Berlin

Hey everybody! I apologize to all my faithful readers for my delinquency but I have been extremely busy the past few days! Last weekend our group visited the German capital of Berlin. In Berlin we stayed in the Golden Tulip which was only a few blocks away from the KaDeWe, the largest superstore in Europe. On our first day out we hit the main sites including the Victory Column, Brandenburg gate and the Reichstag.


Here you see the Victory Column which is where Obama made his speech the day before. We were told quite fervently by Berliners that "Your president was just here". As far as the significance of the monument, it was constructed to commemorate Prussia's victory over the Danes in 1871.

In this picture you see your's truly in front of the Brandenburg Tor. This was once the main city gate leading into Berlin. Beyond this gate is the brand new U.S embassy and then a long street lined with linden trees (Unter den Linden). The Berlin wall once stood right behind where I am standing and speeches by both Kennedy and Reagan were made near this very spot.

Here is a shot of my shadow crossing what was once the Berlin wall. All that remains now is a brick marked trail.

This is the Reichstag, where the German Parliament the Bundestag is seated. Above the building you will notice a glass dome which is meant to represent the transparency of the German Government.

More to come from Berlin but it is off to Hamburg tomorrow and I need rest. Thanks for reading!