We spent a short time in Berlin, just 4 days, but we were fortunate to stay in an excellent location just off Potsdamer Platz, which is close enough to pretty much everything you would want to see in the City. We have been a little unfortunate as the whole time we have been here the weather has been cold with grey skies so photos don't really do the place justice, I guess the climate was as we would expect and the city was clearly in a state of readiness for the Christmas season with much activity evident with the planning of the numerous Christmas Fairs that will open around December 1st.
It was unplanned, but given that our previous stay was in Krakow and Poland, there was a very strong link between Berlin and Krakow with references to World War 2 and the atrocities that occurred. On top of this history, which was portrayed in numerous ways with dedicated Museums, Exhibitions and Memorials, there was of course much reference to the Cold War and The Berlin Wall and how the city was ideologically divided for nearly 30 years from 1961 to 1989. So, in walking around the city the notable landmarks we have seen: - The remaining part of the Berlin Wall, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Memorial to all the Jews in Europe who had died during the War and the Brandenburg Gate, which had stood in no-mans land for the period the city was divided by the Wall and, today, very much symbolises the freedom of the City and all of it's people.
By the end of World War 2, as much as 75% of the city was flattened, so the rebuilding of the city would take many years and with the city split until the late 80's, its modern day reconstruction is still much in evidence. Today, there are many shopping malls including the famous 'KaDeWe' Department Store, with has more than 2,000 employees, located in West Berlin in the large Kurfurstendamn Street.
The pictures here reflect much of what we have seen.
