Berlin Bus Tour
by tashka
If you are short of time, there is no better way to see a big city than a bus tour - hop on / hop off.
I took the City-Circle Sightseeing tour, where the double-deck bus makes 16 stops at major sights. You can get off the bus and walk around and then take the next tour bus.
In the bus each seat is equiped with earpieces and you can choose from a number of languages - German, English, French, Russian (there were more languages to choose from, I just don't remember which).
The tour starts from Kurfuerstandamm 225, which is near the Kurfuestendamm U-Bahn station.
The price is 18 euros, but if you have a WelcomeCard (see my Transportation Tips), you'll get a discount.
Brandenburg Gate
by Audrey118
Brandenburg Gate is located at Strasse des 17June.. Street of the 17th June - it is named in honour of victims of the uprising on that day in 1953. It was organised by workers and was particularly vehement in East Berlin, but Russisn tanks put it to an end quickly.
The Brandenburg Gate was once the entrance to the city from the west.
It is 65 ft. high, 213 ft. wide and 36 ft. thick was built from 1788-1791
by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans to be a symbol of peace, using the Propylaea in Athens as his model. On top stands Quadriga (which is a 4-some horse and cart including the goddess Eirene) by Schadown. In 1806 Napoleon took the Quadriga to Paris where it was shown in the Louvre as a sign of victory.
General Marshall Blucher took the Quadriga back to Berlin after the victory over the French in 1814 and the peace goddess Eirene became the goddess of victory Victoria. She received the laurel wreath, the Prussian eagle and the iron cross designed by Friedrich Schinkel as a sign of victory. After the German Nazis took over, the gate became a symbol for fascist Germany. The Quadriga and the Brandenburg was badly damaged during WWII but emerged anew in 1958 in a West Berlin foundry.
The Brandenburg Gate was seriously damaged and was restored in the 1950's by the 2 governments of the cites. The East government rebuilt the gate itself, while the west reconstructed the Quadriga.
In 1961 when Berlin wall was built, the gate sealed off in no-man's-land and became the symbol of the divided city.
In 1989, after the dissolution of the border, the area was reopened to the public - albeit only later in the year, much later than other checkpoints.
On New Years' Eve of 1989-90 when the Germans celebrated all around the Brandenburg Gate, the Quadriga was damaged and had to be restored. During this restoration the statue of Victoria got back its Prussian sign of victory.
If Your Looking For A Place To Swim
by grishaV1
For summer sports, swimming is my favorite. I used to swim competitive in secondary school and university, so its a great love for me. Berliners flock to local lakes as soon as possible and make a day of it. One very popular location is at Wannsee but there are many small lakes around Berlin, in fact, any water offering really you might see someone strip down and dive right in. But if you don't wish to try this method or want to swim laps for exercise instead of relaxing or lounging, you can try some of the indoor or outdoor pools.
One I have been to is Stadtbad Schöneberg at Hauptstraße 39 in Schöneberg 10827. Phone is 030/ 780 99 30 . You take the U4 line to Rathaus Schöneberg station. This location also has a sauna available which is excellent after being in 28*c water for a while. Just a note, the pool will be closed Juli 7-August 21. Normal rates are 4euro for an hour, or 5euros for 120 minutes. One can also purchase monthly cards or special ones for families.
Many other pools with directions, prices, and availibility at this webpage. Its in Deutsch, but even if you don't speak German, district names are easy to recognize.
A Listing of Some Out Pools, but be sure and check the website if you are interested in swimming places because many, many more are listed. Berlin Swimming Halls.
Bad am Spreewaldplatz
Wiener Straße 59 h, Kreuzberg
Paracelsus Bad (with sauna)
Roedernallee 200/204, Reinickendorf
SSE Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark
Paul-Heyse-Straße 26, Prenzlauer Berg
Stadtbad Lankwitz (with sauna)
Leonorenstraße 39, Steglitz
Stadtbad Neukölln und Therme im Stadtbad Neukölln
Ganghofer Straße 3, Neukölln
Some Outdoor Swimming Pool Listings:
Kinderbad Monbijou
Oranienburger Straße 78, Mitte
Sommerbad Neukölln
Columbiadamm 160, Neukölln
Sommerbad Pankow (with beach sports facilities)
Wolfshagener Straße 91 - 93, Pankow Bring shower shoes, a towel, a change of clothes and a waterproof bag, goggles or whatever special equipment you might need.
Molecule Man – Unity of the Individuals
by Kakapo2
This huge sculpture is standing in the river Spree, on the southern bank of the river, between the bridges Elsenbrücke and Oberbaumbrücke. It is just a short stroll to the west from S-Bahn station Treptower Park. The so called Treptowers, two not very exciting skyscapers of the Allianz insurance company, are nearby.
If you do not want to continue a rather boring and seemingly endless walk along the river to Oberbaumbrücke, go back to the S-Bahn station and take the bus (# 265) to Oberbaumbrücke. (Believe me, we walked LOL)
But now to the Molecule Man.
This is a substantial 30 metre high statue, weighing 45 tonnes. Although that big and heavy, it has a lightweight and transparent feel, thanks to the aluminium construction and the structure dotted with holes. It was created by the American artist Jonathan Borofsky, and has been on display since May 1999.
The three figures symbolise individuality and unity at a time. The figures are standing in the water individually but are joint around a virtual pole in the middle, at 120° angles between each of them. Additionally they look like just one figure from certain viewpoints and like two from others.
The intention of the artist was to remind the viewer “that both man and molecules exist in the world of probability and that finding wholeness and unity within this world remains the aim of any creative and spiritual tradition”. I could not have said it better LOL
Outrageous Club for Partying
by mi5chelle about SO36
This club has a different party every night and is a favorite in the gay community but serves all alternative scenes and persuasions.
Berliners love to party and you will get your fair share at SO 36 in Kreuzberg. This place is the BOMB!
Even ballroom dancing on Sundays!! Anything goes, here, baby! O Lordy. Get your Freaka On!
Home and stage for the first Punk concerts in Berlin in the seventies and eighties.
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Bucherverbrennung
It was sooo tacky...
Berlin
Sachsenhausen Camp,Oranienburg,Germany.
