 By Roz Andrews: Berlin is a lively melting pot of cultures at the meeting point of east and west. For many years it was a divided city separated by the Berlin Wall. Now the reunited capital city of Germany, Berlin retains many reminders of its past.
Probably the most famous symbol of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), crowned by the goddess of victory on a horse-drawn chariot.
The imposing Reichstag building once again houses the German parliament. Old and new are united by the restoration of the neo-Renaissance exterior and the addition of a gleaming glass dome.
Checkpoint Charlie, the former crossing point between East and West Berlin, and its adjoining museum provide a fascinating insight into the history of the Berlin Wall and tell some amazing true stories of escape from East Berlin.
The two-mile long Kurfürstendamm is the main shopping and entertainment street. Nearby, the largest department store in Europe, the Kaufhaus des Westerns (KaDeWe), is particularly famous for its food hall selling delicacies from all over the world.
Follow an old German tradition and enjoy coffee and cakes (Kaffee und Kuchen) in the elegant surroundings of the Opera Café (Opern Café) on the majestic tree-lined Unter den Linden avenue.
Take time to relax in some of the city’s green, open spaces, such as the Tiergarten park and zoo, the forested Grunewald area, and Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel). Go!
|
(No
registration required)