Berlin stands upon the vast European
Plain in northeastern Germany on the
banks of the river spree
Berlin's history has been one of triumph
and tragedy tyranny and transformation
brought to her knees by two world wars
and then divided throughout much of the
Cold War Berlin has re-emerged
blossoming into one of the world's
economic and creative powerhouses with a
population of only three-and-a-half
million Berlin enjoys an air of
spaciousness not found in many other
European capitals Berlin is an
incredibly Green City both physically
and politically at times it feels like
the city was built just to fill in the
gaps between its many parks forests and
lakes with hundreds of miles of bike
paths stringent traffic regulations and
an absence of Hills Berlin is the
perfect City to explore on foot or by
bicycle a legacy of Berlin's checkered
history is a cityscape of every
imaginable architectural style from the
Gothic to the Baroque from the socialist
to the futuristic yet somehow it all
works magnificently
the Brandenburg Gate rose in the 18th
century as a symbol of peace
it was battered in the second world war
then isolated by the division of Berlin
before becoming the rallying point
during the joyous days of the
reunification
a block to the north the Rye stock is
also a symbol of a Berlin reborn gutted
by fire in 1933 and reduced to rubble
during the fall of berlin today visitors
can climb the reichstag's transparent
dome for a bird's-eye view of the city
occupying an entire city block is the
Holocaust Memorial an unsettling
reminder of the consequences of letting
the roots of intolerance take hold
rolling out before the Brandenburg Gate
is the Tiergarten a 500 acre tapestry of
forests woodlands and canals the tea
garden is also home to the victory
column the Soviet War Memorial and
Bellevue Palace the official residence
of the German President but her most
famous resident of all is the Berlin Zoo
featuring over 1500 species and
enclosures that look more like natural
habitats the Berlin Zoo is one of the
most visited Zoological Gardens in
Europe
Berlin is a city of churches retaining
its war-damaged spire the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church is a shining example of
Berlin's ability to honor its past while
forging a bold architectural future but
perhaps Berlin's most striking place of
worship is the Chapel of reconciliation
the spiritual heart of the Berlin Wall
memorial near the center of Berlin
another section of the infamous wall has
become a memorial of a more colorful
kind featuring the work of 100
international artists the East Side
Gallery is one of the largest outdoor
art exhibits in the world and the theme
freedom of course featured in countless
spy novels and films Checkpoint Charlie
was the Cold War's most famous border
crossing the adjacent museum explores
the history of the checkpoint and the
ingenious ways in which Berliners
defected from east to west the Cold War
years remain an endless source of
fascination for Berliners and visitors
alike at the DDR museum visitors are
invited to rummage through the drawers
and cupboards of its exhibits which
recreate life in East Germany during
socialist rule
directly opposite the DDR museum is
museum Island a chance to step even
further back in time now an
internationally protected Heritage Site
the island is home to five museums each
one specializing in different periods of
the Arts and Sciences the Berlin
Cathedral also stands on museum Island
once inside climb the wide 270 step
staircase to the observation deck and
breathe in the colors of this city below
Berlin is also a city of great Civic
squares the Bible Platz is home of the
humboldt university Alexanderplatz
became a showcase for Soviet
architecture throughout the Cold War the
fans EPROM a futuristic 1960s TV tower
still evokes mankind's eternal quest to
reach for the stars
Potsdamer Platz was once known as the
Time Square of Berlin since
reunification the area has regenerated
into a visionary space where all
Berliners can celebrate their City
together as one welcome to the Berlin of
the 21st century a city proving to the
world that tolerance creativity and
passion can bear the most incredible
fruit
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