18 DAYS !!!!
" FOLLOW ME, PLEASE..THE GREEN LINE....."
NO, not 18 days in Berlin but 4 perfect days in which I could do all I had planned to do.....
SCHöNE SOMMERTAGE IM HERZEN DEUTSCHER STäDTE ERLEBEN!
The GREEN line is my trip through Germany: 3.133 km. on my own, by car and 18 days of............joy in Luxembourg, Heidelberg, Ulm, Dachau, Regensburg, Leipzig, Dresden, BERLIN, Goslar, Bockenem, Rheine and back home.....Middelburg in The Netherlands.
The last thing on this page will be a POEM, please don't forget to read it, it is such a wonderful one!
" OF COURSE I WANTED TO CLIMB THE DOM!..."
Yes, a tower to climb: so I climbed all the stairs, spiralling or not to arrive on a walkway around the Cupola, meeting there the gigantic copper-but-green angels, keeping watch over Berlin......
My suitcase is an intruder here: liked the little bit of empty space to be on show itself, I suppose!
" MUSEUM FüR ISLAMISCHER KUNST..."
Oh, I really do love Islamic Art very much and enjoyed visiting this Museum on the Museum Island....
SEE my TURKEY PAGE CLICK HERE...
" MUSEUM FüR ISLAMISCHE KUNST IN BERLIN"
There is an island in the centre of BERLIN where most of the MUSEUMS are situated.....
This Museum for Islamic Art is one of them.
" MUSEUM FüR ISLAMISCHE KUNST IN BERLIN"
Tales are told, tales about war, love, illness and happy days...
" PROUD AND IMPRESSIVE BERLINER DOM"
This is the famous BERLINER DOM.
In front of it is a wide, light-green, lush lawn with trees on all sides: a lovely place to sit for a while, rest, dream, think, admire and what more there is when you are there in the very, brisk and animated beating, heart of Berlin!
At the right side of the Dom is the river SPREE where you can start for boattrips, which show you a completely different BERLIN; very worthwhile!!
" CLIMB THE STAIRS THIS VIEW IS THE REWARD.."
When all stairs have been climbed you can walk around the CUPOLA, say hello to the giantic angels there (how small they seem to be when you are standing in the street and looking up at them!)and have a splendid view all over Berlin, especially on a sunny, bright day!
Since West and East are united again, Berlin is working very, very hard to become, once again, one of the most exciting, interesting and beautiful cities for inhabitants as well as for the many, many tourists!
And.....I am sure that they will succeed.....
" YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE CUPOLA..."
This is another photograph taken from high up on the Dom, and do you see how many cranes there are wherever you look? WORK, work, work to be done!!<
Yes, that is river SPREE for the boattours!!
" A REAL MUST IS CHECKPOINT CHARLIE....."
More about the WALL in next TRAVELOGUE!
" SEE HOW MUCH BEAUTY !"
" THE FAMOUS BRANDENBURGER TOR!! !"
Once in Prague the Wenceslas square was inaccessible for me, here in Berlin the BRANDENBURGERTOR a.o. buildings were INVISIBLE for me and everyone!!!! MAINTENANCE WORKS.....
What you see here is a fake, this is what they like to do and I think it is wise: they cover the buildings/tors or make a fake façade, a copy painted on the covering material, showing you what will be there one day or how it will be after restauration/renovation!
And.......you will feel a bit less disappointed, as I did and can have an understanding for it, as I could!
" BERLINERS...BERLINER BEARS...."
Does ULM CLICK HERE have its LOVELY BIRDS, LUXEMBOURG CLICK HERE its LOVELY COWS, BERLIN has its LOVELY BEARS!
Birds, as well as cows and bears are beautiful, eye-catching and just make you smile and will brighten your day!
" GOOD FOOD IS IMPORTANT AND PLEASANT..."
FOOD being of the greatest IMPORTANCE >: here an address for a nice meal, when your body and mind are in need of being restored and refreshed!
" A CONCERT TO MAKE YOUR STAY PERFECT!!"
This building was known as "das Schauspielhaus" is a magnificent theater, a neo-classic jewel.
Where you can find it: GENDARMENMARKT ......
After WW II the outside was reconstructed again, but the interior was renovated. This building is HOME to the Berliner Philharmoniker, the world-famous orchestre.
On top of the building, which radiates warmth, pleasure and excitement, is Apollo in a chariot pulled by griffons.
In my humble opinion it is THE place for a wonderful, unforgettable evening-out in Berlin, or.....how about the Deutsche Berliner Oper (I am not very fond of opera myself, though).....
" A CLEANER IN TOWN...WORKING CONSCIENTIOUSLY..."
This absolutely took me by surprise and made me laugh out loud: a cleaner, who washed the signs at the busstop, as if he didn't hear, see and smell the heavy traffic that would make the signs dirty again in no time!
So serious> his face, so steady his movements, so phlegmatic his facial expression:yet,he seemed to like the job; he was very convincing......and dedicating: these signs needed cleaning, again and again, and so he cleaned them, day after day, all over Berlin!
