Berlin in 2016 Part II

After enjoying the Kuppel and its views of Berlin's myriad fore- and middle-grounds as well as horizons, we walked towards Friedrichstrasse.

Friedrichstrasse train station hasn't changed in at least 30 years.  In the old days, it was an entry point into the east from the west, or one could change trains here on a West Berlin to West Berlin train journey.  In the above, trains would come in from the left, and halt within the station (in the photo, the rail line is level with the bottom of the glass walls).  On the glass wall you see that faces the rail line, East German border guards (Vopos) used to stand with machine guns, looking down on the station platforms and watching the movement of people.

Here is Bundeskanzler Angela Merkel with her famous 'Raute' gesture.

At Alexanderplatz, we considered going up the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) but decided against it.  In the old days, I used to think the Fernsehturm looked like one giant East German communist watch tower, and it seemed ugly.

We caught a bus to the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche.  It was destroyed during the Second World War and serves as a permanent reminder of the futility of war.  The building at left is the 'new' church (it was here in the 80s), but now it seems another new church is being constructed behind the ruin.

Jean enjoying a cherry ice cream near the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche 

We headed back to the Siegesäule, and climbed its nearly 300 steps.  This picture looks down the Straße des 17 Juni to the Brandenburg Gate.  In the background is the tall Fernsehturm in the former East at Alexander Platz.

The golden lady at the top of the Siegesäule 

Berlin in 2016

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.  It'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.

Very German...

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...