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Aug. 6th, 2007 03:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhd323Finally, since I've been sitting on my ass all day, I figured it was about time I post pictures from Berlin. For a conference destination, I managed to spend quite a lot of time exploring the city, which was great. I would have been terribly disappointed had I missed out on the opportunity. There was still, however, plenty of things I didn't get a chance to see or do. The only museum I went into was the Jewish Museum (which was . . . strange) and I feel like I only covered the tip of the iceberg of Berlin's interesting history. All of my info is compiled from being in Berlin and some internet searches while I was organizing my photos.
Humboldt University: This is where the conference was held.
Humboldt U's Law School, across the Unter Den Linden from the previous picture.
Berliner Dom with Television Tower. View by Humboldt University. The TV tower sits in Alexanderplatz and doesn't really deserve more than one photo. That section of the city isn't the most appealing, but the area was once the center of East Berlin. The tower is now one of the tallest structures in Europe. (The German name for the tower translates to "toothpick.")
The Berliner Dom is only slightly over 100 years old, but sits on a site that has had churches and cathedrals on it since the mid-15th century. The church had to be restored following the Second WW.
The Berliner Dom at night. Through construction fence, unfortunately. But the only way I could get a good photo at night was by steadying my camera on a post in front of the fence.
Brandenberg Gate. Built at the end of the 18th century, it was part of a wall surrounding the city and acted as the main entrance to the city. The decorative top was moved to Paris during Berlin's occupation by France. The wall was built right next to the Gate. The Plaza in front (Pariser Platz) fell on the East side, and was empty throughout the Cold War.
Columns of Brandenberg Gate.
Reichstag Building. AKA Berlin Parliament. The inscription, 'Dem Deutschen Volke,' translates to 'To The German People.' The building was constructed shortly before the 20th century, but the inscription was added in 1916. The building sat in West Berlin, just meters from the border with East Berlin, and was closed after the building of the wall in 1961. It had to be reconstructed following reunification. From what I understand, Parliament began meeting in the building again less than a decade ago.
Reichstag Building. Note EU flag next to German flag. Unfortunately, I didn't make it inside the building. However, there is apparently an incredibly elaborate glass structure in the center of the building that allows individuals on the floor level and on top to see everything. The dome also offers an amazing view of the city, so I've heard.
This is the Plaza in front of the Parliament building. In the distance and to left, I believe, is Tiergarten.
Photo from other side of River Spree. Dome in background is top of Parliament Building.
Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous checkpoint through which allied troops could enter West Berlin. It's the third of three checkpoints built by US forces, named 'Alpha', 'Bravo', and 'Charlie'. There's a replica of the booth and sign (the originals are in a museum). The sign: "You are leaving the American sector." There's a really interesting outdoor gallery by Charlie with some amazing b&w photos taken during the building of the Wall and Cold War and bits of history about the wall. On one side of the gallery are lists and photographs of escape attempts. Really fascinating.
A replica (I think) of the last Kremlin flag outside of the Checkpoint Charlie museum.
The Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, built during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were actually preparing for a free outdoor movie when we walked by it. (Screen wasn't up yet.)
I just though the lamp posts were gorgeous. The neighborhood on the way to the Palace is beautiful - you can tell money lives there.
I confess I found all things regarding the Berlin Wall the most fascinating. Apparently there was very little warning before the Wall went up. After the division, people began to flee East Berlin for West Berlin. In order to prevent further downsizing of its population, the East put up physical barriers on the border in the middle of the night in August and began building the wall right away. Over time, the wall consisted of two walls, topped with barbed wire, with a 'no-man's land' inbetween them. This was, I guess, to make it increasingly difficult for individuals to escape the East. Here's a great diagram I found. So, in fact, the 'Wall' was more a system of barriers.
Looking at maps of the course of the wall, it's actually quite confusing politically, geographically, and so on in places. Sometimes it cut right through the center of streets, in between apartment buildings, through the River Spree. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to experience the Wall first hand. Traveling from West to East Berlin, you notice something 'different.' Much of it is quite undescribable, you just know you're in a different place. It reminds you that 1989 wasn't, in fact, that long ago, as you can still see evidence of the city rebuilding itself.
Throughout the city, the course of the Berlin Wall is now marked by two rows of cobblestones. In some places, there's a plaque as well "Berlin Wall 1961-1989".
Part of the original wall has been preserved in its original location in the Berlin Wall Memorial. The steel walls on either side are not part of the original structure, but were added as part of the Memorial. This was taken from the top of the Berlin Wall Documentation Center. You can see the lights, the center track where I guess those on patrol could walk or drive, the empty space, and so on. Comparing it to the diagram linked above is interesting.
This is a section of the wall along Bernauer Strausse before reaching the Berlin Wall Memorial.
There's a cemetary behind that section of the wall. I thought these relocated wall pieces were interesting, particularly since they've been turned into art.