" NICE VIEW...FROM MY HOTELROOM WINDOW..."
Oh, yes, this was the view from my hotelroom: the television Tower and more buildings of the city center!
The baby-tree in the glass is in my garden now and....feeling at home and at ease here!
" SURPRISINGLY WONDERFUL POTZDAMERPLATZ...."
Potzdamer Platz >was one of Europe's busiest (traffic) squares and a link between the Eastern and Western part of Berlin but.........when "they" built the MAUER it suddenly was a so-called no man's land!
After DIE WENDE this place became one of Europe's biggest construction sites.
Worldwide know firms like Sony and Daimler-Benz e.g,hired, employed the most famous, world-famous architects and had office buildings, houses and other wonderful buildings erected there.
Now it is (again in my humble opinion) one of the nicest parts of Berlin!
Potzdamerplatz mit Arkaden.
I walked to the Potzdamer Platz with the many modern buildings, astonishing tastefu; a pleasure to see: water, clear and quiet, wonderful tender green, modern art and many shops, restaurants and......., well go there and have a look: for me it was a wonderful place.
And again: plenty of trees, plants and flowers all over the place, which always pleases me very much!
" NARREN EXHIBITION AFTER THE SERIOUS MATTERS..."
I had already visited the Museum Insel (MUSEUM ISLAND) that morning.
The Northern part of this large Island, that is situated in the city center between the river Spree and one of its canals, is occupied by a group of five impressive, architecturally important museums.
The Old Museum which houses a collection of copperplate engravings and drawings, the National Gallery with its extensive collection of German and European 19th century paintings, the Bodenmuseum with its Chamber of Coins,The Museum of Ancient and Byzantine Art and The Egyptian Museum.
First of all: go to The Pergamon Museum with its collection of ancient art, the museum of Middle-Eastern Culture and The Museum of Islamic Art which treasures I admire very, very much!
But after all these "serious" >things I decided (seeing a poster in the street!) to see something totally different and walked to the Potzdamer Platz, to the Kultur Forum and the exhibition "NARREN", which was (in my humble opinion) very nice....but there is no disputing about taste!!!!
" WIR NARREN....JA, WIR NARREN...."
SELF-MOCKERY ??
" WIR MENSCHEN...WIR MENSCHEN??"
YES, PURE, SWEET-SOUNDING SELF-MOCKERY !!
" WHO ARE WE ?"
YES, THAT IS THE QUESTION !!
" POSTCARD FROM BERLIN...."
Just a post card with such a peaceful atmosphere! and......very nice pictures......
" WHAT ANOTHER KIND OF MUSEUMS HAVE ON OFFER .."
ISN'T THE BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ? NOW AND LONG, OH, SO LONG AGO !
" A BEAUTY, WASN'T HE...LONG AGO...."
EIN SCHöNER RüCKEN KANN AUCH ENTZüCKEN !!!
" DAS ROTE RATHAUS...YOU ARE ALLOWED IN...."
A 70-year-old man offered me help when he saw me looking, puzzled, at the UBahn plan and the result: he showed me Berlin, a Berlin no tourist will see! places no tourists will ever find.
We walked for hours, had tea/beer together, talked and talked and I listened to his stories about Berlin, the World war and what followed for the Berlin people, his own experiences and adventures...
Together we went into the ROTE RATHAUS (called ROTE because of the colour of the bricks used), got the red-carpet-welcome there and he showed me around inside!
We had a lovely day together and being a widower he was glad to be able to be of help to me, in stead of walking the streets on his own.... and at the same time have the opportunity to talk, to laugh, to exchange experiences and thoughts with someone!
He refused my offer of a simple dinner, told me it all had been a pleasure and in the end boarded the tram and went home.....feeling good! and so did I, although my feet killed me because I had had an early start that day which he didn't realize!!
In fact my "expedition" with him was sort of restart of the day!.
" DIE SIEGESSäULE....."
This impressive statue is on a square in the middle of the Strasse des 17.Juni-Grosser Stern, with on both side the "TIERGARTEN (ZOO).
Is the statue impressive, all those trees and bushes together a wonderful park are also georgeous, perhaps because you don't expect them to be there in the very heart of Berlin: they are one large green lung for Berlin: wonderful.
Driving along I enjoyed the sight immensely!
From the terrace at the top you have a wonderful view over Berlin: you are then67 meters high in the blue Berlin sky!
Can you imagine that this green park once was the Royal Hunting ground and...... after the Second World War the place where cold, freezing and hungry Berliners got there wood to have to warm their hands and feet and perhaps some watery "soup"? But then......that was some 56 years ago; war here is over but.....has just started in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks on the WTC in New York 11th September 2001 .....lessons to be learned? forget it!
"T HIS IS VIKTORIA IN CLOSE UP....."
There she is, Victoria die Siegesgöttin, laughing triumphantly !
