GOING AROUND BERLIN

Berlin have all sorts of transportation available to all tourists.

Pics below best describe it all:

 

 

 

 

 

boat cruise at the spree river

 

the metro subway

THE BERLIN WALL

The Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer) was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.

 The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, which circumscribed a wide area (later known as the "death strip") that contained anti-vehicle trenches, "fakir beds" and other defenses. The Eastern Bloc claimed that the wall was erected to protect its population from fascist elements conspiring to prevent the "will of the people" in building a socialist state in East Germany. In practice, the Wall served to prevent the massive emigration and defection that marked Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc during the post-World War II period.

 

 

The Berlin Wall was officially referred to as the "Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart"  by GDR authorities, implying that neighbouring West Germany had not been fully de-Nazified. The West Berlin city government sometimes referred to it as the "Wall of Shame"—a term coined by mayor Willy Brandt—while condemning the Wall's restriction on freedom of movement. Along with the separate and much longer Inner German border (IGB) that demarcated the border between East and West Germany, both borders came to symbolize the "Iron Curtain" that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War.

WHERE TO STAY IN BERLIN | NOVOTEL - MITTE

The Novotel Berlin Mitte is situated in the heart of the German capital, ideally located between Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz.

The hotel is rated 4 star with Wi-Fi access and computer station at the lobby.It is accessible through the metro station.

 

The hotel  serves buffet breakfast at the restaurant on the ground floor. For animal lovers they allow pet animals (eg. dogs) to stay in the hotel.

 

 

MUSEUM ISLAND

Berlin's Museum Island was designed to be "a sanctuary of art and science".It was granted a UNESCO National Heritage Site status in the year 1999

The five museums that comprise Berlin's famous Museum Island are located between the Spree River and the Kupfergraben.

The Museums
1. The Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) re-opened in 2001. It owns one of the largest collections of 19th century sculpture and paintings in Germany. 

covered walkway infront of the National Museum

 

 

 

 

2. Altes Museum,
German display of French Impressionist pieces. the Old Museum (Altes Museum) now houses ancient Greek and Roman artifacts though it was originally built to display the treasures of the royal family. 

3. The Bode Museum reopened in 2006 after almost 10 years of renovation. The museum boasts a large collection of sculptures, one of the world's largest numismatic collections and a selection of paintings from the Gemäldegalerie.

 

 4. The Neues Museum reopened in 2009 and houses a collection of prehistoric, early history and Egyptian works of Art. It is connected to the Altes Museum via a walkway. The museum's most famous artifact is the bust of Queen Nefertiti.

 

 5.  Pergamon Museum, you'll find a collection of Greek and Babylonian antiquities including the impressive Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the enormous Pergamon Altar.

 

 Other important buildings on the island includes:

1. the Dom, Berlin's protestant Cathedral, built at the end of the 18th century as the counterpart of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

 2.Stadtschloss.. Right next to the cathedral , is a  19th century palace.

      In 1950, the building - which was considered a symbol of Prussian militarism - was demolished by the East Germans and in 1976 it was replaced by the Palast der Republik which, in turn, was also demolished, in 2006, after the reunification of Germany. In 2007 a project to rebuild the Stadtschloss was approved by the parliament.

the Museum Island- photo taken at the Fernsehturm Tower

3. the Marstall-adjacent to the old palace, is  the royal stables. The large baroque building is just a wing of the former complex that was built in 1669 by the Dutch architect Michael Matthias Smids. The building is now used as a library and archive.

German teens in their funky dresses and hair wigs

(pic 746)

KURFURSTENDAM AVENUE

Kurfurstendam locally called Ku'damm is one of the most famous avenues in Berlin

 

This broad and long boulevard can be likened to the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

 

 

Most of the international fashion brands have their shops here, department stores and car manufacturers show rooms.

 

The Kaiser WIlhelm Memorial church can also be found in this four lines of plane trees avenue.

 

 

on one end of the avenue is  the 2nd largest mall in Europe, Kaufhaus des Westens or Kadewe 

 

 While waiting for the stop light turn to green a  wedding entourage passed by  with the red moon flag on their cars.