Berlin

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		A view of the "Berliner Dome" (Berlin Catherdral) and the "Fernsehturm" (Television Tower) towering over the statues of "Schloss Bruecke" (Schloss Bridge).
		An Aerial view of Berlin from the "Fernsehturm" (Television tower).
		An Another aerial view of Berlin from the "Fernsehturm" (Television tower).
		An Another aerial view of Berlin from the "Fernsehturm" (Television tower).
		An Another aerial view of Berlin from the "Fernsehturm" (Television tower).
		This is statue of Martin Luther that can be found outside "Marienkirche" (The Church of Our Lady) Martiin Luther is credited for bringing Christianity to Germany.
		Inside the "Marienkirche" (Curch of our lady).
		Inside the "Marienkirche" (Curch of our lady).
		Inside the "Marienkirche" (Curch of our lady).
		Inside the "Marienkirche" (Curch of our lady).
		The "Berliner Dom" (Berlin Cathedral) was thecourt church and the burial place of the "House of Hohenzollern" (House of High Officers). During the time of my visit, there was a special exhibit of the burial tombs of these officers.
		Inside the"Berliner Dom" (Berlin Cathedral).
		The "Rotes Rathaus" (Red Town Hall) as seen from the gallery of the "Berliner Dom". The name has two meanings. The first is derived from the color of the bricks. The second is because this was the seat of East Berlin's SED mayor and his "red" council.
		An aerial view of "Schloss Bruecke" (Schloss Bridge, with 8 white statues), the "Deutsche Staatsoper" (German State Opera, with columns), "St-Hedwig's-Kathedrale" (St. Hedwig's Cathedral, with green dome), and the "Friedrichswerdersche Kirche"(red church designed by Karl Friedrich) as seen from the gallery of the "Berliner Dom" (Berlin Cathedral).
		A side view of the German Opera House. The green domed building is St Hedwig's cathedral. St Hedwig's cathedral is the most important Catholic church in the city. It is also where the bishop is seated.
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		The area that was known as Checkpoint Charlie. in the building to the right of this point is the Check Point Charlie Museum. There are exhibits showing the measures taken by the east germans to keep people in and the measures taken by people to escape.
		The stones mark the outline of the former east-west boundary. These can be found on the corner where the Check Point Charlie sign is located.
		A portion of the "Berliner Mauer" (Berlin Wall) that was left standing after the 1990 demolition. Before demolition, the wall was 41.5 km long and enclosed West Berlin.
		Behind this portion of the Berlin Wall is an exhibit called the "Topography of Terror". This spot was the location of Gustavo, the secret police. This exhinit describes somes the activities that were held at this location.
		This is a street near "Tempelhof" airport. The allies wanted the airport for their use. Therefore, this section of Berlin was not destroyed during the war. This area looks the way it looked hundreds of years ago.
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		Construction at Potsdamer Platz.
		Potsdamer Platz which was once the heart of Berlin in now being revamped for the 21st century.
		Approaching "Bradenburger Tor" (Brandenburger Gate) traveling west on "Unter den Linden" avenue.
		Sanssouci Orangerie located in Potsdam, a former east German town. This buiding can be found on "Schloss and Park Sanssouci" (Sanssouci Palace and Park), which was built as a summer palace for King Freidrich II.
		This buiding can also be found on "Schloss and Park Sanssouci" (Sanssouci Palace and Park). It is now part of a university.
		In Potsdam, deeper into what was formerly Eastern Germany, I encounter what was typical east german housing.
		A view of the architecture trwvwling down the famous "Unter den Linden" avenue.
		Olympic Stadium. The 1936 Summer Olympics were held here.
		"Siegessaeule" (Victory Column), which is the center if the "Stern in Tier Garden" (Star in the Animal Garden), commemorates Prussia's victories between 1864 and 1871. The statue at the top weighs 37 tons and wears a size 18 shoe. the Sculptor was Freidrich Drake.
		The Star of the Animal Garden refers to the 6 streets that interesct at "Siegessaeule" (Victory Column). Here is a picture of "Strasse 17. juni" (17th June Street), one of the streets that intersect here. This street, from here, leads to the "Bradenburger Tor" (Bradenburg Gate).
		Reichstag (German Parliament Building) In 1990, after 45 years of communist occupation and the unification of east an west Germany, the united German Parliament convened here.
		A side view of the "Reichstag" (the German Parliament Building).
		The entrance to Zoological Gardens. This is Germany's first zoo which opened in 1844. Today it is the home of nearly 16,000 animals.
		"Schloss Bellevue" (The Bellevue Palace) was built in 1785 as a summer residence for prince August Ferdinand the brother of Friedrich II. Today, it is the official seat of Germany's President.
		The World Clock on Alexander Platz, simply called "the Alex" by Berliners. The "Fernsehturm" (Television Tower) can be seen in the background towering over the Alexander Platz subway station.
		The well guarded US Embassy.
		A view of Marlene Dietrich Square - Daimler Complex at Potsdam Square.
		A picture of the "Haus der Kultur der welt" (House of World Culture). It was formerly the "Kongresshalle" (Congress Hall).
		Here is a picture of a "Grenze" (Border Control Station) as we were traveling.
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