Berlin, Germany (November 2005)

Berlin, Germany - Photo Travelogue - November 2005.	Map of Germany with a star indicating Berlin's location.	Entrance to the Zoological Garden (I thought it was Chinatown).	Me striking a dashing pose along the Spree River in Berlin.
Bikes outside the Berlin Cathedral with an Italian High Renaissance style dome (built 1894-1905).	Close-up of the dome of the BODE-Museum (one of several museums on the so-called "Museum Island" in Berlin).	Cover of a flyer for the Alte (Old) National Gallery in Berlin.	Postcard of the Alte National Gallery with a statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, king of Prussia (1840–61) in front.
The stairs leading up to the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IV in front of the Alte National Gallery.	View of the Alte National Gallery between 2 columns.	Close-up of the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IV in front of the Alte National Gallery.	Me inside the Alte National Gallery with the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm IV seen through the window.
Sign for the Pergamon Museum which is named after the city of Pergamon in Asia Minor.	The Pergamon Museum has exhibits of antiquity, the Middle East and Islamic art.	Babylonian Ishtar Gate (Tor) lion panel (reconstructed). The original is from 575 BC.	Roman Market Gate from Miletus in the Pergamon Museum.
Reconstructed Pergamon Altar, a wonder of the ancient world (dedicated to Zeus and Athena).	A rear view of the Reichstag (the Parliament) which was completed in 1894.	Frontal view of the Reichstag with flags flying.	The modern, metal and glass Reichstag dome was designed Foster and Partners in 1992.
Interior view of the Reichstag dome.	Another interior view.	Me standing in front of a window in the Reichstag dome.	Interior of the dome seen through metal bars.
Modern, mirrored funnel shape in the center of the Reichstag dome.	Another vantage point of the interior.	Glass and metal spirals inside the Reichstag dome.	The top of the Reichstag with the German flag flying.
View of The Federal Chancellery which is adjacent to the Reichstag.	The Federal Chancellery is one of the most impressive pieces of architecture in the new government precinct.	The Federal Chancellery was built (1990's) when Berlin became the capital city of the reunified country.	The Brandenburg Gate (1788-1791) is a city gate and triumphal arch modelled on the entrance to the Acropolis.
The Quadriga sculpture that crowns the gate was built in 1793 as a symbol of peace.	The Quadriga sculpture was stolen by Napoleon, but triumphantly returned after the Battle of Waterloo.	The the Quadriga sculpture. After returning from Waterloo, it changed from a symbol of peace to a symbol of victory.	Me standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
The Brandenburg Gate as seen from Unter den Linden (the grandest street in Berlin).	The Holocaust Memorial is dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Nazi reign of terror. It opened in 2005.	Designed by N.Y. architect Peter Eisenman, it was created by 2,711 grey reinforced concrete blocks.	Postcard of the Holocaust Memorial. People get disoriented walking through it because of the tilting blocks.
Interior view looking up at the roof of Sony Centre in Potsdam Square.	The roof of Sony Centre in Potsdam Square looks like the inside of a parachute.	Potsdam Square, in the very heart of Berlin, is a shopping and business center.	Potsdam Square is very modern with glass and steel architecture.
Ticket for "The Private Collection of Picasso" at the National Gallery in Berlin.	A photo of Picasso dressing up (something he liked to do).	An interesting modern sculpture that I saw in Potsdam Square.	Sign for the Martin-Gropius-Bau (museum) in Berlin.
This is not the work of Walter Gropius (of the Bauhaus movement), but of his uncle Martin Gropius.	This building of dusty pink brick, gilded mosaics and stucco was completed in 1881.	The Martin-Gropius-Bau once was an arts and crafts museum. Today, it hosts touring shows.	Sign where the Berlin Wall once stood. It was built in 1961 during the Cold War.
What remains of the Berlin Wall. The rest of it was torn down by the end of 1990.	The 96 mile Berlin Wall was a concrete wall with barbed wire and an average height of 11.8 ft.	Me standing along the remains of the Berlin Wall (like a Cold War prisoner in E. Berlin)!	In 1961, the U.S. military opened a crossing point into E. Berlin known as "Checkpoint Charlie."
The function of the checkpoint was to register and inform members of the Western Military before entering E. Berlin.	U.S. soldier standing guard at Checkpoint Charlie. Today, the soldiers are mostly a tourist attraction.	Close-up of the U.S. soldier guarding Checkpoint Charlie.	A dated photo of a Checkpoint Charlie sign with graffiti on the Berlin Wall behind it.
A postcard of the Jewish Museum designed by Daniel Libeskind in 1998 and opened in 2001.	The museum explores 2000 years of German-Jewish life as depicted by a variety of themes and media.	Daniel Libeskind, who designed the museum, also won the commission to build for the new World Trade Center.	Adjoining the modern Daniel Libeskind wing is this more traditional entrance and façade.
Close-up of the traditional entrance and façade of the Jewish Museum.	Postcard of the"Fallen Leaves" exhibit. The exhibit is a powerful reminder of the death and suffering of the Jews.	View of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of the Holy Cross (built in 1888) with a clock tower.	Postcard of the West Berlin U-Bahn subway line.
Berlin subway map. When the W. Berlin U-Bahn joined with the E. Berlin C-Bahn, the result was utter confusion!	An impressive building on Unter den Linden in Berlin.	St. Hedwig's Cathedral is the diocesan church of the Archdiocese of Berlin.	Monument of Frederick the Great, mounted on horseback on Unter den Linden.
He was known as Frederick the Great for his military prowess during the 7 Years War (1756-63).	He was King of Prussia. By the time he died in 1786, he doubled the area of his country.	An example of some of the grand architecture on Unter den Linden.	A classical-style building on Unter den Linden.
Another classical-style building on Unter den Linden.	More grand architecture on Unter den Linden.	The Zeughaus (old arsenal) German Historical Museum of Berlin is the oldest structure on the Unter den Linden.	My ticket for a performance of Carmen at the German State Opera House.
Here's an ad for Carmen that I saw on Unter den Linden.	Postcard of a night view of the State Opera House on Unter den Linden.