Parts of the Wall have been relocated from other parts of Berlin to construct the Parliament of Trees. The monument lies on the other side of the River Spree from the Reichstag. From what I understand, while the wall pieces have been moved from other areas, they lie on part of what was the border. There are metal plaques on the ground remembering those lost as a result of the Wall.
The Oberbaum Bridge crosses the River Spree and links a neighborhood formerly in East Berlin and a neighborhood formerly in West Berlin. The border between East and West ran along the bridge. Several pieces have been reconstructed. We had to cross the bridge on foot to get to the East Side Gallery.
The largest preserved section of the Wall is a huge outdoor gallery known as the East Side Gallery. Here, the wall is covered in paintings that went up following the fall of the Wall. Many of them have been restored, while many more of them have begun to show more than a decade's worth of weather and graffiti. It makes for an interesting effect, however, since in many places you can see new art over the faded originals. (I guess the West side of the wall had been painted on after it went up, but until the Wall went down, there was a barrier between the East side and the actual Wall.) It was pouring rain when we went to see it, but it was amazing. I took a million pictures, trying to capture it, and obviously falling short. But here they are anyways. Here's online photos of the East Side Gallery with artist and occasional painting names. Many of the photos I've taken are on the site.
This is at the beginning to the gallery, with arrows pointing to the souvenir shop.
On the top of this picture is a small version of "The Mortal Kiss" - based on a news photo of communists Erich Honecker (of East Germany) and Leonid Brezhnev (of the USSR) kissing. The larger original version is somewhere on the Gallery, but I managed not to see it (I think it's probably quite worn away by now).
I thought this was awesome - La Buerlinica, after Picasso's La Guernica.
I believe I read that this artist, Thierry Noir, was one of the first.
Babelfish gave this translation: "it applies many bricks to build off"
This is something like: "Many small people who in many small places do many small things can alter the course of the world."
I loved this little guy, breaking through the Wall.
I had to photograph this. If you look closely, the speech bubble with the girl says "Save the world, it's the only planet with chocolate." Seemed appropriate. (The girl is drawn underneathe the word "Irish" in blue.)
While we were there, there was apparently an International sand sculpture festival of sorts. Some of them were absolutely amazing.
And others were . . . amusing.
Orgy? And what's happening in that one to the far right?
My favorite German beer, in Germany. The way it should be.
I found this banner . . . Ironic. It says "Palace of the Republic: A Project of Prestige - East Germany Asserts Its Legitimacy." I found it ironic because, as you can see, it's no longer there. It was demolished a few years ago after the discovery of asbestos in the building. It had a mere 3 decade lifespan.
Passed this building while walking to the S from the East Side Gallery. No idea what it's about, but it's quite interesting (and perhaps a little disturbing) for a mural . . . I'm actually wondering if that sand sculpture in the second photo is based off this painting. *shrug*
Humboldt University: This is where the conference was held.
Humboldt U's Law School, across the Unter Den Linden from the previous picture.
Berliner Dom with Television Tower. View by Humboldt University. The TV tower sits in Alexanderplatz and doesn't really deserve more than one photo. That section of the city isn't the most appealing, but the area was once the center of East Berlin. The tower is now one of the tallest structures in Europe. (The German name for the tower translates to "toothpick.")
The Berliner Dom is only slightly over 100 years old, but sits on a site that has had churches and cathedrals on it since the mid-15th century. The church had to be restored following the Second WW.
The Berliner Dom at night. Through construction fence, unfortunately. But the only way I could get a good photo at night was by steadying my camera on a post in front of the fence.
Brandenberg Gate. Built at the end of the 18th century, it was part of a wall surrounding the city and acted as the main entrance to the city. The decorative top was moved to Paris during Berlin's occupation by France. The wall was built right next to the Gate. The Plaza in front (Pariser Platz) fell on the East side, and was empty throughout the Cold War.
Columns of Brandenberg Gate.
Reichstag Building. AKA Berlin Parliament. The inscription, 'Dem Deutschen Volke,' translates to 'To The German People.' The building was constructed shortly before the 20th century, but the inscription was added in 1916. The building sat in West Berlin, just meters from the border with East Berlin, and was closed after the building of the wall in 1961. It had to be reconstructed following reunification. From what I understand, Parliament began meeting in the building again less than a decade ago.
Reichstag Building. Note EU flag next to German flag. Unfortunately, I didn't make it inside the building. However, there is apparently an incredibly elaborate glass structure in the center of the building that allows individuals on the floor level and on top to see everything. The dome also offers an amazing view of the city, so I've heard.
This is the Plaza in front of the Parliament building. In the distance and to left, I believe, is Tiergarten.
Photo from other side of River Spree. Dome in background is top of Parliament Building.
Checkpoint Charlie is the most famous checkpoint through which allied troops could enter West Berlin. It's the third of three checkpoints built by US forces, named 'Alpha', 'Bravo', and 'Charlie'. There's a replica of the booth and sign (the originals are in a museum). The sign: "You are leaving the American sector." There's a really interesting outdoor gallery by Charlie with some amazing b&w photos taken during the building of the Wall and Cold War and bits of history about the wall. On one side of the gallery are lists and photographs of escape attempts. Really fascinating.
