"I'm on J."
"You're on K"
"But where is H?"
Sony Center at Potzdamer Platz
Canopy at the Sony Center - is lighted to turn different colors throughout the night
The interior of an old pre-war building turn exterior of a new modern hotel
Showing posts with label Berlin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berlin. Show all posts
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"I'm on H"
"No, this is J"
"I'm on J."
"You're on K"
"But where is H?"
Sony Center at Potzdamer Platz
This was the conversation that greeted us as we strolled into the movie theater at Potzdamer Platz in Berlin. The square is a stunning combination of new and old architecture that was built out of war ruins by Sony, Daimler-Chrysler and other major corporations. Situated around the square are many touristy restaurants, a Lego Discovery Center, and many high-tech stores showing products of the future.
Canopy at the Sony Center - is lighted to turn different colors throughout the night
The interior of an old pre-war building turn exterior of a new modern hotel
But in the center is a large movie house that shows films in the original versions. For us, this meant a night at the movies to see Quantum of Solace. Once again, a movie theater is the perfect place to see the different attitudes towards alcohol in Europe and in the US. Served right along side popcorn (salty or sweet - you choose) and nachos, are cocktails and beer. Heck, you can even BYOB or BYOC to the movies over here. A few other differences an experience at the movies brings are assigned seats (love this and hence the conversation above) and even more previews/commercials at the beginning of the film. There were over 45 minutes of commercials and previews before we got to the good stuff - James Bond.
"I'm on J."
"You're on K"
"But where is H?"
Sony Center at Potzdamer PlatzCanopy at the Sony Center - is lighted to turn different colors throughout the nightThe interior of an old pre-war building turn exterior of a new modern hotel
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Quirky Berlin
Berlin has the museums, the memorials, the historic site, and all the other usual tourist fair. But what lets you know you are in Berlin are its endearing quirks. Two of our favorites were:
- Pedestrian lights left over from the Cold War
- An above ground system of brightly painted water pipes, due to the never ending construction and high water table
A little bit of home...
Since the cuisine in Berlin is known for is anything but German, we headed towards a little bit of home for lunch.
Never has a toasted sourdough roll with smoked ham, salamis, melted cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, black olives, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and mustard ever tasted so good! And the Coke even came out of a soda fountain machine! No ice - hey, something had to tell us we were still in Europe.
Mmmm! Mmmm!
Never has a toasted sourdough roll with smoked ham, salamis, melted cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses, black olives, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and mustard ever tasted so good! And the Coke even came out of a soda fountain machine! No ice - hey, something had to tell us we were still in Europe.
Mmmm! Mmmm!Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Tear down this wall!"
We didn't make it to the Museum of the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie until the second day we were in Berlin, but all over the city the scar left by the wall is evident. A double cobblestone line in the street marks the path of the former wall throughout the city. The wall stood for 28 years and 1 day - a symbol of the Iron Curtain and the literal dividing point between Communism and Democracy. The wall built in 1961 not only separated governments and countries but split families apart, tore people from their jobs, and separated friends.The Museum of the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie was established in 1962 as a nonviolent protest to the wall. It was built right next the border and contained exhibits on people escaping East Germany. It was a thumb at the Communists right outside their own backyard.
Today the museum is a hodge podge of escape tales, facts about the wall, stories of life with the wall, and a chronicle of the USSR. Frankly, the museum is an overload of unorganized information; although bits and pieces are interesting, much of it has nothing to do with the wall. The highlights of the museum are cars altered for escapes, flight contraptions used to fly over the wall, and videos of people tearing down the wall.The other place in town to experience the wall is the East Side Gallery - a mile long stretch of the wall that is frequently painted by invited artists. Unfortunately, between paintings the wall is heavily graffitied, but they just white-wash it and invite new artist to paint again.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate has been a symbol of Berlin since it was built in 1791. The gate has been a emblem of Prussian Berlin, the site of Nazi Rallies, a symbol of a divided Berlin, the place of reunification, and, now, a gate into a revitalized eastern Berlin.
The gate was built as just one of fourteen gates to the city. It was designed after the Propylaea Gate in Athens by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The statue on top is of the Goddess of Peace and her four horse chariot.
After the defeat by the Frenach, Napoleon took statue and placed it in the Louvre.
In 1813 the Goddess became the Goddess of Victory as the Prussians took the statue back and returned it to the top of the gate.
The gate become an representation of Nazi Germany during the Berlin Olympics in 1936 when the gate was draped in Nazi banners.
Destroyed by bombing, the gate laid in ruins after WWII.
After the war the east and west together restored the gate. It was used by cars and pedestrians until the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, when it became part of "no man's land". When JFK gave his "I am a Berliner" speech at the gate in 1963 the Soviets hung banners from the gate so he could not see into East Germany. It remained unused until the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In July 1987 speech at Brandenburg Gate, Ronald Reagan spoke to the people and demanded:
"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Two and half years later they did just that. The gate became a symbol of reunification on November 9, 1989 when 100s of Berliners packed the gate and surrounding squares in celebration. The Bandenburg Gate was officially reopened on December 22, 1989 when the West German Chancellor and the East German Prime Minister met under the gate
Once again a US President spoke at the gate, when Bill Clinton came to Germany to speak about post-cold war peace and said:
"We stand together where Europe's heart was cut in half and we celebrate unity."
The Brandenburg Gate has become one of the most recognized symbols of Berlin and of Germany - reminding all who walk through her of the struggles and events of the past, present, and future. You can't help but marvel at the struggles of freedom the gate has seen.
The gate was built as just one of fourteen gates to the city. It was designed after the Propylaea Gate in Athens by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The statue on top is of the Goddess of Peace and her four horse chariot.
