The four of us set off this morning into Berlin. I felt really excited to be here. For me, this is nostalgia. I spent time in Berlin in 1986 and '87. Our last visit here was in 1995. We went by bus to the Siegesäule and walked a little down the Straße des 17 Juni before entering the Tiergarten...
The Tiergarten, or 'animal garden' in English, is a massive but refreshing green space that stretches for miles in the middle of Berlin, and is packed with trees...
.....and bright open spaces....
....and many shady corners....
When you approach the Brandenburg Gate through the Tiergarten, you are coming from what used to be West Berlin territory (in the old British sector). We passed through the Gate into the former Russian zone or East Berlin. I
t's 27 years this November since the fall of the Wall but it seems like only yesterday.On the east side of the Brandenburger Tor, near the American embassy.
In my day, these crosses, which honour East Germans who died trying to flee, were not in this location (Brandenburg Gate side of Reichstag). They were previously on the other side of the Reichstag near the Spree. The latter area now has a variety of new government buildings.
The Reichstag with the Kuppel on top. We were very lucky, thanks to a friend of mine in Berlin, to have arranged a tour of the Kuppel, which has to be pre-booked.
The slabs behind this sign honour those Weimar Republic MPs who were persecuted by the Nazis.
Christine, Renate and Jean about to enter the Kuppel...
When visitors climb the Kuppel, they take an audio guide in a language of their choice. I initially selected English, but felt guilty about it. I changed it for a German one, and I was pleased to have understood about 80 per cent.
As you climb the Kuppel, looking down...
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