A replica (I think) of the last Kremlin flag outside of the Checkpoint Charlie museum.
The Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, built during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were actually preparing for a free outdoor movie when we walked by it. (Screen wasn't up yet.)
I just though the lamp posts were gorgeous. The neighborhood on the way to the Palace is beautiful - you can tell money lives there.
I confess I found all things regarding the Berlin Wall the most fascinating. Apparently there was very little warning before the Wall went up. After the division, people began to flee East Berlin for West Berlin. In order to prevent further downsizing of its population, the East put up physical barriers on the border in the middle of the night in August and began building the wall right away. Over time, the wall consisted of two walls, topped with barbed wire, with a 'no-man's land' inbetween them. This was, I guess, to make it increasingly difficult for individuals to escape the East. Here's a great diagram I found. So, in fact, the 'Wall' was more a system of barriers.
Looking at maps of the course of the wall, it's actually quite confusing politically, geographically, and so on in places. Sometimes it cut right through the center of streets, in between apartment buildings, through the River Spree. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to experience the Wall first hand. Traveling from West to East Berlin, you notice something 'different.' Much of it is quite undescribable, you just know you're in a different place. It reminds you that 1989 wasn't, in fact, that long ago, as you can still see evidence of the city rebuilding itself.
Throughout the city, the course of the Berlin Wall is now marked by two rows of cobblestones. In some places, there's a plaque as well "Berlin Wall 1961-1989".
Part of the original wall has been preserved in its original location in the Berlin Wall Memorial. The steel walls on either side are not part of the original structure, but were added as part of the Memorial. This was taken from the top of the Berlin Wall Documentation Center. You can see the lights, the center track where I guess those on patrol could walk or drive, the empty space, and so on. Comparing it to the diagram linked above is interesting.
This is a section of the wall along Bernauer Strausse before reaching the Berlin Wall Memorial.
There's a cemetary behind that section of the wall. I thought these relocated wall pieces were interesting, particularly since they've been turned into art.
Parts of the Wall have been relocated from other parts of Berlin to construct the Parliament of Trees. The monument lies on the other side of the River Spree from the Reichstag. From what I understand, while the wall pieces have been moved from other areas, they lie on part of what was the border. There are metal plaques on the ground remembering those lost as a result of the Wall.
The Oberbaum Bridge crosses the River Spree and links a neighborhood formerly in East Berlin and a neighborhood formerly in West Berlin. The border between East and West ran along the bridge. Several pieces have been reconstructed. We had to cross the bridge on foot to get to the East Side Gallery.
The largest preserved section of the Wall is a huge outdoor gallery known as the East Side Gallery. Here, the wall is covered in paintings that went up following the fall of the Wall. Many of them have been restored, while many more of them have begun to show more than a decade's worth of weather and graffiti. It makes for an interesting effect, however, since in many places you can see new art over the faded originals. (I guess the West side of the wall had been painted on after it went up, but until the Wall went down, there was a barrier between the East side and the actual Wall.) It was pouring rain when we went to see it, but it was amazing. I took a million pictures, trying to capture it, and obviously falling short. But here they are anyways. Here's online photos of the East Side Gallery with artist and occasional painting names. Many of the photos I've taken are on the site.
This is at the beginning to the gallery, with arrows pointing to the souvenir shop.
On the top of this picture is a small version of "The Mortal Kiss" - based on a news photo of communists Erich Honecker (of East Germany) and Leonid Brezhnev (of the USSR) kissing. The larger original version is somewhere on the Gallery, but I managed not to see it (I think it's probably quite worn away by now).
I thought this was awesome - La Buerlinica, after Picasso's La Guernica.
I believe I read that this artist, Thierry Noir, was one of the first.
Babelfish gave this translation: "it applies many bricks to build off"
This is something like: "Many small people who in many small places do many small things can alter the course of the world."
I loved this little guy, breaking through the Wall.
I had to photograph this. If you look closely, the speech bubble with the girl says "Save the world, it's the only planet with chocolate." Seemed appropriate. (The girl is drawn underneathe the word "Irish" in blue.)
While we were there, there was apparently an International sand sculpture festival of sorts. Some of them were absolutely amazing.
And others were . . . amusing.
Orgy? And what's happening in that one to the far right?
My favorite German beer, in Germany. The way it should be.
I found this banner . . . Ironic. It says "Palace of the Republic: A Project of Prestige - East Germany Asserts Its Legitimacy." I found it ironic because, as you can see, it's no longer there. It was demolished a few years ago after the discovery of asbestos in the building. It had a mere 3 decade lifespan.
Passed this building while walking to the S from the East Side Gallery. No idea what it's about, but it's quite interesting (and perhaps a little disturbing) for a mural . . . I'm actually wondering if that sand sculpture in the second photo is based off this painting. *shrug*
