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This is the Cathedral at the Lustgarten Square which is a public park on what they call Museum Square.

Berlin, Germany

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by

Diana
in

East Berlin

I always thought that East Berlin was the worst side…dark and gloomy. But East Berlin had all the great buildings – libraries, palaces, universities, Einstein and other great scientists worked here. I think that the lack of freedom once the Wall went up and the scarcity of food and items eventually wore on the folks with less money. And we ultimately bombed the heck out of East Berlin but they have rebuilt it back to its former grandeur.

Beautiful Jewish Temple. The prior one was small and apparently many thought this was kind of over the top,
Beautiful Jewish Temple. The prior one was small and apparently many thought this was kind of over the top,
Part of the Museum Center.
Part of the Museum Center.
Another one. There were a couple of others being renovated.
Another one. There were a couple of others being renovated.
Along the way there are places that have not covered up bullet holes from the war.
Along the way there are places that have not covered up bullet holes from the war.
This is the Cathedral at the Lustgarten Square which is a public park on what they call Museum Square.
This is the Cathedral at the Lustgarten Square which is a public park on what they call Museum Square.
Another part of the square. Apparently Hitler loved this building. The biggest attraction is the granite bowl (you can kind of see it on the right). It was considered as being a wonder of the Beidermeier era and a main attraction in the 19th Century. It was supposed to be INSIDE but it was too big to fit in their so it had to be left outside. The Berlin slang is the “Berlin Soup Bowl.”
Another part of the square. Apparently Hitler loved this building. The biggest attraction is the granite bowl (you can kind of see it on the right). It was considered as being a wonder of the Beidermeier era and a main attraction in the 19th Century. It was supposed to be INSIDE but it was too big to fit in their so it had to be left outside. The Berlin slang is the “Berlin Soup Bowl.”
I should be fired for my horrible photos sometimes. This is part of a very significant boulevard and is called Unter den Linden (under the linden trees). It runs from the Spree River to the Brandenburg Gate. There are two broad carriage ways on each side of the grassed pedestrian mall. The Linden trees are in bloom right now and look very pretty.
I should be fired for my horrible photos sometimes. This is part of a very significant boulevard and is called Unter den Linden (under the linden trees). It runs from the Spree River to the Brandenburg Gate. There are two broad carriage ways on each side of the grassed pedestrian mall. The Linden trees are in bloom right now and look very pretty.
These guys are so cute. They are called Ampelmanchen and are the stop and go crosswalk signs. They were created in 1961 in East Berlin but when reunification happened, they were used all over Berlin. They are very popular and you can buy mugs and hats, etc. Kind of like Portland love affair with their airport carpet???!!! Who can explain they things.
These guys are so cute. They are called Ampelmanchen and are the stop and go crosswalk signs. They were created in 1961 in East Berlin but when reunification happened, they were used all over Berlin. They are very popular and you can buy mugs and hats, etc. Kind of like Portland love affair with their airport carpet???!!! Who can explain they things.
Brandenburg Gate is an 18th century neoclassical monument. It is the only remaining town gate in Berlin. It serves as a symbol of both the division and reunification of Berin. There was a barbed wire barrier that represented the earliest version of the Berlin Wall, 1961. During the war it was heavily damaged but in 1957-58 it was restored. From 1961 to 1987 the Brandenberg Gate symbolized divided Germany. The gate was reopened on December 22, 1989 when German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through it to meet the East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow.
Brandenburg Gate is an 18th century neoclassical monument. It is the only remaining town gate in Berlin. It serves as a symbol of both the division and reunification of Berin. There was a barbed wire barrier that represented the earliest version of the Berlin Wall, 1961. During the war it was heavily damaged but in 1957-58 it was restored. From 1961 to 1987 the Brandenberg Gate symbolized divided Germany. The gate was reopened on December 22, 1989 when German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through it to meet the East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow.
These two photos are of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Not sure my pictures do it justice but if you look at the top photo you will see the concrete blocks are smaller and further apart. As you walk through the monuments they get taller and closer together and the ground kind of undulates. This represents the painful growth of the roundups and killings as they intensified. Hitler was anxious to reach the “Final Solution” which is when the Jews were sent to extermination camps and gassed. I guess originally people died from firing squads but this was slow and took a toll on the soldier as it was mostly women and children, so the method changed. I read that some in Germany don’t want to have these remembrances but the majority think it is important. It isn’t a good part of their history so you have to give them credit.
These two photos are of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Not sure my pictures do it justice but if you look at the top photo you will see the concrete blocks are smaller and further apart. As you walk through the monuments they get taller and closer together and the ground kind of undulates. This represents the painful growth of the roundups and killings as they intensified. Hitler was anxious to reach the “Final Solution” which is when the Jews were sent to extermination camps and gassed. I guess originally people died from firing squads but this was slow and took a toll on the soldier as it was mostly women and children, so the method changed. I read that some in Germany don’t want to have these remembrances but the majority think it is important. It isn’t a good part of their history so you have to give them credit.
hese two photos are of Checkpoint Charlie. I think there were two other checkpoints. This is the one between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. This was the best known official crossing point. As movement from Soviet controlled countries to the rest of Europe was increasingly curtailed, crossing to West Berlin became the primary way for East Germans to reach the west. That came to an end on August 13, 1961 when the border was closed. There is a museum that would be interesting to visit. I also need to go back to the Eastside to walk along the Berlin Wall.
hese two photos are of Checkpoint Charlie. I think there were two other checkpoints. This is the one between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. This was the best known official crossing point. As movement from Soviet controlled countries to the rest of Europe was increasingly curtailed, crossing to West Berlin became the primary way for East Germans to reach the west. That came to an end on August 13, 1961 when the border was closed. There is a museum that would be interesting to visit. I also need to go back to the Eastside to walk along the Berlin Wall.
Big central train station. Lots of stores, food and shops, as well as trains and trams.
Big central train station. Lots of stores, food and shops, as well as trains and trams.
Sometimes I have to stare at the signs for awhile before figuring out that my train is on platform 12 and where on the platform the car i am on will pull in to.
Sometimes I have to stare at the signs for awhile before figuring out that my train is on platform 12 and where on the platform the car i am on will pull in to.

It has been a few days since my last post. I spent another couple of days on the East side of Berlin – visited the Checkpoint Charlie Museum which was very interesting. Thanks to my friend Lori who suggested I go. There were two cars that had been used to smuggle people out of the East – little VW bug was instrumental. I think that only a smallish, very flexible person could fit in the space used to smuggle them. Can’t believe that I didn’t take a photo…ugh.

Also spent 3 hours in the Neues Museum and their Egyptian display and prehistory and early history. Amazing amount of images of royalty, world famous bust of Nefertiti (can’t take pictures). Just amazing collection.

In Belin I stayed at the Motel One (German chain) that is about a block away from the main train station. The rooms can be a bit small but they are clean and modern. You can pay for breakfast each morning. Some people online complain because there is no scrambled eggs or bacon…no hot stuff, but they have lots of other food, coffee, etc. Seemed sufficient to me.