After the defeat by the Frenach, Napoleon took statue and placed it in the Louvre.
In 1813 the Goddess became the Goddess of Victory as the Prussians took the statue back and returned it to the top of the gate.The gate become an representation of Nazi Germany during the Berlin Olympics in 1936 when the gate was draped in Nazi banners.
Destroyed by bombing, the gate laid in ruins after WWII.
After the war the east and west together restored the gate. It was used by cars and pedestrians until the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, when it became part of "no man's land". When JFK gave his "I am a Berliner" speech at the gate in 1963 the Soviets hung banners from the gate so he could not see into East Germany. It remained unused until the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In July 1987 speech at Brandenburg Gate, Ronald Reagan spoke to the people and demanded:
"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Two and half years later they did just that. The gate became a symbol of reunification on November 9, 1989 when 100s of Berliners packed the gate and surrounding squares in celebration. The Bandenburg Gate was officially reopened on December 22, 1989 when the West German Chancellor and the East German Prime Minister met under the gate
Once again a US President spoke at the gate, when Bill Clinton came to Germany to speak about post-cold war peace and said:
"We stand together where Europe's heart was cut in half and we celebrate unity."
The Brandenburg Gate has become one of the most recognized symbols of Berlin and of Germany - reminding all who walk through her of the struggles and events of the past, present, and future. You can't help but marvel at the struggles of freedom the gate has seen.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Face Lift
Our city tour of Berlin started at the Reichstag Building - the most visited parliamentary building in the world. It was originally opened in 1894 to house the Parliament of the German Empire. In a little over a century the building has gone through as many changes as the country.
The burning of the building in 1933 was blamed on the Communists and the Nazi party was able to seize control and start suspending civil liberties.
On April 30, 1945 more than 1500 Nazis made their last stand against Stalin and the Allied troops at the Reichstag Building. After the war, the capital was moved to Bonn and the building set in ruins just west of East Berlin.
Paul Baumgarten won an architectural contest to reconstruct the building and it was completed in 1964. Due to a 1971 Allies agreement Berlin could not serve as the capital of West Germany and so the building became largely ceremonial.
Germany was officially reunified at the Reichstag Building on October 3, 1990. After much heated debate it was decided the capital would return to Berlin and the building would be used once again.
Norman Foster reconstructed the building in 1992 under the theme of transparency. While the shell of the original building remains, the new building includes many glass walls, openness, and a new glass cupola. The idea was to create a building that was open and accessible to the people, so they could see their government at work.
Today when you visit the Reichstag building you receive a 50+ page booklet explaining the Bundestag (Parliament) and how it works. Anyone is also allowed to sit in on legislative sessions and meet their representative. It is obvious they are trying to create transparency in the government.
Our visit the Reichstag was to visit the rooftop and climb the cupola. The cupola, which rises 155 feet above the ground, provides a 360 degree view of Berlin.
The burning of the building in 1933 was blamed on the Communists and the Nazi party was able to seize control and start suspending civil liberties.
On April 30, 1945 more than 1500 Nazis made their last stand against Stalin and the Allied troops at the Reichstag Building. After the war, the capital was moved to Bonn and the building set in ruins just west of East Berlin.Paul Baumgarten won an architectural contest to reconstruct the building and it was completed in 1964. Due to a 1971 Allies agreement Berlin could not serve as the capital of West Germany and so the building became largely ceremonial.
Germany was officially reunified at the Reichstag Building on October 3, 1990. After much heated debate it was decided the capital would return to Berlin and the building would be used once again.
Norman Foster reconstructed the building in 1992 under the theme of transparency. While the shell of the original building remains, the new building includes many glass walls, openness, and a new glass cupola. The idea was to create a building that was open and accessible to the people, so they could see their government at work.
Today when you visit the Reichstag building you receive a 50+ page booklet explaining the Bundestag (Parliament) and how it works. Anyone is also allowed to sit in on legislative sessions and meet their representative. It is obvious they are trying to create transparency in the government.
Our visit the Reichstag was to visit the rooftop and climb the cupola. The cupola, which rises 155 feet above the ground, provides a 360 degree view of Berlin.
Berlin
Berlin is a modern city growing out of scars and wounds of the past, some self inflicted, some brought on by others, but most incurred through the World Wars and their aftermath. Our site seeing in Berlin was not focused on famous paintings or world class museums, but rather to visit the sites and memorials that explain how Berlin got to where it is today.
Paris has the Eiffel Tower. London has Big Ben. New York has the Statue of Liberty. Berlin cannot be represented in building and building cannot represent Berlin. Some might say the Berlin Wall, but that is gone now and only bits remain memorialized. Famous Landmarks of the city from before WWII, like the Kaiser Wilhelm Church, were destroyed in the bombings. Even the Victory Column was moved before WWII and now represents more than the Prussian defeat of France. Brandenburg Gate only represents a sliver of the city's history and the Reichstag Building is no longer the Reichstag and has a new roof. Potsdamer Platz is only a decade old and represents more corporation that city.
We spent the weekend exploring the city - it's past and present.
Paris has the Eiffel Tower. London has Big Ben. New York has the Statue of Liberty. Berlin cannot be represented in building and building cannot represent Berlin. Some might say the Berlin Wall, but that is gone now and only bits remain memorialized. Famous Landmarks of the city from before WWII, like the Kaiser Wilhelm Church, were destroyed in the bombings. Even the Victory Column was moved before WWII and now represents more than the Prussian defeat of France. Brandenburg Gate only represents a sliver of the city's history and the Reichstag Building is no longer the Reichstag and has a new roof. Potsdamer Platz is only a decade old and represents more corporation that city.
We spent the weekend exploring the city - it's past and present.
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