I’m in Berlin for work this week. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it! I got in yesterday and discovered that my hotel (which was booked by my colleague) is located right in the heart of the old historical center. That meant I could go on an evening walk after dinner and hit many of the key sights in this part of town.
Strange to think that last time I was here, I was 23 and it was freezing cold in February. So much has changed! So much is still the same.
 |
| Brandenburg Gate |
 |
| Soviet prestige tower |
 |
| Tons of construction everywhere |
 |
| There are brightly colored tubes everywhere. The cabbie explained that they’re meant to pump water out of the construction sites for a new subway line. They look like art. |
 |
| This is what happens when I need a snack but can’t find a Belgian waffle shop. |
 |
| Reichstag |
 |
| Super ornate church |
 |
| So the Kaiser had a palace in the olden days across the street from the crazy ornate church. Then WWII and the Cold War, and the palace was replaced by a hideous glass Soviet building that made everyone want to poke their eyeballs out (at least, that’s how I felt when I saw it in 2003). Then 1989 and no more Wall, and now they’ve torn town the Soviet monstrosity and are replacing it with a new palace. Yay! |
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 
I visited those places when I was there (not Dunkin Donuts!), but “the Wall was still there and there was NO construction going on.
LikeLike