Bears are Everywhere
by Mariajoy
The Berlin Bear has long been the symbol of this city - with theories that is came from the city's founder "Albrecht the Bear" many centuries ago.
The traditional crest is a black bear standing on his hind legs with a protruding red tongue but the bear takes many forms today - currently the streets are full of the life-sized, multicoloured plastic variety.
Even these bears could be easily surpassed in popularity by the arrival of Berlin Zoo's latest addition - Knut the baby polar bear!
Always have some change on you!
by nigelw6443
I suppose it depends on where you come from, but in England we have a saying about spending a penny. This means going to the toilet or washroom for you Americans. Now in Berlin you will find in a lot of the larger pubs and clubs as well as department stores, stadiums and at almost any festival a bathroom attendant. These people do in fact keep the toilets clean and they do in fact expect payment., especially at festivals where they will stand outside the door! Usually a 50 cent coin will be sufficient! But it is important that you remember to always keep some change! In some pubs the bathroom attendants can be quite amusing the yeven offer candies and gum. On the other hand they can be annoying if you are doing your business and they just wander in and start cleaning around you!
Flags of Berlin
by matcrazy1
There were three flags put on the top of famous Adlon Hotel, next to Branderburg Gate:
1. European Union flag,
2. German national flag,
3. Berlin flag (on my picture).
The Berlin flag changed a little in a history but always contained a bear. Especially there were different flags of divided Berlin:
- East Berlin flag
- West berlin flag which is current flag of the reunited Berlin.
Once I saw unknown flag on a building/office in Mitte district. Now I know that it was a flag of this district. I found it interesting that each district (bezirk) of Berlin has its own flag - click here to see them.
(5) - Red Granite Flags
by Kakapo2
A wide alley, bordered by willows, leads from the forecourt to the main field of the complex (see photo of the tip "Soviet War Memorial") in Treptower Park.
You enter this main field passing between two monuments made of red granite. They are stylised flags, hanging towards the alley, symbolising grief – like a person bending the head when in grief.
On the front sides of each flag you see the sculpture of a soldier on his knees, each carrying a machine gun. One of the soldiers is a young guy, the other one looks clearly older. (See detail on photo 2.)
Location:
Between the streets Puschkinallee and Am Treptower Park, 12435 Berlin-Treptow
Directions:
S-Bahn S41, S42, S8, S85, S9, station Treptower Park
Buses 166, 265, 365, stations Sowjetisches Ehrenmal and Herkomer Straße, also N 65 Klingerstraße and Rethelstraße
The best strasse in Berlin
by bladdered
If there's only time for one night in Berlin, spend it on Oranienburger Strasse in Mitte...it's well cool. Start off from the top and work your way down in the direction of the TV tower. Some great bars and food joints - Mini Mista pizza takeaway is my fave. Leave plenty of time for Tacheles...make of it what you may but it is an experience http://super.tacheles.de/cms . And don't forget to say hi to the lovely ladies of the night who add a bit of caberet to the proceedings.
Cycling in Berlin, along German barracks
Arrival at Haupt Bahnhof
part of east side gallery
The wall and its remains at Staaken (ca. 1990)
