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Berlin stands upon the vast European
Plain in northeastern Germany on the
banks of the river spree
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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
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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 haystack 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
kite 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 his
Germany during socialist rule directly
opposite the DDR museum is museum Island
the 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
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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 the
city below
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Berlin is also a city of great Civic
squares the bebelplatz is home of the
humboldt university Alexanderplatz
became a showcase for Soviet
architecture throughout the Cold War the
fanzi home of 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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