" ALEXANDERPLATZ FOUNTAIN...."
The NEPTUNBRUNNEN (Neptune Fountain) built in 1891(Alexander platz)
This wonderful fountain with its many cascades is in front of the ROTE RATHAUS and is a splendid spectacle, as rich in ornaments as a baroque fountain can possibly be, (always attracting people but also......rats, yes really.....)with of course the dynamic figure of Neptune himself in the middle, surrounded by 4 wonderful, gracious ladies all in bronze, sitting there in Summer sunshine and Winter snowfall, Autumn storms and Spring fragrance , personifications of the 4 most important German rivers Enjoy the many, many details because it is like a picture book to be enjoyed at ease.....
The very contrast: the statues motionless for aye, the cascades dancing, splashing and spluttering for aye.....enchanting and captivating......
" LOVELY LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN..."
Just sitting there to be touched, to be admired and they, the beauties, are great.
My friendly "personal guide" (I told you about him) told me that they represent the 4 most important German rivers.
It will take you some time to see all there is to see because the details are many and WUNDERSCHöN and.....Alexanderplatz is a place, a square where you can spend hours.......walking, shopping, woolgathering, watching passers-by, enjoying the warmth of the sun.....and I did it ALL.
It certainly will be different on a dreary day but I was lucky: wonderful,bright days, full of sunshine, indeed for days and weeks on end!
" THIS HAIR.....I USED TO HAVE SUCH A PLAIT..."
I would have liked better and more photos but didn't succeed; yet this lady with the long braid was willing to cooperate!!!
" OH, HOW I ENJOYED MY STAY...."
I enjoyed these September days very, much indeed. I really made the most of it.
I walked e.g. (after climbing quite a number of steps!)around the cupola of this building, on the out side of the Berliner Dom (Cathedral).....
TIP: every month there is this guide book, also in English, with all there is to go and see, do, visit and enjoy. So you can enjoy Berlin to the full!
Think of the concerts and operas, theater and ballet!!!
Easy to book........here too, things are made very simple and easy for us, spoiled travellers!
" A WONDERFUL POEM......."
WINTERGARTEN
Deinen Briefumschlag
mit den zwei gelben und roten Marken
habe ich eingepflanzt
in den Blumentopf
Ich will ihn
täglich begiessen
dann wachsen mir
deine Briefe
Schöne
und traurige Briefe
und Briefe
die nach dir riechen
Ich hätte das
früher tun sollen
nicht erst
so spät im Jahr.
by: ERICH FRIED
PLEASE, have a look at THE NEXT 3 TRAVELOGUES with more surprises.......AND DO ENJOY THEM, I PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD.....
" MY HOTEL BERLIN MITTE, PERFECT...."
This was the hotel where I stayed: IBIS, BERLIN MITTE, the red dot was my room with a wonderful panorama of Berlin center.....Would you believe that this is the BERLIN CITY CENTER ??? It is!
A few steps and I was on Alexanderplatz!
Very, very surprising was the enormous quantity of trees all over the City>. Much green in a city makes such a difference....whatever the weather.
And, I, from the coastal city of Middelburg in the SW of The Netherlands, LOVE trees and flowers .....
Moreover: all over Germany the country side is MOST ADORABLE.....
" I CAN RECOMMEND IT TO YOU......"
Yes, indeed I can recommend this hotel to you......there even is a computer in the lounge where you can email....for free!!!!!
" DER FERNSEHTURM.....ANOTHER CLIMB..."
This television tower I could see from my hotelroom window and........I went there to the top to take in the marvellous view!!
The tower is 368 meters in height and .....the Eiffel Tower in Paris is 320 meters high in the sky.
I went up with the elevator till the panorama-platform at a height of 203 meters from where I took the photographs.
On top of this platform is a restaurant that turns around like a merry-go-round slowly, slowly....and while you enjoy your tea or coffee with a piece of sweetsweet "Kuche" you can see Berlin and the horizon go by, which must be enchanting but.......there was quite a queue....... I didn't wait.
" PHOTO FROM THE FERNSEHTURM...."
Ahh, this is one of the photographs I took, walking around and around, up there on that platform!
Sometimes the entrance has to be closed and the queue has to wait for 10-15 minutes (and so did I !)till some 10-20 persons have left.......this didn't discourage me: I waited patiently, moreover, it was still early in the morning.
" I CAN'T WITHOUT ART.."
Oh, BERLIN has such a superabundance of things to do, to visit, to see, to enjoy, things that make you feel excited, sad or cheerful or ......
When there, never forget to visit the MUSEUM-INSEL where you soon will feel overwhelmed by the beauty that meets your eyes wherever you let them dwell!
I visited e.g. the CARAVAGGIO in PREUSSEN exhibition, die Sammlung Giustiniani unde die Berliner Gemäldegalerie.
THERE ARE 3 MORE TRAVELOGUES....
Portrait by Albrecht Durer
Berliner Fernsehturm
Missouri-Dolly and me
A very happy Berlin Bear
