for him, mind you!

By 1.00 pm we took our place in the queue to visit the dome of the Reichstag building. This very modern glass dome that replaced the old (destroyed by war and fire), is the work of architect Norman Foster. Somehow the classic facade of the Reichstag and its glass dome fit together. It was pretty bizarre walking up the dome and wondering at the enormity of this fantastic glass and steel structure. (Better still, there is no access fee!)

We left the Reichstag building to walk the park nearby and discovered the 'memorial to the Sinti and Roma of  Europe murdered under national socialism'.  A little further on we found the Holocaust memorial or 'memorial to the murdered European  Jews'. The former has a pond with fresh  flowers placed in the middle and music playing in the background.  While the latter has rows upon rows of very grey concrete 'coffins'. But both serve as stark reminders of the atrocities of war/genocide. 

We walked along the Unter den Linden, the boulevard of beautiful historic buildings including the Humboldt University. There seemed to be a book sale there, so how can the librarian in me not stop by, and buy!

From here we took the bus again, this time to check out 'Berlin's most famous trademark department store', the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens). Founded in 1907, its 6th floor huge food hall was very much recommended, so we headed there for Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cakes) again at one of the many miniature restaurants; to have the sinfully rich and delicious Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte (Black Forest gateau) with coffee/tea.

Berlin 3-6 Feb 2014